Tōbukan Gate 東武館門Dojo Name: Mito Tōbukan 水戸東武館
Arts Practiced: Kendō, Iaidō, Naginata, Hokushin Ittō-ryū kenjutsu (北辰一刀流)
Location: Mito, Ibaraki-ken, Japan
Completion Date: 1 January Meiji 7 (1874)
Summary: A dōjō of original period construction completed at the same time Japan transitioned from feudalism to industrialization, representing the kind of space a samurai would have actually trained in. Continue reading
Yamaoka Tesshū's memorial 山岡鉄舟の碑Once again it is hanami (花見/cherry blossom viewing) season in Tokyo. On the way to the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, a stopover was made to the grave of Yamaoka Tesshū (山岡 鉄舟) near Nippori station (JR Yamanote line). 
There is not much I could say about Yamaoka Tesshū that could not be dug up with a bit of internet searching. Nevertheless, a brief introduction will be useful. Yamaoka Tesshū was famous for his swordsmanship, calligraphy and study of Zen Buddhism. He lived during the Bakumatsu1. During this period of strife he was kenjutsu instructor to the Rōshigumi (浪士組), which, like its more well known off-shoot the Shinsengumi (新選組), were a “police” unit composed of rōnin dedicated to the preservation of the Continue reading
Contemporary architectural sightseeing in Japan is a bit easier to plan with this site: http://www.archi-map.jp/map_index_00.htm
Kuma Kengo’s new café design in Dazaifu is absent from the Fukuoka list so I’m not sure how often this site gets updated.
Thanks to Suzuki Chisato for the link.
new Noma Dojo's jōdan'noma, tokonoma and kamidana 新野間道場の控えの間と床の間と神棚In researching the original Noma Dōjō I came across two terms that are useful in understanding the elements of a dōjō. They are:
Jōdan’noma (上段の間) – this is a slightly raised seating area (seiza/kneeling style) at the shōmen or jōseki end, usually with a tatami floor. In the case of both the new and original Noma Dōjō, this was at the north/jōseki end of the hall. A Continue reading
tokonoma of new Noma Dojo 新野間道場の床の間Dojo Name: Noma Dojo 野間道場
Arts Practiced: Kendo (principally)
Location: Gokokuji, Bunkyo-ku, Tōkyō, Japan
Dojo Owner: Kodansha Publishers Ltd.
Summary: For kendoists, this dojo needs no introduction. For everyone else, Noma Dojo is a private dojo open to the public that continues the long legacy of the original much beloved hall in central Tokyo’s Bunkyo-ku. Continue reading
basic dojo layout 普通の道場の設計The thought came to mind to post about a basic or classic dojo layout and the reasons for the layout being at such. Until now, I have been hesitant to present this partly out of a feeling I have not yet understood this subject conclusively. However, this subject recently became the topic of two blog entries by Geoff Salmon, a kendo kyoshi 7-dan sensei, on his blog kendoinfo.net, thus pre-empting my intentions (7-dan always do this too me). The discussion on that blog confirmed some Continue reading 
Shinjuku Cosmic Center 新宿コズミックセンターFacility Name: Shinjuku Cosmic Center 新宿コズミックセンター
Facilities: sprung wooden floor dojo, mat dojo, kyudojo (archery), general sports halls including pool, conference facilities
Location: Okubo, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo 東京都新宿区大久保
Construction Type: concrete
Summary: budojo facilities within a community sports center
Continue reading
Kaohsiung Butokuden 高雄武徳殿 (photo by wife)Dojo Name: Kaohsiung Butokuden 高雄武徳殿
Arts Practiced: Kendo, Iaido, Hyoho Niten-Ichi-ryu, Aikido, Brazilian Jujutsu, Taiko Drumming
Dojo Leader: Chen Xin-Huan 陳 信寰, kyoshi 7-dan kendo, 11th generation soke Hyoho Niten-Ichi-ryu
Location: Kaohsiung Taiwan 高雄市台湾
Construction Type: brick, steel roof
Summary: A pre-war Japanese era butokuden in Taiwan
Continue reading
Chiayi Ming-Hsiung High School Kendo 嘉義民雄國中劍道部Dojo Name: Chiayi Ming-Hsiung High School Kendo Department 嘉義民雄國中劍道部
Arts Practiced: Kendo
Location: Ming-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Taiwan (台湾嘉義縣民雄鄉)
Dojo Leader: Dr. Hung Chin-Yen 洪 欽炎, 6-dan
Construction Type: concrete; steel roof (likely)
Summary: A simple stand alone dojo that is part of a high school sports complex
Continue reading
Geidai's sports center entrance 芸大スポーツセンター入口 Dojo Name: Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku Kuromon 東京芸術大学 黒門
Arts Practiced: Kendo
Location: Tokyo University of the Arts, Ueno/Uguisudani, Tokyo, Japan
Dojo Leader: Takahashi Toru 高橋 亨, kyoshi 7-dan
Construction Type: insitu-concrete frame; steel roof frame
Summary: A large semi-purpose built training hall that is part of a university’s facilities. Continue reading
