MEIJI JINGU NOVEMBER 1994: NIHON KOBUDO SHINKOKAI
DEMONSTRATION 1994
The inspiration to
post these original photos I had taken several years back in Tokyo came to me
while looking at Koryu Books, a great
site dedicated to Kobudo and Koryu Bujutsu, and managed by two experienced
classical artists: Meik and Diane Skoss. Hope they won't mind me copying their
wonderful idea here!
Join me in a short visit back in time to an early
1994 November day...
...as you get off the train and move through the
couples walking around near JR Harajuku station, you follow the weekend crowds
past the youngsters dressed in a suprising array of costumes and dyed hair into
Yoyogi Park, and further towards Meiji Jingu...
...continuing to walk
through the park, the action of horseback archery, or Yabusame, can be
seen, as well as areas prepared for Kobudo and Aikido
demonstrations. The crowd is made up on that day of Japanese and foreigners
alike, with small children, school kids, tourists, families and experienced
martial artists all watching from the sidelines.
As the saying goes, a
picture is worth a thousand words. Perhaps these few images might give you
something more of an insight into the traditions and people that participated in
the demonstration that cold, off-again-on-again rainy day. Enjoy!
