Kirk here. Another item for bushido fans. I've provided a complete English translation (ChatGPT, of course) for the entire segment.

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Experience Iaido in the “Sacred Land of Miyamoto Musashi” — Over 100 Foreign Visitors! Samurai Tourism in the Spotlight Thanks to Drama and Film

October 3, 2024 (Thursday) 19:07

Currently, Japan’s "Samurai Spirit" is gaining renewed attention.

The drama SHOGUN, produced and starring actor Hiroyuki Sanada, has won an Emmy Award. Additionally, the movie Samurai Time Slipper has become a hit.

Samurai Time Slipper tells the story of a samurai from the late Edo period who time-travels to the present day and knocks on the gates of a period drama filming studio. As attention grows toward the “samurai spirit,” there are opportunities to experience it firsthand in Kumamoto.

"Dogi," "iaido," and "matcha"...

The Kumamoto Bushido Tourism Council offers this experience plan. The plan includes an opportunity to try out the swordsmanship art of iaido at a dojo in the bustling downtown area of Kumamoto City.

The theme of the plan is the invincible swordsman Miyamoto Musashi and his Niten Ichi-ryu style. Under the instruction of Akinori Matsunaga (松永哲典, Matsunaga Akinori), who carries on the Niten Ichi-ryu tradition, more than 100 people from over 10 countries have participated in the experience over the past three years.

Recognizing the promotion of Kumamoto as the “Sacred Land of Miyamoto Musashi” and showcasing the appeal of martial arts and culture, the Kumamoto Bushido Tourism Council received the Attractive Japan Award. Among more than 600 plans handled by the booking site Attractive JAPAN, this experience received the highest rating.

Akinori Matsunaga, representative of the Kumamoto Bushido Tourism Council, said, “We offer iaido as a means of facing oneself. I hope that through this experience, people will spend more time in Kumamoto and learn more about the area.”

In addition to the iaido experience, the plan also allows participants to create Higo inlay accessories and enjoy matcha with local sweets.
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