Three 7th Level Kendo-ka await their turn to test for 8th Level, the
highest level that can be officially graded. Though ten levels exist,
the tenth level is the equivalent to an enlightenment in the sport, and
is rarely given.
Unfortunately,
as we feared, Nicky and I both caught something on Friday, and have
been mostly bedridden since. However, despite having chest colds, today
was an important day: Okusa-sensei, Nicky’s kendo instructor from
Canada, and also the President of the Canadian Kendo Federation, came to
Kyoto to watch the 8th Level grading for his friend. He invited us to
come along, and though I didn’t understand most of what was going on, it
was still fun.
Perhaps my favorite moment was when
one of the examinees yelled ‘sou desu ne’ for his kiai, which is pretty
much “That’s true” in English. It was quite entertaining.
After the match, we all decided to get
lunch together, so we went back to central Kyoto, where Okusa-sensei
would be meeting his friends, to look for lunch. We went down several
alleyways I’ll probably never be able to find again, and while doing so
we passed by this recycle shop that was having a massive kimono sale...
they were selling obi for only $10! It’s too bad we didn’t have any
money on us.
We found
a nice little ramen store on one of the streets, with a chef who was
missing most of his teeth, but, that old man knew how to cook! The ramen
had the most delicious smell to it, and he wasn’t stingy with his
ingredients. Nicky and I both got slices of pork in our ramen that were
easily 3cm thick. It was really tasty, and just what our bodies needed
just then. Afterwards, we said our goodbyes and Nicky and I headed home.
We tried watching “Insidious” but it wasn’t scary at all. Still, a good
day!