News

Dear friends!

The Festival of Japanese culture and competitions Riga Taikai 2009 have ended.
With this event, we have celebrated 10 years of Kendo in Latvia.
Also this festival was devoted to the commemoration of 35 years of relations between the sister cities of Kobe, Japan and Riga, Latvia.
Sad to say, but this year our friends from Kobe could not come to join us in the celebration of this anniversary, but it seems to me, that we were able to have a worthy celebration.

The main objective of the festival is reached; it is the introduction to traditional Japanese culture in the practice of martial arts, as well as the practice of calligraphy and ikebana.

I am grateful to all senseis who took their time and came to us, showed their art, but also, what is important, gave lectures about BUDO. I express my deep gratitude to Professor Seki Humitake, Dr. Akinaga Hiroyuki, Professor Sato Akira and Professor Nagao Naoshige that they have prepared and gave these lectures. It was very instructive and we will not forget it. It was quite a unique opportunity for true lovers of Japanese martial arts to acquire knowledge directly from first-hand.

By holding this festival, we made a big step in the promotion of Japanese culture in Latvia. We plan to move forward and develop further cultural ties between Latvia and Japan.

A little bit about the official side of the festival.
Within the days of the festival Japanese delegation was welcomed by the Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) Mr. Daudze.



Head of the delegation, Professor Takeda, as a representative of the Japanese side, presented Mr. Daudze and his assistant Mr. Putninsh two calligraphies made by a member of the delegation, master of calligraphy - Mr. Kon Yoshinobu.



After that, the Japanese delegation was acquainted with the Parliament and also told about the principles of the parliamentarians work.



Also they have met with the executive director of the city of Riga- Mr. Radzevichs.









During the opening of gala presentation of the final days of Japanese culture in "Arena Riga" the Ambassador of Japan in the Republic of Latvia Mr. Osanai Takashi gave a speech.



Information about competitions "Riga Taikai 2009":

Kyudo (Individual):
1. Richter Tugrul (Germany).
2. Akimov Oleg (Russia).
3. Belskaya Elena (Russia).

Prize for the best style: Richter Tugrul (Germany).

Kendo (Individual):
1. Janulis Denis (Latvia).
2. Arsenin Denis (Latvia).
3. Margers Pochs и Popovichs Aleksandr (Latvia).

Fighting spirit: Trusov Maksim (Latvia).

Official homepage of the festival: Japan Culture days, Riga Taikai 2009

Also photos and videos are available on our blog: Latvian Kendo Blog

Best regards,

Vladimir Kindzulis
President
Latvian Kendo federation
Latvian Kyudo association