Figure 1.--Here we see Japanese high school students being given an introduction to kendo, I think in 2005. Thdy wear their gym uniforms rather than traditional costumes. |
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Kendo is one of the marshal arts in which a weapon is used. Kendo means "the Way of the sword" in Japan. The primary weapon of a Japanese Samuri was his sword. Kendo is the art of Samurai swordsmanship. It can be translated as Japanese fencing, but this does not capture its true meaning. "Ken" or tsurugi is the Japanese character meaning "sword". The character for "Do" or michi translates as "way" or "path" which translates as "The way of the sword". Thus kendo is not merely a sport like fencing in the West, but an entire philosophical tradition--litteraly a way of life learned through kendo training. Kendo is deeply rooted in the traditions of Budo or Bushido--the Martial Way. Kendo was once much more popular in Japan than it is today. We note a school kendo club at the Toba Shousen High School in the 1900s.
This was especially during the pre-World War II period when the militarists controlled Japan. Many officers were skilled in kendo and it is widely taught in Japanese schools. The skill and admiration with the sword was one reason why the Japanese during the War would execute prisonors by cutting their heads off. Kendo is still taught in Japanese schools, but I am not sure to swhat extent. For boys learning kendo, a kind of rod or batan. There are traditional costumes for kendo. Boys learning kendo in high school, however, usually wear their school gym uniforms. As far as I know, even in school, kendo is only practiced by boys.
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