My daughter had decided to learn Kendo. She wasn`t interested in Kendo before.
We took her to see a Shiai one day. Then, she saw a lots of Japanese girls participating
in Kendo and they were very energetic and confident than any girls she had ever seen.
You don`t have much opportunity to be in a physically super aggressive situation and while making huge sounds (Kiai) on many occasions.
She feels Kendo could make her more strong, both physically and mentally.
She was totally fascinated with those girls in Kendo.
Also, I told her my cousin Keiko was a Captain of the Hokuryo High school Kendo-club.
She took me to her practice one day when I was 12. She and some other girls' Kiai made me very frightened. I was very scared of that as a child.
My daughter wanted to make Shinai bukuro for her very first Shinai. She asked me to help
her to make idea for decor and choosing the fabric. We went Marukai Japanese Super market in Torrance and found a nice Chirimen fabric. She chose her favorite pattern.
Then we bought a Mustered yellow cotton fabric to match. We measured her Shinai length, and we made a pattern with newspaper. I wanted to teach her from basics on how to make a Shinai bukuro. It is like learning Kendo. She needed to be patient and learn the basics. There is no instant Black belt. I taught her every single detail but I didn`t help her for cutting and sewing. She did it all herself. She was so satisfied with her "first Shinai bukuro" that I named it "Hatsu Haru". This is her New year of Kendo. also, the fabric she chose is showing Spring objects in Japan, such as the Crane, Sakura, and Haze,
----------------Hatsu Haru
New Year, Spring,
Hatsu --- first, New
Haru--- Spring.
