Approximately 25 Kenshi and 8 guests from SCKF went to the taikai the weekend of Feb. 13-15th. Took the usual tours on Friday and Sunday of the Vancouver area. On Friday night, Steveston Kendo Club treated us to a nice dinner and then we attended the godo-keiko at the gym after dinner. Many kenshi from the Vancouver area were there as well as kenshi from Hawaii, Washington State and Toronto.
On Saturday the tournament started at 10am and was completed by approximately 8pm. There were about 325 participants.
SCKF participants are indicated below in bold.
10 Years and Under 11 to 13 Years
1st place - R. Eguchi, TOR 1st place - T. Akiyama, Northwest
2nd place - C. Inouye, VEN 2nd place - G. Mizutani, Renbu
3rd place - R. Murao, Steveston 3rd place - L. Murao, Steveston
3rd place - Ja. Tubajon, Steveston 3rd place - A. Kwan, Steveston
14 to 15 Years Ladies
1st place - T. Hori, TOR 1st place - N. Fukushima, Vancouver
2nd place - R. Campbell, Steveston 2nd place - M. Akitaya, Vancouver
3rd place - Y. Mizutani, Renbu 3rd place - Y. Hayashi, Vancouver
3rd place - S. Cho, Renbu 3rd place - A. Akitaya, Vancouver
Non-Degree 1-2 Dan
1st place - T. Shima, NCKF 1st place - K. Ishikawa, UBC
2nd place - J. Hoang, Seattle 2nd place - J. Marsten, Highline
3rd place - R. Chan, Sunrise 3rd place - J. Higo, Steveston
3rd place - J. Friedman, Everett 3rd place - A. Nemeti, STYO
3rd Dan 4th Dan and Above
1st place - F. Itokazu, COV 1st place - C. Yang, TOR
2nd place - K. Tanaka, Bellevue 2nd place - D. Yang, TOR
3rd place - K. Chinen, COV 3rd place - D. Ara, Renbu
3rd place - A. Okuma, NCKF 3rd place - T. Masukawa, Sunrise
Junior Team Senior Team
1st place - SCKF 1st place - SCKF
2nd place - Obukan 2nd place - Steveston
3rd place - Sunrise
3rd place - Renbu
SCKF Junior Team members
- Sempo: Ryo Eguchi, Torrance
- Jiho: Grace Lee, Torrance
- Chuken: Andy Hamamura, Norwalk
- Fukusho: Tatsuya Hori, Torrance
- Taisho: Jeffrey Chang, Norwalk
SCKF Senior Team members
- Sempo: Jason Brown, Torrance
- Jiho: Katsushi Chinen, Covina
- Chuken: Danny Yang, Torrance
- Fukusho: Fumihide Itokazu, Covina
- Taisho: Chris Yang, Torrance
(thanks to Yuge sensei for the report)