Profile

Abe Akihito: Creative Director. Chairman of the All Japan Kendo Federation's Information Subcommittee. Representative Director of the Japan Kendo Promotion Association. After working for Dentsu and Ogilvy, he is currently employed at Kayac, a fun company. As an executive committee member for the 16th World Kendo Championships, he devised a wide range of communication ideas, including the bid video, posters and website designed by Inoue Takehiko, and merchandise. He was also involved in the creation of All Japan Kendo Federation's kendo promotion mascot, "Bushishi." He spends his free time practicing kendo and playing the clarinet in Kamakura. He is the author of "How to Launch a Web Campaign."

What made you start kendo?

—When did you start kendo? (I.e."I was in the first grade of elementary school. The reason I started is quite interesting. Apparently, I said to my parents, 'My older sisters and younger sisters wear skirts, so why can't I?' And so I decided to take up kendo, where I could wear a skirt to my heart's content. To be honest, I don't remember saying that (laughs)." — That's funny right from the start (laughs). Abe-san, where are you from? (I.e."It's in Abeno Ward, Osaka." —Was kendo popular in that area? (I.e."It wasn't that popular. At first, I didn't like kendo because I couldn't tie a bow knot. But then, I finally got good enough at it, and I started winning prizes in my upper elementary school years, and my motivation started to rise. My parents didn't expect me to win, so they were overjoyed."

Continuing Kendo at a relaxed pace

(I.e."I started playing the clarinet in the upper grades of elementary school, and joined the brass band club in high school. My family is a musical family. My older sister is a conductor in the Netherlands. In that environment, it may have been difficult for me to get into the mindset of devoting myself solely to kendo." —Were you unable to continue kendo? (I.e."I continued at the dojo, where I learned a lot of things through kendo. One of my teachers was a sculptor, so I was able to get in touch with sculpture as well." —So through kendo you learned things other than kendo. (I.e."I also loved kendo equipment. I was a yearly subscriber to Kendo Nippon from the fifth grade of elementary school. I still do, and although I want to become stronger at kendo, I'm more interested in the act of practicing kendo with equipment." What were you interested in at the time? (I.e."I collected all the catalogs of kendo equipment stores that were featured in Kendo Nippon and studied what was different about them." —You still love information. (I.e."That's right. I like gathering information. When I was buying a bicycle, I collected every catalogue I could find. When I found a bicycle at a trade fair, I would present its merits to my parents and convince them to buy it for me." -Did you continue practicing kendo after high school? (I.e."yes.I studied abroad in Texas for a year during high school. I continued practicing kendo then. After entering university, I continued practicing kendo with the university kendo club and at a dojo in Fujisawa. I've been practicing kendo for a long time, casually. —It seems like a lot of people give up on kendo halfway through, but it might be good to be able to enjoy it at a relaxed pace like Mr. Abe. (I.e."My son is in the kendo club, but he says he might join the brass band club after he graduates from junior high school. That's fine, but I'd like him to continue kendo, even if it's just once a week.'

The interviewer for the Keio entrance exam was Master Fukumoto Shuji.

