This year was a small group for our annual visit and training at Hombu.
I think maybe the economy has hit everyone.
This years representation was myself, Vic Hargitt, Steve White Sensei, Chief Instructor for Princeton Dojo and Connor McKinnon from Surrey Dojo.

Steve and I flew out of Kamloops and met with Connor at Vancouver Airport.
Connor was seen off by his Mom and brothers along with the Grandparents.
We had a pretty uneventful flight to Narita We departed on March 18th and arrived there on the 19th what with the date line crossing.
Meeting us at Narita was Nose Kaicho and Iijima Shihan.
After loading up the car we went out for dinner and then off to dojo.

On the 20th we went shopping to electronic town and then to Asakusa.
Lots of shopping done.
Later that night we went to dojo for

Saturday March 21st was the tournament. Connor was chosen to give the Oath to the Kaicho. I feel it was a well run tournament. Steve Sensei placed second in kumite with aback and forth battle for points. He did very well in kata doing Sepai. He placed 4th Connor did not do kumite, but place 4th in kata defeating two Black Belts on the way. Not bad for a Green Belt. It was nice to see Shorei-Kan kata and bukai done in the most traditional way. Some wonderful demonstration material There was a wonderful dinner banquet and social event that followed.

On the Sunday I think Nose Kaicho needed some rest after all of the planning for the Tournament. He had Kenichi Sensei from Hombu take us out for the day. We did some touring in downtown Tokyo and went to a very old Kabuki theater and saw one act of the "47 Ronin" Connor had some things to do that day with his home stay family. I think they kept him very busy.

On the Monday Nose Kaicho treated us to a tour of Tokyo area by bus and boat with an English tour guide. The next day was all packing and preparing for our flight home.

As always it is great to train with people doing the traditional Shorei-Kan.

Looking forward to next year already!!!