On February 11, 2017, the Steveston Kendo Club will be hosting the 55th Annual Steveston Kendo Tournament. Ray Murao, head sensei, estimates approximately 350 competitors from 35 dojos or clubs. Murao-sensei stated that these dojos are from North and South California, Hawaii, Toronto, the Prairie Provinces, the Pacific U.S. Northwest and the Greater Vancouver area.
This year, Kelvin Higo, president, noted that the Kendo Club is the recepient of a Richmond Sport Hosting grant that will allow the club to enhance the many activities associated with hosting an event of this size and complexity. This annual tournament is considered to be one of the premiere competitions and is on the “must attend” list for many kendo practitioners.
Higo went on to state that it is only fitting that the Steveston tournament is one of the largest competitions in Canada in that Steveston is the birthplace of kendo in Canada. The first recorded kendo activity was in 1914 and has led to a flourishing local Club since then. Another interesting fact is that since the beginning of kendo in Steveston there have only been four head sensei (instructor) and two of them, Akune-sensei and Murao- sensei have been inducted into the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame.
Anyone interested in attending and viewing the ancient sport of kendo can do so at McMath Secondary School with the competition beginning at 10:00 am after the parade of participants and opening welcome are completed. Admittance is by donation.