Image source: Fukuoka Prefecture Kendo Federation —You've been involved with the All Japan Kendo Federation since your university days, right? (I.e."That's right. I've been able to continue working here thanks to my connection with Professor Fukumoto. I entered Keio University through the AO entrance exam (self-recommendation), and Professor Fukumoto happened to be the interviewer at the time." —That's a great draw (laughs). (I.e."At the time, I didn't know who Fukumoto Sensei was. During the interview for the AO entrance exam, I mentioned that I had practiced kendo in Texas, but one of the interviewers asked me some pointed questions. That was Fukumoto Sensei. To be honest, I thought no one would know anything about kendo, so I panicked. He asked me a lot of questions, so I thought I would definitely fail, but then I was fortunate enough to pass. I was also able to enroll in Fukumoto's seminar." —It's fate. (I.e."That's the only thing I can think of. There were about five teachers at the interview, and they all looked very intimidating, but Fukumoto-sensei had a different aura. He had an intimidating presence...' —How did you become involved with the All Japan Kendo Federation? (I.e."After I entered university, the Internet came into existence. Nowadays there are many different browsers, but at the time there was a browser called 'Mosaic.' I started using that browser to create websites for kendo.' —Due to the nature of the department, were there many people knowledgeable about information systems? (I.e."That's right. There was Professor Jun Murai, known in Japan as Mr. Internet, and I also had a classmate in the same kendo club who was knowledgeable about the internet, so he taught me a lot of things. It was the perfect environment to get to know the internet." —How did you come to create a kendo website? (I.e."I made my own website, but then I decided I wanted to make a website for kendo too. I stayed up all night for a few days and made it." It was made in just a few days! (I.e."At the time, there were people overseas creating kendo websites. After I launched my kendo website, I received many emails from people involved in kendo websites overseas. I still keep in touch with them. One example is George McCall, who represented Great Britain. George McCall was an English teacher at Otemae High School, and he also runs kenshi247.net(https://kenshi247.net/)There is a website called —What was the purpose of Professor Fukumoto's request for cooperation? (I.e.“The All Japan Kendo Federation also felt the need for a department to disseminate information, so they established a department called the Information Subcommittee. I participated in this department as its first secretary.” -What was the purpose of running it? (I.e."First of all, we created a website to disseminate information. We also did a lot of other things. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help out even now, and recently we were involved in coming up with the character "Bushishi." —So Bushishimo was also Abe's plan!

Changing jobs to devote himself to kendo

—Mr. Abe, you joined Dentsu as a new graduate, right? (I.e."Are you familiar with Dentsu's code of conduct, the Ten Demonic Rules? It really resonated with me. Maybe it's because the company has such an athletic atmosphere. At Dentsu, I worked in a creative position, planning commercials and things like that." —After that, you moved to a foreign advertising agency. (I.e."I was working for a foreign company when it was decided that the World Championships would be held in Japan. At first, I was working both at my job and with the All Japan Kendo Federation, but I ended up leaving both half-done. I didn't know when the next World Championships would be held in Japan, so I decided to immerse myself in the organization." -So you changed your job for kendo. It must have been a difficult decision, especially considering you have a family. (I.e."My wife probably gave up, thinking 'it can't be stopped anyway.' I am where I am today thanks to my understanding family. I don't think they're reading this article, but I'd like to express my gratitude to them." —Takehiko Inoue, famous for Slam Dunk and Vagabond, illustrated the World Kendo Championships held in Tokyo. Wasn't it difficult to negotiate with him? (I.e."I thought, if I don't do it here, when will I do it? So I met him. We had some mutual acquaintances, so I was able to get him to draw for me. In fact, I had met Inoue-san in Cannes, France. We had a great time talking about kendo, so we were already acquainted." Image source: All Japan Kendo Federation - Mr. Inoue, you also practiced kendo in the past, right? (I.e."It seems you practiced kendo in elementary and junior high school. When we met in Cannes, you jokingly asked me to help you with kendo someday," he remembered. -Did you immediately agree to do it? (I.e."When I went to meet him, he made an immediate decision. I was really happy." —Since Professor Inoue is a world-renowned author, the response must have been incredible. (I.e."It was amazing. At the time, Professor Inoue was working on a project called 'Inoue Takehiko Meets Gaudi,' so I remember there were a lot of inquiries from Spain." —As a fan of Professor Inoue, I was also very happy. (I.e."Originally, I wanted to create a poster that would have such an impact that it would get stolen. I don't know if it actually got stolen, but I'm glad that I was able to create something with such impact. We're also considering various developments for "Bushishi" in the future, so I hope you'll keep an eye out."

◆BUSHIZO's summary

I was impressed by his story about how he doesn't just aim to become stronger at kendo, but also balances it with his other interests. We are excited to see what Abe, who has extensive experience in advertising and the web, will do in the world of kendo! Thank you for today. ~To be continued~