Kangeiko

Monday, January 16th, 5:30 a.m.

The morning is cold, it is still dark as we bow towards the shrine and enter the grounds of Meiji-jingu. Fog drifts over meadows and lakes. It is Monday, the first day of Kangeiko, winter training.

The Dojo is full of people hastily changing into their Keikogi and Hakama. Rhythmic stomping of Shiko can be heard out of the large training hall. We get changed quickly and join in to drive away the cold. Inaba-sensei tells us to get on shoes and meet outside the Dojo. We run to the shrine, shouting ichi-ni-san-chi ichi-ni-san-chi! There we pray for the success of Kangeiko. Back in the Dojo Inaba-sensei lets us practice Kokyu-ho. One hour of training has passed so quickly.

Tuesday, January 17th, 5:30 a.m.

On the way to the Dojo, we notice a little ice on the pond inside of Meiji-Park, it seems to be getting colder. Today Sasada-sensei is teaching us. After some Shiko we train our balance with different partners.

Wednesday, January 18th, 5:30 a.m.

The ice on the pond is getting more. Watanabe-sensei teaches us wrestling techniques. We have a lot of fun and are surprised by the similarities to Aikido, taking each others balance for example.

Thursday, January 19th, 5:30 a.m.

Today is the first day we will do Misogi, cleansing of body and soul. I don’t notice the ice on the pond, I am too preoccupied with the thought of pouring cold water over me while wearing only a swimsuit and a kimono. At the Dojo we get changed quickly, meet in the large hall, were Inaba-sensei gives last instructions for the Misogi. Everybody looks very determined. We run to the Misogi hall again shouting and counting. There we change into Kimono, the men already wait outside only wearing the fundoshi. We stand bare feet on frozen ground and do the boat rowing exercise, singing waka poems composed by Meiji Tenno. After three or four verses of singing we enter the Misogi hall. There we line up in front of the basins continue singing, rowing, gathering Ki, communicating with the Gods. After some time Inaba-sensei tells us to put the left hand to the hip, raise the right hand to the sky, two fingers stretched out, then point to the water three times. One-raise and point, two- raise and point, three- raise and point. Then- grab the bucket and pour, pour, pour- throw the water at you, yell, shout. Within seconds everything is soaking, the cold Kimono sticks to the skin. Inaba-sensei manages to raise his voice over the ear piercing yelling and tells to stop. We row and gather Ki again. We sing the poems. We raise our hand to the sky again three times and repeat the water throwing. Again he tells us to stop, the basin is already half empty. I cant tell how much time has passed, it could be hours or minutes. We repeat the singing and rowing exercise, everybody’s skin has turned bright pink. One more time, this time very quick, we raise the hand to the sky one more time and pour the water over us. Inaba-sensei tells us to stop. “Omedeto gosaimasu”, congratulations we made it, we clap hands three times. Sitting seiza in the Shinden wearing dry Keikogi I truly feel clean and newborn.

We run back to the Dojo, on the way we stop on the meadow, turn to the sun that is just coming over the edge of the forest. It is warm.

Friday , January 20th, 5:30 a.m.

Again we meet at 6 o’clock at the Dojo to train. The atmosphere is quiet, everybody seems tired. Today we practice Judo techniques, and realize soon that balance is very important.

Saturday, January 21st, 5:30 a.m.

It has snowed during the night, for the first time in two years I see snow in Tokyo- and Today is the second time we will do misogi. As we enter the shrine grounds, the snowfall gets stronger, everything is covered in white. We get changed and meet outside, wearing keikogi and a swim suit. The white of the keikogi fuse with the snow. Again we run to the misogi place, counting. There we change in fundoshi (men) or kimono (women) and step outside, barefoot in the snow. We stand outside, performing ki-exercises and singing the waka poems again. It is still snowing. After a while my feet begin to feel numb in the snow. Inaba-sensei tells us to get into the building, all doors and windows are open, we resume our positions for the water pouring part, still singing. On the count of three, again pointing towards the sky before, we start to pour the ice cold water on our bodies, with all of our energy, shouting from the bottom of our hearts. The room is soon filled with fog. We repeat the water pouring three times, but in my feeling much faster than two days before. The experience is so intense, I cant believe when Inaba-sensei shouts “omedetou gosaimasu” that it is already over. Like in trance, I only think: find the towel- fast! Everybody gets changed very quickly, than we gather quietly in the Shinden. There Inaba-sensei speaks to us, again I feel complete tranquility and peace. Instead of returning to the dojo, we run through the winter forest to the main shrine to pay our respect. The shrine is truly beautiful and quiet.

Sunday, January 22nd, 5:30 a.m.

The last day. It has snowed through out the last day and night, all is covered under a thick snow cover. The atmosphere at the dojo is very relaxed today we will have fun with games and competitions. The kids can stay too and we run outside and engage in a wild snowball fight. One special contest is to stand alone in a ring of all the others and defend one self with a bokken against wildly thrown snowballs. In short time everybody’s keikogi is covered in snow. Back inside the dojo it already smells good fresh tonjiru has been prepared. We get changed quick and set up tables on the mat area. After some short words by Inaba-sensei, we pour each other sake. Kanpai! We don’t care that its just 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning. Somebody has brought Vodka, which warms us very thoroughly. After we finish eating, all persons who participated every morning of kangeiko are called to the front. We receive a certificate, a medal and a small bottle of holy sake o-miki from Inaba-sensei. Small celebrations with sake and Vodka last, but most of the aikidoka look tired. The sun has come out, everything outside is bright and white so that I decide to leave and see snow white Tokyo from above in the tower of the nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Government office.