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Hongkong
Aikido celebrated its 30th anniversary with a seminar from
the 28th of September to the 2nd of October 2001. The celebration
was attended by over 100 participants from various countries,
including a team of 13 Shinju-kai members led by Philip Sensei.
Gracing the occasion were Masatake Fujita Shihan (8th dan)
and Hiroshi Somemiya Shihan (7th dan) from Hombu dojo, Hironobu
Yamada Shihan (7th dan) from Narita, Ikuhiro Kubota Shihan
(7th dan) from Osaka, Jun Yamada Shihan (7th dan) from Malaysia,
Mutsuko Minegishi Shihan (6th dan) of Saipan, Harry Ng Shihan
(6th dan) of Singapore, and the host himself, Kenneth Cottier
Shihan (6th dan).
Our team
left for Hong Kong on the 28th of September morning, arriving
at noon at the Hong Kong International Airport. Due to some
mistake in the tour arrangement, we ended up having McDonald's
at the airport for lunch, where those of us who could not
speak Cantonese ended up relying on the Gurkha guys in our
team to make our orders to the Nepali girls manning the McDonald's
counter. The afternoon was spent on a city tour around Kowloon
and Hong Kong area.
A social
dinner was held on the same evening, where old friends met
and caught up on each other's lives. The unofficial "uniform"
for the evening: the black Shinju-kai T-shirt. We were most
pleased to find some honorary members in the dinner: Ken Cottier
Sensei (HK) and Alan Wade Sensei (NZ) who also sported the
same garb. It was a wonderful evening, which ended with Ken
Cottier Sensei taking us on a "shopping hike" through
the night markets of "Miu-Kai" (Temple Street).
Together with (seated from left) H. Somemiya Sensei,
the host,
Ken Cottier Sensei, M. Fujita Shihan & wife and
Mrs Jun Yamada. |
The three
day programme started the next day with classes taken by various
shihans. The training was held at the Kowloon Park Indoor
Games Hall, Tsim Sha Tsui. The classes were very interesting
and each session sported the characteristics and style of
the shihan conducting the class.
Suits
and dresses were out in full play on the night of the formal
dinner. The dinner was held in the ball room of the YMCA International
House. Some of our members won lucky draw prizes, such as
do-gis and hakamas. Speeches flowed throughout the dinner,
some so touching that some in the audience were moved to tears.
More dinner pictures, this time with the Hong Kong Aikido
Association members. |
Being
true blue Singaporeans, where shopping and indulging in culinary
delights are bred into our culture, Hong Kong was definitely
the ultimate haven. It was the road side stalls that we mainly
frequented: along Nathan Road, night markets, and roadside
food stalls.
We returned
to Singapore on the 2nd of October 2001, with some members
staying back for a few more days of food and fun. To a lot
of us, it was one of the most enjoyable Aikido trips we have
been to. Our heartfelt thanks to the host, Ken Cottier Sensei
and the Hong Kong Aikido Association members who took good
care of us during our stay.
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