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Ever wonder about the art of Kendo Equipment? Join us to learn about the variety of Kendo Equipment, the use of each variety, and best care practices at this Academic Seminar as part of Nishimura Equipment Store's 100th Anniversary Project.

Who: Mr. Akinori Ichihashi, Nishimura Sports Equipment Store | Mr. Shion Miyashita, Canada National Kendo Team | Dr. Ryoichi Kimura, Associate Professor of Sanyo-Onoda City University
When: Sunday, August 9, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Where: Timms Centre for the Arts, Second Playing Space

“100th Anniversary Project Kendo Workshop” 

This academic workshop is brought to you by Mr. Akinori Ichihashi, a graduate of Sanyo-Onoda City University and owner of Nishimura Sports Equipment Store, and Mr. Shion Miyashita, a member of the Canadian National Kendo Team. We are also joined by Dr. Ryoichi Kimura, Associate Professor of Sanyo-Onoda City University in Japan.

Nishimura Equipment Store was established in 1925 in Yamaguchi, Japan. 

Mr. Ichihashi started kendo at the age of eight in Saitama prefecture, next to Tokyo, became a prefectural representative in high school, and was active as captain of the university team in Yamaguchi prefecture.

After earning a Master's degree in research on liquid crystal displays and working for a general company in Tokyo, Mr. Ichihashi returned to Yamaguchi Prefecture and became the fourth-generation owner of the traditional Sporting Equipment Store. He is currently active in the area known as Choshu, which is considered the center of samurai history.

About Nishimura Equipment Store - A Note from Mr. Ichihashi

[EN]

Founded in 1925, I am the fourth-generation owner of Yamaguchi Prefecture's oldest martial arts equipment store.

The first headmaster was Nishimura Kinjū, who at the time held the 8th dan in kendo (the current highest rank). The pass rate for the 8th dan examination is extremely low. With approximately 2 million dan holders in Japan, only about 700 individuals have attained this rank, meaning less than 1% of examinees pass the examination. Candidates must have trained for over 10 years after achieving 7th dan and be at least 46 years old. Due to its difficulty, it is sometimes referred to as the “realm of divine” in the world of kendo.

Currently, due to factors such as declining birth rates and the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of kendo practitioners is decreasing. As a result, specialty shops like martial arts equipment stores are closing one after another. In Yamaguchi Prefecture, two stores have closed down over the past three years. Only five martial arts equipment stores, including ours, operate in Yamaguchi Prefecture now. We have become the westernmost martial arts equipment store on Honshu.

Seven years ago, when the third-generation owner fell ill, he expressed concern that martial arts equipment shops might disappear from Yamaguchi Prefecture if things continue as they were. He approached me about taking over, and I succeeded him as the fourth-generation owner.

[JPN]

大正14年1925年創業、私で四代目になる山口県で一番古い武道具店です。

初代は当時剣道八段（現在の最高段位）の西村金十さん。八段審査の合格率は非常に低く、日本国内には約200万人の有段者がいて、取得者は700人あまりであり、受験者の1%以下しか審査に合格できません。七段を取得後10年以上修業し、年齢46歳以上であることが条件です。その難易度から、剣道界では「神の領域」とも呼ばれることがあります。

現在、少子化やコロナなどの影響によって、剣道人口が減少しており、そのあおりを受けて武道具店の様な専門店も次々と廃業しております。山口県でもこの３年間に2店舗廃業されました。現在山口県には当店を含めて５店舗しか武道具店は営業しておりません。本州で最も西にある武道具店となりました。

7年前に3代目が体調を崩された際に、このままでは山口県内の武道具店がなくなるのを心配されてお話をいただき、四代目として後を継がせて頂いた次第です。