Toronto Kendo Club's 45th Anniversary Tournament

On July 12, the Toronto Kendo Club held its 45th Anniversary Tournament at the Markham Pan Am Centre. Representatives from numerous dojos and university kendo clubs from across Canada participated in the tournament, competing to demonstrate the results of their hard work. Also in attendance as guests were Mr. Roy Asa, former President of the Canadian Kendo Federation and former Vice President of the International Kendo Federation, and Mr. Tagawa Yoshiteru, Vice President of the International Kendo Federation and Chief Executive Advisor to the All United States Kendo Federation. At the opening ceremony, Consul-General Matsunaga Takeshi delivered remarks along with Toronto Kendo Club founder Kimura Shigeo, Canadian Kendo Federation President Hyun-June Choi, and Ontario Kendo Federation President Brian Asa.

Since its founding in 1980, the Toronto Kendo Club has led the Canadian kendo scene with the motto "Ko Ken Chi Yu" (creating bonds through crossing swords), and over the past 45 years, the club has made a significant contribution to promoting friendly relations between Japan and Canada through the spread of the Japanese martial art of kendo in culturally diverse Toronto and surrounding areas. The club is also committed to nurturing the next generation kendoka and has fostered many players for the Canadian junior team.