Beppu has by now become a familiar city to me. This year marks my fourth visit, and while I know some areas particularly well, others still remain largely unexplored. Beppu possesses a unique atmosphere that is difficult to find in Germany. On the one hand, there is the sea, which is also present in my home region; yet here the mountains rise almost immediately behind it—a geographical feature we do not have in this form in Germany.
My journey took me from Ryūgasaki first by train to Haneda Airport, and from there by plane to Ōita Airport. An airport express bus then brought me to Beppu. As in all the previous years, I stayed at the same hotel—one with an onsen—where I relaxed my muscles twice a day in order to cope with the demands of the intensive daily training.
Prior to my arrival, I had written two Japanese articles about Kyoda Jūhatsu, which I had not yet been able to read in printed form. This time, however, the magazines were sent directly to Beppu, allowing me to receive them there in person.
As in previous years, my daily training followed a familiar rhythm, with a clear focus on deepening and refinement. I also had the opportunity to take my first dan examination in Beppu. Although I had originally decided not to write about my gradings, I feel it is important to mention this occasion, as there will be more to report on it in the future. On Saturday, most members of Tō’on-ryū came together to celebrate, and I am truly grateful to be part of this community.
In addition to the daily training sessions, extensive note-taking, and regular visits to the onsen, I took walks almost every day through Beppu Park and also visited the Ōita Prefectural Library to learn more about the history of the city and the individuals associated with Tō’on-ryū. I also visited several shrines in Beppu to pray for my family and all the friends around me.
I also visited the former house of Kyoda Jūkō sensei, where he lived with his father, as well as the graves of the Kyoda family and the grave of Kanzaki Shigekazu, where I offered prayers for their souls. I expressed my gratitude for being part of Tō’on-ryū Karate-dō and promised to train even more deeply than before.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of Tō’on-kai and Ikeda sensei for the many instructive training days, and I hope to return again as soon as possible, just as I do in Ryūgasaki.
After my stay in Beppu, I traveled together with Ikeda sensei to a very special place—one where research into Tō’on-ryū takes precedence above all else.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 