Kobudo demonstration at the Nippon BudokanCEFR B2
16 Mar 2026
Adapted from Jo Carter, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by luca romano, Unsplash
Kobudo combines ko (ancient) and budo (martial way) and refers to Japan’s classical martial arts. Many of these schools date from before the Meiji Restoration in 1868. On February 1 Global Voices attended the 49th Japanese Kobudo Demonstration at the Nippon Budokan to watch empty-handed and weapon-based techniques and to speak with instructors.
Kyoichi Inoue Sensei, soke of Hontai Yoshin-ryu (founded in 1660), said kobudo differs from modern competitive martial arts because it has no rules about where to strike and aims for lethal points across the whole body, while modern styles developed as sports under rules. Demonstrations at the Budokan highlighted efficiency, flexibility and a deliberate refusal to standardise techniques; organisers noted that staged demonstrations are used because real combat would be too dangerous for a public contest.
Shojitsuken Rikata Ichi-ryu Katchu Battojutsu, a school from the late Sengoku period, performed in authentic armour with Sengoku-style long swords. Its representative, Masaru Kanzaki Sensei, described the teaching of a final blow as tied to bushido and compared it to kaishaku in the ritual of seppuku. Currently 75 schools belong to the Nihon Kobudo Association and about half join the public demonstration; this year 36 schools participated. Haruhiko Hata, Chief of the Promotion Division at Nippon Budokan, said the venue helps schools showcase training and preserve tradition.
Schools face the challenge of attracting young people. Yoshin-ryu Naginatajutsu, founded about 400 years ago to teach palace court ladies self-defence, has adapted its culture and dress to appeal to modern students; its soke, Takako Koyama, spoke about allowing a natural appearance and advising stronger makeup for photographs. Many schools also welcome learners from abroad — Hontai Yoshin-ryu has branches in eight countries. As one instructor said, "Budo is not just physical training; it is a profound gateway to understanding Japanese culture." Kobudo continues to hold tradition while blending with contemporary life.
Difficult words
- kobudo — Japan's classical martial arts and traditions
- soke — head or leader of a martial arts school
- bushido — traditional code of honor for samurai
- seppuku — ritual suicide historically practiced by samurai
- kaishaku — person who performs a ritual decapitating blow
- demonstration — public display of skill or techniqueDemonstrations
- standardise — make methods uniform or the same
- lethal — likely to cause death or fatal injuries
- preserve — keep something in its original state
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can traditional kobudo schools balance preserving tradition with attracting young students? Give specific examples from the article.
- What are possible benefits and challenges of teaching kobudo to learners from abroad?
- Do staged public demonstrations change how people see martial arts compared with real combat? Explain with reasons.
