Fukuoka

Trip Start Nov 19, 2005
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Trip End Nov 27, 2005


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Tuesday, November 22, 2005

We took the shinkansen (bullet train) to Fukuoka.  Fukuoka is off the tourist trail, but it was nice to see the more normal size of Japan by visiting one of its financial cities, especially in its Tenjin district.  Then we visited Dazaifu, the historic center of Fukuoka, where we went to the Tenmangu Shrine and the Kyushu Historical Musuem.  Again, we stayed in a traditional Japanese ryokan.

The next morning, we had the priviledge of training in the oldest aikido-judo dojo in the world, the Sekiryu kan in a workout led by Yamada Sensei.  This dojo is part of the Hosenji Temple (the first Zen Temple in Japan), and was where Dr. Jigaro Kano developed modern judo and where Prof. Kenji Tomiki developed Tomiki aikido.  It was incredible to get to workout in such a historic place.

After the workout, we explored the Tochoji Temple, with the largest wooden statue of Kannon in Japan (founded in 806, it is the oldest temple in Fukuoka).  Afterwards, we headed to the 2005 Kyushu Grand Sumo Championship at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.  It was truly magnificent and probably my favorite part of the entire trip.  I was amazed to learn the tradition behind the sport as well as to see a real tournament in action.
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