At the heart of Kengido lie traditional Japanese values. Training begins with Rei (礼), fostering respect for both one’s partner and oneself. Equal importance is placed on Ma (間), the sense of distance and timing that governs when to move, pause, and respond. Through the sword, participants communicate without words, facing not only the person before them but also their own habits, emotions, and presence.

Tetsuro Shimaguchi, the representative of Kengido, has performed extensively in Japan and abroad and currently operates dojos in both Japan and Europe to promote this method and cultural exchange. He explains, “Samurai action is often portrayed as combat, but Kengi is not about fighting. By sincerely facing one’s partner and embodying each movement, people discover their own growth.” Beginning with Rei, observing Ma, moving with beauty, and acting with dignity, practitioners come to recognize their progress through the practice itself. At the Aizu Kengido Dojo, located at Ashinomaki Onsen Okawaso, visitors can join monthly open workshops and immersive samurai experiences. Programs range from hands-on training and samurai pose photo sessions to hakama dressing and professionally recorded video memories. Whether for 30, 60, or 90 minutes, each experience offers a chance to step into the way of the modern samurai. In Aizu, where figures of chivalry once upheld dignity and resolve at the twilight of the samurai era, Kengido invites participants to step into a living legacy.