Heading East
Departure day arrived amidst immense excitement—my first return to Japan in over five years felt long overdue. Waiting for the airport bus to my London flight, I spotted a familiar face and exchanged a warm smile, feeling that instant camaraderie forged over years of shared practice.
The flight to Tokyo Haneda took longer than usual due to redirected flight paths over Europe and the Middle East. Between movies and futile attempts to beat jet lag, excitement and adrenaline won out, keeping me awake for most of the journey.
Arrival & Day 1: Reconnecting and Testing
Landing on Saturday, I met up with Zeb (Genbukan Myojo Dojo-Cho). We navigated the train through Narita Airport, picked up one of Zeb’s students, and headed to our hotel, where we were warmly greeted by Soke Tanemura and Hanshi Kohtarou. After settling into my room—shared with Neven and Bruno from Croatia—I dozed fitfully through the night until the morning bell for Day One.
After breakfast, training kicked off with warm-ups, followed by Soke and Hanshi demonstrating Araki Shin Ryu Jujutsu techniques before we broke into kumite gata (partner work). Over lunch, I met up with Colm (Ireland) to run through our Genbukan Ninpo Taijutsu Dan patterns for the afternoon’s grading.
Partnering Colm for his test felt surreal: 20 years earlier, I had been the test partner for his instructor, Shihan Martin O’Reilly, for the exact same 5th Dan level. I couldn't help but wonder if Martin remembered and intentionally paired us together.
That evening, Renshi Laura, Renshi Jon, and I took a taxi to a local onsen. Soaking in the outdoor bath beneath the stars, watching incoming flights descend into Narita, was the ultimate reset.
Day 2: Depth, Discipline, and Progress
Recharged by the onsen, I woke up ready for action. The joints might take a little longer to warm up these days, but that was easily set aside once training began. Soke and Hanshi broke down each pattern in detail, welcoming questions throughout the day.
The afternoon brought grading in the Araki Shin Ryu Jujutsu patterns we’ve been working on. While mastering these complex techniques in two days is impossible, the expectation is clear: take what you’ve absorbed, bring it home, and refine it through disciplined training.
Day 3: History, Celebration, and Farewell
We spent our final day soaking in Japanese history—visiting Katori Jingu Shrine and exploring Sawara ("Little Edo"), a beautiful canal town lined with 200-year-old traditional merchant houses.
That night, we celebrated with a banquet featuring traditional Japanese and Irish dance, live taiko drumming, and a generous buffet. The highlight came when everyone was called to the stage to join the performers for an energetic Soran Bushi dance, led by Soke and Hanshi themselves.
The next morning brought heartfelt goodbyes. While many headed home or to the Honbu Dojo for further study, my journey took a different turn: I boarded the 11:00 AM Shinkansen bound for Hiroshima.
