★武蔵先生御命日
◎Friday, May 19thThis day is a special day to me.About some 400 years ago, Musashi Miyamoto passedaway in Kumamoto.As you all know well, I worship or admire him.I love him very much,because he's a man of creativity, innovation, originality,fortitude, daily practice, pragmatist, philosophy,town developer and arts.It's clear that Musashi did everything he could tomaster the Way of Martial Arts called "heiho(兵法)".He did lots of pictures, made some tools formartial art fight, gardens in Akashi and even designedCastle Town of Akashi(明石城下町).This is one of his hidden facts about his life.I can fully understand why he did lots of things, whichseemed to have nothing to do with kendo.He must have applied everything he learned frommany industrial fields to the Way of Martial Arts.One more thing about Musashi:Do you know that his book titled 五輪書 has beentranslated into different languages.Especially English version of his book is well-reputedover the world, especially among business people.On May 19th, the performance of 二天一流 is heldin front of his grave, named 武蔵塚 in Kumamoto.Speaking of his grave, there are 5 or more gravesof Musashi all over Japan.One in Kumamoto, one in Kokura where his stepson,伊織 spent his life there as a splendid staff memberto the Lord of Ogasawara, one in Okayama,one in Nagoya, where Musashi developed his techniqueinto 円明流 and had his 道場 (I used to live near this grave inNagoya just about 10 years ago right before returning toIizuka, and one in 行徳, Chiba Pref.After his death, his ashes were sent to the above areasin Japan in reply to the request of his pupils.If you go to the top of Mr. Tamuke(手向山) in Moji,you will find a big stone monument.(Also you will enjoy a good view of 巌流島 from the summit.)The monument is about 3 meters tall.The epitaph of Musashi was inscribed in 漢文 on the monument.This epitaph starts with his last words or will(遺言):It goes "天を仰げば実相円満、兵法逝去して絶えず"This means that "The time is over when we fight with swords underthis peaceful regime.The spirit of fighting is over, too.However, the spirit of the Way will remain alive forever."I think Iori(宮本伊織, one of the sons Musashi adopted)set up this stone monument on 手向山so that this monument could face to 巌流島 for therepose of the soul of 佐々木巌流 who was killedby the Hosokawas' samurais after the famous duel.I would like to follow the Way of English just like he did the Way of 兵法.Then, I would like to teach English to my 弟子s just like he did tohis pupils. Pragmatism comes first.(英語は、通じてナンボです).In a way, communicatability talks in the way of English.By the way, Musashi was adopted by 宮本無二斎 when he was a child.無二斎 was an expert in 十手術、fighting with a sword in one hand and十手(a metal truncheon) in another hand.Munisai taught 十手術 to Musashi and Musashi developedthis martial art into 円明流 around the age of 21 or so,and into 二刀一流 around the age of 30 and then into二天一流 in his later life.Musashi took three children out of his relatives.Later, Musashi sent three children to 小笠原藩、本多家 and other respectively.By sending his three sons to these major houses,Musashi took the position as a consultant for thesehouses.ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーOn the anniversary of Musashi's death, I was able to have an English lessonwith one of my deshis, a college student.In this lesson, I taught her English through 二刀流 style.We also prepared for the speech she would be supposed to do forthe regular meeting of Toastmasters Club to be held in the following day.-------------------------------------------------------------【Ken's Office】