The Japanese Embassy in Beijing hosted a kendo experience event on Saturday, where approximately 90 people learned the traditional martial art [1].
The event comes amid a period of chilled diplomatic relations between Japan and China. By utilizing cultural exchange to foster mutual understanding, the gathering aimed to build friendship and personal connections through sport.
Interest in the event was significant, with approximately 800 people applying for a spot [1]. The participants, including Chinese citizens, Japanese residents of Beijing, and embassy officials, practiced the use of bamboo swords and the technique of striking the head protector, known as men-uchi.
One participant said they had a long-standing interest in Japanese culture through novels and films. Because kendo frequently appears in those works, they wanted to experience it firsthand. Another participant said the experience was interesting and that they wanted to try it again.
Kendo maintains a steady presence in the region, with an estimated 25,000 practitioners across China [1]. Susumu Kinoshita, representative of the Beijing Japanese Kendo Association, said the sport forms a unique bond.
"Kendo is a wonderful martial art where you can become kendo friends once you have crossed swords," Kinoshita said. He said he hopes to contribute to Japan-China exchange by fostering friendship and creating as many "kendo friends" as possible.
The event provided a rare space for direct interaction between local residents and embassy staff, an effort to maintain soft-power ties through shared physical discipline.
“Kendo is a wonderful martial art where you can become kendo friends once you have crossed swords”
The high volume of applications relative to the number of available spots suggests a persistent grassroots interest in Japanese culture within China, despite official diplomatic tensions. By hosting the event within the embassy, Japan is leveraging 'soft diplomacy' to maintain a channel of positive engagement with the Chinese public.
