We took eight students to participate in the Shibukawa Yaezakura Matsuri in Gunma, known in Medieval Samurai times as Joushu.
http://www.city.shibukawa.lg.jp/kankou/matsuri/matsuri/p000188.html
More photos to come!
Several times throughout the parade I just stopped to blow the conch shell and announce our presence in Samurai style.
"People of Joushu! We are not here to harm you,
but to share in our Samurai Budo Mission for Education.
Mastery of Sword and Letters!"
Everyone from elderly people, two small children, and Mayor Akutsu of Shibukawa City came out to greet us, see and touch our Armor up close, and to take pictures together. As our students were from America, Hong Kong, Zambia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan, I am quite sure that we must have been the most international delegation ever to visit the city.
We had a fantastic time, and on the way home stopped over at an Onsen to melt away in and fatigue from the march. Amazing scenery with for us mountains clouds and river gorgeous both on the way to and back from Gunma, and the travel back in time for our international students.
Thanks to Yamazaki-san and Miyakoshi-san of the Japanese Handmade Armor Instructors Association, for arranging our participation to meet and share with Japanese people from another Prefecture. We will be back, and we will march not on, but in other Prefectures as well. We look forward to meeting you soon!
https://j-yoroi.jimdo.com
http://www.city.shibukawa.lg.jp/kankou/matsuri/matsuri/p000188.html
More photos to come!
Several times throughout the parade I just stopped to blow the conch shell and announce our presence in Samurai style.
"People of Joushu! We are not here to harm you,
but to share in our Samurai Budo Mission for Education.
Mastery of Sword and Letters!"
Everyone from elderly people, two small children, and Mayor Akutsu of Shibukawa City came out to greet us, see and touch our Armor up close, and to take pictures together. As our students were from America, Hong Kong, Zambia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan, I am quite sure that we must have been the most international delegation ever to visit the city.
We had a fantastic time, and on the way home stopped over at an Onsen to melt away in and fatigue from the march. Amazing scenery with for us mountains clouds and river gorgeous both on the way to and back from Gunma, and the travel back in time for our international students.
Thanks to Yamazaki-san and Miyakoshi-san of the Japanese Handmade Armor Instructors Association, for arranging our participation to meet and share with Japanese people from another Prefecture. We will be back, and we will march not on, but in other Prefectures as well. We look forward to meeting you soon!
https://j-yoroi.jimdo.com
NHK TV Appearance
William Reed is also a semi-regular guest on NHK television, broadcast live from the NHK studio headquarters in Shibuya. By showing the Samurai battle flag for which he painted the calligraphy (風林火山 Furin Kazan), Swift as the Wind, Still as the Forest, Invasive as Fire, Immovable as the Mountain; he was able to get national publicity for iCLA and Yamanashi Gakuin University.
William Reed is also a semi-regular guest on NHK television, broadcast live from the NHK studio headquarters in Shibuya. By showing the Samurai battle flag for which he painted the calligraphy (風林火山 Furin Kazan), Swift as the Wind, Still as the Forest, Invasive as Fire, Immovable as the Mountain; he was able to get national publicity for iCLA and Yamanashi Gakuin University.
Television Personality in Yamanashi
William Reed has become a television personality in Yamanashi, appearing as a commentator every week on a popular local broadcast television show called TeTeTe TV.
He has a special segment on the show called, "The Blue-Eyed Samurai: William Reed reveals the heart of Japanese Culture," in which iCLA students are invited to join and be on television, visiting many fascinating places in Yamanashi Prefecture. Previous episodes include visits to a Zen Temple to experience Zen meditation, and visiting a historic and award-winning Sake Brewery.
William Reed has become a television personality in Yamanashi, appearing as a commentator every week on a popular local broadcast television show called TeTeTe TV.
He has a special segment on the show called, "The Blue-Eyed Samurai: William Reed reveals the heart of Japanese Culture," in which iCLA students are invited to join and be on television, visiting many fascinating places in Yamanashi Prefecture. Previous episodes include visits to a Zen Temple to experience Zen meditation, and visiting a historic and award-winning Sake Brewery.
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