Bujinkan Santa Monica

高木 Takagi. photo by Michael Glenn Based on a lucky tip from one of my favorite blogs, Japan This! , I explore deep into Tokyo’s history from when the Samurai held the high ground of the yamanote in old Edo. What I found was surprise for me and for any Bujinkan student. https://youtu.be/Dy0Y2MGVbCs I got off the at the right train stop and started walking through the neighborhood. But my map and these shadowed early morning streets didn’t make me very confident I was on the right path. I was about to enter a konbini to ask for directions, when a police officer on a bicycle rode up. He parked outside the 7-11 and went inside. I followed. My Japanese is not awesome, but I have had good luck with getting directions from Japanese police in the past. So while he was browsing the potato chips, I approached him like the dumb tourist I was. He seemed a bit bothered, but gave me the “chotto matte,” so he could finish his shopping. He seemed to be buying drinks and snacks for a few peo...

五條天神社で、お焚き上げ otakiage preparations at Gojoten jinja. photo Michael Glenn Last time I attacked Hatsumi Sensei , he disappeared. It left me very confused. But Hatsumi Sensei described it this way, “This is a way to control. You’ve got to be a shadow. He won’t believe that I’m avoiding.“ The next day I ran some errands in Tokyo. The local shrines were already beginning their new year’s preparations. I stopped and stared at a pile of wood that was made ready for the お焚き上げ otakiage bonfire. Fire can purify and burn away problems from the previous year.  I kept thinking about what happened in yesterday’s class with Soke. How did he disappear? That was what I was stuck on. I thought, next time I get that chance, I am going to really try to hit him and see what happens. If anything goes wrong, the year is almost over and I can throw myself into the fire. In Hatsumi Sensei’s next class, he asked me to punch at him. I decided this time I would go for it! I really tried and he di...