Taniyama visit, past webpage entries:

• Initial entry 5/27/97
  ... Tom Tew has offered to help in inviting Yurika Taniyama, a former women's kendo champion of Japan, to Southern California to practice with us. Taniyama-san is with the Kyoto Police Department and was the captain of the Japan Women's A team in Kyoto. The schedule will depend on Taniyama-san's availability but we are targeting late summer or fall of this year.
  ... We are also planning to invite Saeko Tatsumi, Tom's friend and also with the Kyoto Police Department. However, since she is a detective on the force Tatsumi-san's work schedule is very severe so she may be unable to come.
  ... A group of WKA members approached Taniyama-san at the 10WKC in Kyoto and she was very receptive to the idea. Since then Tatsumi-san has contacted her and also Yuriko and Masashi Shikai have spoken with her.
  ... The next step is to write a formal letter to the Kyoto Police Department. Tom has experience doing this (he wrote a similar letter for Tatsumi-san to come and practice kendo here last May) and has volunteered to help. The letter should be translated into Japanese.
  ... We also need to do fundraising to cover airfare and expenses. We will sell candy and ask for donations at the So Calif Championships in May and tentatively at the Nisei Week Tournament in August.
  ... Tom has volunteered to house the guests and take vacation time off to take them around. Several donation offers have also been received.

• Update 6/26/97
  ... Tom Tew informed us that the initial indications are that the visit is on and it will probably be in November. At this point it appears that Tatsumi-san will be unable to come. However, Taniyama-san has two other strong women kenshi who would like to come; they realize we can only sponsor a total of two people. Tom had volunteered to house the guests, however with three it will be difficult. We need to start planning the detailed schedule and logistics of their visit, as well as further fundraising.
  ... A formal letter has been sent to the Kyoto Police Department; many thanks to Tom for undertaking this effort and for getting it translated into Japanese.

• Update 7/15/97
  ... Taniyama-san called Yuriko to inform us that she would be able to fly out on 11/17/97 and stay for one week. 11/17 is a Monday; she has a tournament that weekend and cannot come sooner. Nahoko Yamamoto, also with the Kyoto Police Department, will accompany her.
  ... Yuriko will work with the Kamasawa's at Chuo to arrange air transportation.
  ... Several women from outside So. Cal. have expressed interested in coming out for this event.

• web info
  ... The "future events" web page carried the basic trip info (except written in future tense) and the following paragraphs:

  Please come and encourage others to attend the godo keiko on Saturday at Norwalk Dojo and sayonara dinner at a nearby restaurant (approx cost $20 per person). We have reservations for 50 people at the Todai Restaurant in Norwalk.

  Note: There will be no charge for any of the activities other than the restaurant on Saturday. However, those attending the women's seminar who have not participated in the WKA fundraisers may wish to donate something to help us offset the airfare, hotel, meals, and sightseeing expenses. Totally voluntary of course! Cash may be donated directly to WKA, or tax deductible checks may be made out to SCKF (specify "for WKA"). Note that the WKA does not have a checking account and cannot accept checks directly.

• For more information see meeting minutes: 04/27/97, 08/03/97, 09/12/97, 10/05/97

  ---

  [ WKA home ]