Our Heartiest condolences to Mr Hiroshi Watanabe 7th dan of Suginami Kendo Federation on his passing on the 14th of October 2007
Watanabe sensei was the leader of the delegation of Suginami kendoka that came to Brunei on the 24th of March 2007. Some would argue that this was the eye opener for Brunei; a realisation that the world of Kendo was a big one, and that day will go down in history as one of the most important.
Watanabe sensei opened our eyes to waza techniques which can be utilised in shiai. Shiai was (perhaps is still not) a strong point of Brunei Kendo's training regime due to our lack of knowledge on the subject but Watanabe sensei showed us a whole other side of Kendo that we had not seen.
But more importantly, Watanabe was one of many influential sensei who had made his mark in Brunei, despite however many number of days he may have stayed here, his impression on us, was a lasting one. We will always remember him and appreciate his contribution to Kendo.
Cheers to Watanabe sensei. Arigatou Gozaimasu.
*rei*
