Summer 2023 Newsletter: Training Updates

Summer Sesshin 2023

Twenty students and teachers participated in sesshin in early July that was unique because it did not include any first-timers—everyone had completed at least one sesshin previously. An additional seven students attended in the evenings.

Nick Alamia flew in from Hilo on Hawaii Island to participate; and Ada Chan, Christine Cordero, Raul Betancourt, and Nicholas Wong traveled from the West Coast. Andrew Ching served as the jikijitsu and the kitchen was led by Sayama Roshi, Geraldine Abergas, and Raul Betancourt, with support from handaikan Makana Tavepholjalern, Christopher Sybico, and Kana Ogawa.

Shooting 1,000 Arrows

On July 31, Li Nishimura successfully completed a challenge he had designed to shoot 1,000 arrows in a single day. Many other Chozen-ji Kyudo students and Dojo members brought food, collected and returned arrows, and supported the effort in other ways. In total, it took Li approximately nine hours to complete shooting 1,000 arrows.

When asked why he decided to shoot 1,000 arrows, Li responded that "Kyudo is not just shooting arrows at a target. It requires a level of refinement and attention to detail that is tested with lethal capacity."

As part of this challenge, Li also asked for supporters to help create a Kyudo fund for equipment and facilities maintenance. This was so that any future students could train hard in Kyudo, even if they did not have the financial means to purchase their own equipment. In total, he raised $10,801 through his Thousand Arrows!

Zen & Politics 2.0

The second iteration of Zen & Politics: The Way of Public Leadership kicked off May 6 with a weekend of live-in training, then continued for six weeks with weekly zazen and guest lectures before culminating in another weekend of live-in training in mid-June. Guest speakers included Governor John Waihee, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, City Councilwoman Andria Tupola, Colbert Matsumoto, Judge Karen Nakasone, Twinkle Borge, and Zen & Politics 2019 cohort member James Pakele.

The participants came from a diversity of backgrounds, representing banking, state government, education, law, and social activism. Through training in zazen, martial arts, and fine arts, they all gained new tools and perspectives for how to approach their work as leaders in the public sector.

Aikido Shodan

On Saturday, August 5, Cyrus Nii received his shodan in Aikido from Chris Harano Sensei and Gary Omori Roshi. Cyrus is the third member of the Nii family to recently receive their shodan in Aikido, as his sister Caia and his father Darren received theirs in 2020.