Okinawa 2015 – Day 5 and 6
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Okinawa 2015 – Day 5 and 6

Day 5: Saturday, 11th of April:

At the morning training in Itoman, we are joined by Nakamura San, another student of Yamashiro Sensei. Together, we work on the details of Sakugawa No Kun and Chikin No Kun.
Ater the training, Nakayama San takes us to the nearby Himeyuri Memorial. It tells the story of a group of students forced to serve in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, containing a really informative exhibition.
In our Budokan training session in the afternoon, Shihan Peter and Shihan Dirk take the lead and guide our group through most of the core Matayoshi Kobudo programme, repeating Hojo Undos and Katas of Bo Sai and Tunkwa; a very good preparation for our visit to Gakiya Sensei tomorrow.
In the evening we are invited for the traditional dinner at the Minshuku owner’s. She has news to share: this will be our last stay in the old Minshuku because she has bought a new Minshuku directly next to Asahibashi station which is currently renovated and will be ready for next year’s stay. Together with her daughter we even go and visit the new building which will have a café in the base and even parking lots in front. Objectively, it is a definite improvement but our group can’t help feeling sad about this era coming to an end. We will miss the flair of the old Minshuku…

Culinary Highlight of the Day: Sushi and Spaghetti Bolognese…

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Day 6: Sunday, 12th of April:

Today, we are invited to visit Gakiya Sensei in his home on a jungle covered hill near Nago. Loaded with five Europeans our small rental car almost didn’t make it to the hill top. The whole group is extremely excited about seeing Gakiya Sensei again after so many years and the first reception in the living room is really touching. We proceed to Gakiya Sensei’s dojo where we present him with a Matayoshi Kobudo training lead by Shihan Jhonny. At the dojo walls we can find numerous photographs showing several group members together with Gakiya Sensei on their previous visits.
After the training we return to the house for a whole afternoon barbeque. Gakiya Sensei’s family has prepared an incredible amount of really delicious food and his wife and son even play on the sanshin for us. The atmosphere is amazing.
From Nago we go back to Itoman to spend the evening in Yamashiro Sensei’s dojo which is built directly next to his house. You can see signs of his engagement in Kaze No Mai with drums and lion costumes everywhere. It is a lovely place.

Culinary Highlight of the Day: Grilled Fish and Prawns

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