Hidden Influence: Japan Report One 令和6年

I’m off to Japan again. Every trip has a hidden influence so it feels fresh for me. I get excited leading up and preparing for travel. I get excited in the airports, on the planes, and on the trains. I always make big plans to do things in Japan, to visit places, to learn from specific teachers, to meet with friends I haven’t seen in a long time… But when I get there, Japan has other ideas for me.

The reality on the ground decides for me. I let Japan decide what I will be doing on that day, or on that trip. Then each trip becomes a unique experience in itself.

During one class with Hatsumi Sensei, he spoke of 幽玄の世界 Yūgen no sekai. He said it was like purposely taking a picture that was out of focus. He said you don’t want the focus to be too sharp. Instead you feel it with your eyes, your skin, and your heart.

I drive my curiosity just by noticing things. I try to notice the little details the country and the culture. I record things, I take notes in the dojo. This allows me to share with people who are interested. I’m very lucky to have been to Japan so many times. I know that not everyone can travel like this. So this is an experience I cherish.

隱身威光: Hidden Influence

After I arrived, I decided it might be nice to find some inspiration in Soke’s art. I know a place that has a sample copy of Dojo Giga that I could read. When I cracked open the book, my eyes fell on a painting with the title of 隱身威光: Hidden Influence.

The painting is very vibrant and has two figures, 天照大御神 Amaterasu Ōmikami and her brother 須佐之男命 Susano’o no Mikoto. It appears to be a scene from 天の岩戸 Ama-no-Iwato, in which Susano’o misbehaved and drove his sister into hiding in the cave. Since she is basically the Sun goddess, this plunged the whole world into darkness.

No matter how much Amaterasu defended her brother, he continued to misbehave and treated her badly. She became depressed and withdrew into a cave, removing her divine light from the world. Disappearing into the cave is symbolic of a type of death and depression. People who are depressed often withdraw into a cave of their own making.

As the story goes, the world was in darkness. Nothing would grow so starvation and famine spread. Various demons took advantage and rose up to plague humanity.

All of the other Kami became desperate to get her light back out into the world. No matter how much they pleaded with her, she would not come out. They even tricked roosters to crow as if the sun was rising. None of it worked.

They hatched a plan to make her jealous. They constructed a bronze mirror (one of the three treasures of Japan) and threw a big party outside the cave. The Shintō party goddess, 天宇受賣命 Ama no Uzume no Mikoto, began a wild dance outside the cave that was part comedy, part strip tease.

This amused all of the Kami so much that they grew festive and cheered loudly. Amaterasu heard all of this revelry and decided to peek out of the cave to see what had everyone so excited. Through this small opening, her light flashed out and caught the mirror.

She asked them why they were celebrating and they told her that there was a Kami greater than her outside the cave. She had to see this so she came out and her gaze caught her own reflection in the mirror. The other Kami quickly shut the cave behind her and sealed it with a Shimenawa.

In Japan, you find Shimenawa at shrines and even in the dojo. These ropes delineate a sacred space from the everyday world. So when you pass that threshold it is a type of rebirth into your sacred self. That is a nice cure for depression!

The kanji Hatsumi Sensei wrote on the painting are translated as “hidden influence.” But 隱身 kakurimi means you’re hiding yourself or become invisible. And 威光 ikō is a very intense and powerful light that is transcendent.

So you might hide or disappear within this divine light. Our training is hidden like this. This is why people with dark agendas or personalities can’t find the essence of our training. Even when they come to our dojo.

Hatsumi Sensei’s painting is asking us questions. The answers come in many layers. I’m glad I started my trip viewing this painting so it can be a “hidden influence” over my training.

Class with Nagato Sensei

After my art reverie, I went to Nagato Sensei’s class where I was immediately charged with the sign in sheet and taking money. Luckily the class was small, maybe only 15 people. Helping them sign in allowed me to say hello to each one.

Nagato Sensei had a “volunteer” demonstrate to open class. This person did a very elaborate technique that included 3 spins. I guess it was nice that his uke waited patiently for the wrist lock.

But Nagato Sensei used this wild use of space to explore. He did many pass throughs and hand offs of the locked wrist. All the while pressuring with his elbows or using his legs to stop or lock up the opponent so they were trapped.

Nagato Sensei’s footwork is quite refined. He used a lot of cross steps to lock up the opponent or even sweep their feet out from under them. His legs kept the opponent frozen in space. This even included submissions like a dō jime.

Class with Paul Masse

After that class I took a small break for lunch and went back to the dojo for the next class with Paul Masse. Paul is a friend so training with him feels like sharing. He often asks for my input in class or for me to share what I remember from training with Hatsumi Sensei.

And the great thing is, my memories will trigger a waterfall of Paul’s own training memories with Soke over the last 30 plus years here in Japan. He started off class very advanced with a subtle use of 刀匿 tōtoku. But he quickly realized he needed to simplify for the small group that was at the Honbu dojo. He changed to a grab and punch defense.

But, I kept pushing for the more advanced material. So he began to use 虚実 kyojitsu to access hidden weapons. At one point he let the attacker drop, who then seemed to just fall into position.

Paul told us that Hatsumi Sensei called this 回経つ外力 Kaitatsu Gairyoku. This is kind of a mechanical effect such as using gravity to unbalance. But it has larger implications because you are inviting the powers of nature to assist you.

Gravity is the most obvious force in the dojo. But we are surrounded by many natural forces at all times. Which of these can be your “hidden influence” to help you prevail in a fight?

Powers of nature don’t have to be invited, they’ll just show up. Kind of like how I just show up in Japan. If you’d like to learn more about my trip please look for Japan Report Two 令和6年 coming soon.