Compulsary Budo
 

Saw this being discussed on the news this morning.

http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/seiji/...10041000c.html

The gist is that Japanese junior high schools are on the way to introducing compulsary budo education for all 1st and 2nd year students. The central education comission has finalised a report outlining details of the scheme. Among other things students will be able to choose between kendo, judo and sumo classes. This follows on from last years aims to promote respect for traditional culture among students.

The goal of this whole program is essentially to increase respect for traditional culture, and to cultivate a sense of respect for country and homeland. Basically fostering patriotism. Also fostering growth, teamwork and chances to enter into competitions.

Presently 1st year students can choose between budo and dance elective classes, whereas 2nd and 3rd years can choose 2 from budo, ball sports, and dance for electives.

With cooperation from sports universities and local dojo and sports halls they hope to improve teaching skills in the near future and a budget of 5000万円 has been set out to do this.


I think this is a pretty interesting story on the whole. Lots of older people here seem to dislike the idea of teaching budo because it reminds them of the war era. I suppose the government hope they can instill some budo seishin into the students, but I wonder how much of that can be achieved in ony two years of training.

On the upside I suppose this is good grassroots level action to preserve aspects of Japanese culture, which for most young people have little or no appeal. If you can foster some development and growth at the same time, well that's great.

In Kagoshima there are a few schools where Yakumaru Ryu is compulsary for 1st and 2nd years, which is great in my opinion.

Kendo is married to the Japanese school system, so I wondered what kendo people thought about this issue.

As an aside someone posted the following video on youtube, which explains one of the initial reasons why budo was allowed back into Japanese education by the GHQ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHoBEjEVJg

I think those 2 years of training can lead a lot of those students into continuing the training.

Interesting post.

Kendo as a vehicle for nationalism....no thanks. Been done before.

Besides my personal thoughts in the matter, the teacher that I was speaking about it to now says "monbugashusho is running amok" .. not just about this issue, but others. This aikoku stuff is nationalism by another name.

Here are some basic hurdles to their plan of re-arming the nation with budo spirit:

1. There arent enough teachers who are budo people.
2. There are almost no competitions that cater for beginner students.
3. You cant treat kids strictly anymore.

They cant be serious about this budo seshin stuff until they address 3... ie control of the schools by the PTA and the inibility for teachers and schools to punish kids.

As an aside, I wonder how the people who thought this through would react to a non-Japanese person teaching "Japanese spirit" to their kids....

It must depend on what a particular school offers. I have worked in schools in Hiroshima and Osaka... no budo. No kendo-bu until now, and thats tiny.

I think they would do a crappy version of kendo, judo, naginata, and sumo, whatever, and will lead to most of them not continuing past school. Have you seen the "Yagyu Shinkage-ryu" they force the kids to practise at Yagyu High School?

Meet you behind the bike sheds for a fag?

Was that the "shugyo" at Oxford?

Deja'vu or have we done this one before????
No way I says. In my experience nationalism doesn't bring out the best in Japanese.
Yes. Yikes.

I'm sharing the sentiments when it comes to nationalism / patriotism.

Other than that. Cool. With provisions for them still being children of course.

1st year student? How old is that?

About 12.

Basically - if it happens - its meant to instill dicipline, national pride, respect for your elders and what not. Of-course, it wont. It will probably turn into a "try Japans national sports" day.

Anyway, after chatting to my P.E. teacher he reckons it will only be suburi and the like... from a manual even. Might be a bit more studying about it in class rather than doing it.