2014 Taikai Inauguration Ceremony

/ The Second World Kyudo Taikai (Paris) 2014

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(In the front row from left to right):
Claude Luzet, Director of National Kyudojo of Noisel; Jerome Chouchan, Director of the International Kyudo Federation; Takeo Ishikawa, President of the International Kyudo Federation; Izuru Kato, Director of the International Kyudo Federation; Chrles-Louis Oriou, Director of the International Kyudo Federation.

The Second World Kyudo Taikai will be held in Paris on July 2014. To commemorate the hosting of the Taikai, a Press Conference and Taikai Inauguration Ceremony was held on April 4th at the residence of the French Ambassador in Minato-Ward, Tokyo.


The Second World Kyudo Taikai (Paris) Press Conference

This is the first time that the World Kyudo Taikai will be held overseas, outside of Japan. In France, there are many Japanese Budo enthusiasts. People in France are becoming increasingly interested in Kyudo from watching demonstrations held at the Japan Expo or at universities. Meanwhile, the first public dojo will be opening in Paris and will provide a good opportunity for French-Japanese culture exchanges.

The slogan of the International Kyudo Federation is “With harmony and piece of mind; Kyudo ties together the people of the world.” During the press conference, IKYF President Takeo Ishikawa stated “The World Taikai will have Kyudo enthusiasts from 30 different countries coming together. We would like to spread Kyudo as a traditional of Japanese culture to the world.” Jerome Chouchan, Taikai Executive Committee Vice-Chairman, added “interest in Kyudo among the young in France is increasing. There should be a lot of attention paid to the opening of this World Taikai.”



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Group Photo with Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (pictured in the center):
(From the left to right) Nobuteru Ishihara, Minister of the Environment; Hirofumi Shimomura, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Christian Masset, Ambassador of France to Japan; Jerome Chouchan, Director of the International Kyudo Federation; Akiko Santo, Diet Assembly Member; Yoshitaka Sakurada, Senior Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The Second World Taikai (Paris) Inauguration Ceremony

Kyudo is a highly regarded form of practice with etiquette inherited from 800 years of Samurai culture. The number of practitioners from around the world have been increasing. In the 2010 World Taikai, France won the team competitions showing the height of their perseverance in Kyudo.
During the Inauguration Ceremony, the opening speech was given by the Honorary President of the International Kyudo Federation, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado followed by a speech from IKYF President Takeo Ishikawa (9th-Dan). Shooting demonstrations from the Team France and Japan, Junior High School students from Miyagi and Akita Prefecture were also held.



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Satsuma-Hekiryu Koshiya Kumiyumi
(Kagoshima Prefecture)

The Koshiya Kumiyumi demonstration received the most attention during the inauguration cememony. It was performed by the designated Cultural Heritage group, the “Satsuma Heki-Ryu Koshiya Kumiyumi” from Izumi, Kagoshima. To see this type of demonstration is rather rare and only performed during special occasions.

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About The International Kyudo Federation

The International Kyudo Federation (IKYF) was founded in 2006 by Kyudo devotees from around the world to pursue the ultimate goal of Shin, Zen,, Bi (Truth, Goodness, Beauty) while cultivating its members through the practice of one of the most traditional of Japanese arts. With Her Imperial Highness the Princess Takamado as Honorary President, the IKYF aims to achieve peace in society throughout the world by strengthen the trust and friendship among its members through the spirit of Kyudo.