♦ ５月のコラム
♦♦ 人間環境学専攻
♦♦♦ 榛葉健太 准教授
柏キャンパス向かい側の十余二小学校、気持ちを正して体育館のドアを開ける。靴を脱ぎ、一礼してから中に入る。普段は元気な小学生が遊ぶ体育館だが、水曜の夕方には武道を行うための道場となる。柏門剣道部の稽古の時間である。
柏門剣道部は2011年に創設されたサークルであり、主に柏キャンパスに通う学生と教職員から構成される。ずっと剣道を続けている者だけでなく、日本に留学に来て武道に興味を持って始める留学生や、長いブランクを経て再開する者もおり、各自が自分に合ったレベルで剣道を楽しんでいる。日々の稽古の目標として、昇級・昇段審査や、柏市の市民大会への出場があり、一度は市民大会の団体戦で3位になったこともある。
大学院生だった時に創設に関わり、当時は定期的に稽古に足を運び、市民大会にも参加していた。しかし、研究室が本郷キャンパスに引っ越したため疎遠となった。縁あって教員として柏に帰ってくることができ、約10年ぶりの稽古参加となった。当時から参加されている先生が維持してくださり、コロナを乗り越えて、貴重な稽古の場が残っていた。今も、国内外の学生や教職員が汗を流していると聞いた。
10年ぶりに剣を交えたが先生の立ち姿・剣風に変わりはなく、当時を懐かしく思い出した。初参加の方もおり、新鮮な気持ちで稽古をいただいた。稽古不足から後半は足がもつれていたものの、すべてを忘れて集中できる楽しい時間であった。剣道がつないでくれる縁、剣縁に感謝しつつ、一礼して道場を後にした。
♦ May Issue
♦♦ Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies
♦♦♦ Message from Associate Professor Shimba Kenta
Across from the Kashiwa Campus is the Toyofuta Elementary School. With an adjusted mood, I open the door to the gymnasium. I remove my shoes, bow, and then enter. Normally, it’s a gymnasium where energetic elementary school students play, but on Wednesday evenings, it becomes a dojo for practicing martial arts. It is time for the Hakumon Kendo Club practice.
The Hakumon Kendo Club was established in 2011 as a group primarily made up of students and staff from the Kashiwa Campus. It includes not only those who have continued kendo for a long time but also international students who became interested in martial arts while studying in Japan and those who have resumed after a long break. Everyone enjoys kendo at their own level. As daily practice goals, there are promotions and examinations, as well as participation in the Kashiwa city citizens’ tournament, where they once placed third in the team competition.
I was involved in founding the club during my graduate studies, regularly attended practice, and participated in the citizens’ tournament. However, when my lab moved to the Hongo Campus, I became distant from the club. Fortunately, as a faculty member, I had the opportunity to return to Kashiwa and participate in practice for the first time in about 10 years. A teacher who has been participating since then has maintained it, and despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, this valuable place for practice has remained. I heard that students and staff, both domestic and international, are still sweating it out.
I crossed swords with the teacher after 10 years, but his posture and sword style were unchanged, and it brought back nostalgic memories. There were also first-time participants, and I practiced with a fresh feeling. Although I was getting tangled up due to a lack of practice in the second half, it was a fun time that allowed me to forget everything and concentrate. Grateful for the connection kendo has provided, I bowed and left the dojo.
