Norifusa Mita, the author of the hugely popular "Dragon Zakura" and "Crown of Sand," was a dedicated kendo practitioner from elementary school through to university. He also writes books and columns for businessmen, and we spoke to him about the potential of kendo in the international market. First part What Norifusa Mita, author of "Dragon Zakura" and "Crown of Sand," gained from kendo Second part With ◯◯, kendo will spread even further around the world!

Profile

Norifusa Mita After graduating from the School of Politics and Economics at Meiji University, he joined Seibu Department Store. He took over the family clothing store together with his brother. While struggling with financial difficulties due to poor business performance and large debts, he saw an advertisement for a new talent award in a manga magazine, applied for it and won in order to win the prize money.Cross-country''ドラゴン桜''マネーの拳''Crown of Sand" and many other hits.Throw away your individuality! Don't be stereotyped!''Take the top spot without breaking a sweat!He also writes business books such as "The Great Passage" and "The Great Passage." He writes articles on the theme of "investment" for "Morning" and "Weekly D Morning."インベスターZ" is also being serialized (concluded in June 2017). Currently, "アルキメデスの大戦' is currently being serialized.

Martial arts are simple, and in fact, it's easy to go abroad.

- Kendo is becoming more popular overseas. What do you think about that? Martial artsIt's actually very easy to understandThat's true. In "martial arts" created by the Japanese, the winner and loser are clear. In contrast, sports created by Westerners have very complicated rules. Westerners love logic, so they want to prepare answers to that logic. They won't be satisfied unless everything is systematically organized and set out as rules. Asians tend to think in terms of things other than logic and answers, so they eliminate logic and say, "Whoever hits the men, kote, do, or tsuki wins." In judo, you win by throwing. You can get points by rolling your opponent, tripping them, or knocking them down. Martial arts are simpleThat means,It's actually easy to go abroadIt's easy to understand. There's no need to explain.Sports (martial arts) invented by Japanese people are easy to spread overseas.It's an advantage. All we need to do is get it out there, let people experience it, and let them realize how good it is. That's why I think martial arts is content that can be accepted in the international market.

People are attracted to mysterious things and things with many restrictions

- The rules of sumo are also simple. That's why I think foreigners come to watch sumo. Because it's easy to see who has won and who has lost. The only weakness of kendo is that you don't know when it's been scored. Sometimes a point can be scored in the blink of an eye, so foreigners don't know. But that's alsoA mysterious productionI think it's good that it has become like that. People overseas are really looking for mysterious things, aren't they? There's a strong desire for that sort of thing. Kendo venues are quiet, especially at the All Japan Championships. There are a lot of restrictions, like you can't shout or cheer. Nowadays, the only sport in the world where you shouldn't support is kendo.you know.mysterious spaceKendo is probably the only sport that enforces rules on spectators, such as only being allowed to clap when a valid strike is made. I also ask the audience to create the right atmosphere.But people from overseasConversely, I am attracted to the many restrictionsThat's right. Experiencing such things can actually be a pleasure.

Just seeing "rei" cleanses the soul

In addition, The bows in kendo matches are very beautifulThat's right. How can I put it...Just seeing the gesture makes me feel like my heart is cleansed..It makes you feel refreshedIt might be good for the audience to experience the atmosphere, including that. In essence, the audience has paid money, so they should be able to behave however they like to a certain extent. But when you say, "The audience needs dignity and character too," humans are weak when it comes to things like that. It's like going to a sushi restaurant run by a nag-worthy old man (laughs). As a result,You can experience something out of the ordinaryIsn't it?

Will becoming an Olympic sport cause people to lose interest?

- I don't usually find it appealing... (laughs) But that's certainly one of the charms of kendo. It may not be popular with everyone, but there are people overseas who like that kind of atmosphere... I think everyone would be against anything that would take away the atmosphere of kendo. For example, if they were to change the color of one of the uniforms to make it easier to understand, I think everyone would be against it. They'd say, "That's not right." If kendo became an Olympic sport, I think people overseas would lose interest. I feel like there are people overseas who support kendo. People who love the mysterious atmosphere of kendo. Those people are the main base of support. I think there are people who love Japanese people more than Japanese people themselves. That kind ofThe market cannot exist if core fans are ignored..

