Sasebo community learns about samurai and swords

Sasebo community learns about samurai and swords

By Greg Tyler, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, August 24, 2005


SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — An area scholar of the Japanese samurai
culture and a pair of kendo masters visited the Harbor View Club on
Sunday and presented a lecture about samurai, a display of centuries-
old swords and an exhibition of ancient kendo movements.

Navy spouse Holly Mateikat counts among her friends samurai scholar
and collector Naomi Itoh, fifth-degree kendo master Ikuo Matsuo and
his teacher, eighth-degree master Tsuyoshi Fukugawa. She thought an
event showcasing Japanese culture could be a rich experience for the
base community.

"I felt it would serve to help Americans understand and appreciate
the culture of our host country," she said. "I also hoped it would
enhance the relationship established between our two countries.

"It was wonderful for my Japanese friends, too. They were truly
flattered and appreciative that we were so interested in their
culture and traditions."

The event, hosted by the base Morale, Welfare and Recreation
department, started with the lecture, which was translated for those
attending, and was followed by the martial arts exhibition.

"Seeing some of the real samurai swords here was cool, especially
with some being more than 300 years old," said Sasebo dependent Leif
Bogen. "I've never seen the razor-sharp real ones before, just the
cheap ones in stores," he added.

"This was very interesting, especially the history of the swords,"
said Navy spouse Christopher Lambert.

The culture-sharing event is of the sort MWR Director Scott
Poluhowich said he'd like to host more often.

"We try and, certainly, we'd like to have more events like this," he
said. "It's just a matter of making contacts in the area community
who are willing to volunteer, and having people from the base
community suggest and assist in making the connections."


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