My take on H.

Hasegawa Shihan.

People mention to me of his reign as the All Japan Champion.

I know that, I am aware. That was the whole bells and whistles of the Union.

Mr.Hasegawa was working for my mother and with her at the first floor office where the administration still takes place today. And so did Terutomo Yamazaki, the first All Japan Champion under Sosai. And there were many others. But other's do not use their title in a way that gets tarnished by their actions.  They certainly protect it and honor it to this day. Which is a contrast to what Mr. Hasegawa is doing, in my opinion.


Many great Kyokushin practitioners went their way and became independent.
And from what I can observe they are so grateful to Sosai and mother because they had to trod and pave the path that never were walked before. They are far more grateful to Sosai than those who still cling to the brand value of Kyokushin and abuse it.

My mother spoke fondly of Hasegawa.
That is why it disappoints us to see him do what he does today.

He was pivotal role for the Union with people. He was in the place to make a difference. And he was aware from the very beginning, not to have certain member's of the Union take part in the core decision making process.  Many advised him of his poor choice and selection but he ignored it.


And perhaps worse is he never seemed to have the gusto to make the change. That let the slime get around every corner and crevasse of what could have been a great concept.

And now for him to hop off to next. Where is the sense of accountability? Where is the responsibility ?

I can go on writing about this but...  There is no point.

Just quickly letting you all know where we stand, watching them.

No more abuse please.

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

What Hasegawa and Ooishi breaking up again and again, and again making another group using the name of Kyokushin is wrong, wrong, wrong. There is no justice no matter how well versed they speak about karate.

Someone illustrated their mess as an "ordained priest being a pedophile." Just because they are ordained does not equate them as being a saint.

Just because they were SOSAI 's student and branch chief in the past, it does not automatically make them righteous human beings.

It truly makes me sad to see the waste. And meanwhile unassuming students are being lured to them.

(>:<)

A Moral Obligation...

Long ago, when my father passed away a Japanese politician named Oouchi gave an interview to NHK and Asahi TV here in Japan.

He commented of Sosai's passing as one that:

"Japan lost one of the important cultural representative. Masutatsu Oyama was a man who not only thought of Japan for the Japanese, but thought intently of the Japanese Budo as a gem that passed down  but also was borrowed from future generation. He epitomized karate as the Japanese Budo to the world and extended into something that has never been done- at least not on the same par- as way of communication which broke all traditional barriers, as well as a path for self discovery. He introduced Kyokushin Karate which transcended race, religion, social status and most importantly, reminded us of what we Japanese were forgetting- to live with fervor of one's belief. He learned from everything, he was a sponge. He lived with much awareness- almost fearfully on missing out on something which flared with more passion to achieve his goal- to realize the ultimate strength in one self. Through all obstacles presented to him, he believed in fate. He was born to do what he had done and left. For Oyama Sosai, this was achieved by the karate he created, Kyokushin Karate. I will never forget his desire to help others who were as or more in state of deprivation. He was not born privileged but has given so much privilege to others through his karate. I have never met a man who was as openly imperfect and unbelievably personable as he was. And his perseverance and dedication and focus was astounding. I have never met a person who was so diligent with perfecting his belief and also so generous in sharing his accomplishments. He was such a charming man with an amazingly powerful aura, we were all energized in his presence. He changed the way I see myself and how I live my life. Masutatsu Oyama Sosai taught us to be proud wearing Kyokushin kai Dogi's even if we were not really karate-ka, as if it were something innate in us all. That the Budo was innate in all of us."
(Ouchi Keigo is a politician and former minister of health and welfare. He was one of the many politicians and writers Sosai had as board members of IKOK).

After years of being in court no amount of verdict, favorable can do justice for Sosai Masutasu Oyama's work of life and his influence to the people, both in and out of Kyokushin. It is just a stepping stone to making something better.

I cycled today to the Ministry, and I remembered what I loved about my Dad and my family. It really has so much to do with Kyokushin.

So signing up Sosai's writings and all of his creative work at the Ministry of Culture is a way of giving back to his Kyokushin again.

While I was cycling, I recalled one summer.... I think it was 1992 Summer Camp before the World Tournament in Yugawara Camp site. All the A-class fighters back then were there and I was so happy to see my father happy. I went the the onsen (hot spring) near by with Mother while they did their daily regime- including those endless, endless hours of just.... what seemed like twirling and kicking to me lol. My father watch so intently. It was his life- in moving form I guess, doing accordingly to what he- the God Hand the founder of those movements- were asking them to do. It is almost as if, there were no separation because Sosai understood them as someone on a path of fighting. I do not think his mindset was ever on sport competition... to him it was devotional fighting of the spirit. That can at times be present in tournaments.

If I shift my focus on that which brings me most joy when I think of my father and Kyokushin, I think all the nonsense will eventually evaporate. At least from my world. (^;^)

Blast back from Canada.

Ok, ok I know.

I will get my laptop and website going... Please be patient.

Just a quick update. Kancho and myself went to Canada this passed weekend!!! We had a great time with Shihan Joe Addesso and Sensei Laurier from Ottawa.

For more picture and information please visit Kancho Suzuki on his Facebook (Yoshikazu Suzuki) and Honbu website at Mas-Oyama.com

Hopefully I will get things going soon,....

Oh my GAWD I had this sitting in my draft box when I thought I already posted it!!! So sowwieee everyone.

Spilt Again???

Hi Everyone!

I received quite a few "updates" on a news that Japan Union Rengokai is splitting again, this time into Hasegawa/ Ooishi group. It is so interesting because they hated each other from all the years I have known them.

I am wondering what their purpose is. Motivation other than for their selfish, irresponsible reasons to make meager money and the consequences are always dire on the students. (And the one's who has to be responsible for the actions.)

To make the matter even harder to comprehend, they recruited the people who not just left Honbu, but has been expelled by Honbu. Cameron Quinn and few others. I guess they will recruit and grade anything, which always were the case with what I observed with the Rengokai over the years.

It is sad that little lessons been learned by these  people. They caused and continues to cause so much trouble in Kyokshin Karate and the in world of Kyokushin. The worst part is, they have no qualm about doing it.

Hasegawa and Ooishi were one of the key people who originally made the Union, stating many legal inaccuracies to lure members. However back then, we all hoped that they will do some justice... (Sigh).

I was certainly jubilant they tried to win their independence on their own. I felt they were trying to earn it, instead being handed to them, or more like, taking it is not theirs!!!


Rengokai had a nice mission statement which we wanted to believe in but did not take long for them to change course. We are no fortune tellers but it would not be difficult to predict similar pattern of behavior from these men.


"There are no short cuts to success."  - Will Smith.