The means change depending on the purpose

- If you were to start a business related to kendo, what would it be? Business needs purposeThat's right. I think the shape of your business changes depending on your purpose. The starting point is completely different if you are simply trying to make a profit or if you are doing it with the desire to contribute to something. If your purpose is to "spread" or "popularize," then as I said earlier,Use visualsI think that's extremely effective in today's world. Processing an image or video in some way, turning it into secondary content, and then distributing it to the world is what's most suited to the current era. I think it has the most appeal. It's important to be captivating. Captivate and make people feel something. AndTo get people to feel it, you need to create a certain kind of performance.And then there's kendo.Some kind of claimThere is, isn't there? About the mindset and way of beingFor example, there is a word called "zanshin." If you ask me what zanshin is, I can give a vague answer, but I don't think there is anything that clearly defines it. There are many books in the kendo section of bookstores, but everyone has their own interpretation, and there is no clear, unified view. Someone who can organize and organize Kendo academicallyI wonder if there is anyone like that.

It's not just about winning or losing - a sport that demands a lot of "individual growth"

Kendo is...A very unusual sport in which winning is not highly valuedIt's how much you can improve yourself as an individual that's important, and there's not much value in competing and winning. Ultimately, it's about how good you can become as a person. That's what I keep thinking about and building on. Even when I made Kendo a competitive sport, people would say, "What's the point?"Kendo is all about personal growthIs not it?

Communicating the "essential value" of Kendo to the outside world

I always wonder if there is a way to communicate this essence to the world in a more understandable way.At the end of kendo practice, the teacher gives a talk about kendo. If only people who practice kendo listen to it, it will only have value in a very closed space.I think that there should be more people in the world who think,This is the essence of kendo." I think it would be better to organize the information, including kendo terminology, and create content that provides a more or less unified view. It's not just those who understand that understand, but we want to spread the word about how to train your mental strength and improve yourself.When I listen to my teacher speak, I often feel like, "That teacher is saying something good."

It is the power of words that moves people

- There are a lot of them, but I only realized that after I became an adult (laughs). After all, what moves people is "power of words" That's why I think it's a shame. Kendo has a lot of good points, doesn't it? I think it would be good to provide it to the world as content. We often don't really understand the value we have, so if we take another look at it, organize it in a structured way, and rewrite it in an easy-to-understand way,Kendo is reborn as a new valueI feel like that. You study it when you take a promotion exam and you remember it only then, but then everyone just leaves it alone... somehow, everyone ends up with their own interpretation. I feel like it's a shame that it can't be reorganized and remade in a clearer, more lucid way. There are so many things that are unique to Kendo.Kendo is the only sport that has so many spiritual words.I think so. - There is a word similar to Zen. It does have a religious aspect to it. Rather than beating your opponent, you think of overcoming yourself. There's something about the essence of kendo that is constantly looking at yourself. Kendo has great potential, so I think it can develop even further depending on how it's spread. - I would like to reexamine the good points of kendo and increase its value. Thank you for sharing your stories with us today! ——- Interview: Go Uejima, Yusuke Kudo Photography: Rina Kobayashi Text: Mariko Sato ——-

[Bonus] Complete set of "Investor Z" autographed by hand

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"For all those who love kendo" is a long-established kendo magazine with the theme of "Kendo." Founded in 51, it is loved by many as a medium for conveying information about kendo. It is a magazine that caters to those who have just started kendo, as well as those who wish to delve deeper into the depths of kendo. BUSHIZO also provides many articles, such as this interview with Mita Sensei and "Overseas Kendo Records." It is available online and at bookstores nationwide, but we recommend the subscription, which will be delivered to you on the day of release. Not only can you read it on the day of release, but you can also receive benefits of up to 5% off. Furthermore,Print + Digital Subscription PlanThen,Both print and digital versions are available for 860 yen per book..

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