This time, we will be talking about something a little different from kendo. As those who practice kendo will know, the origins of martial arts lie in Zen.

Many people practice kendo to master the "way," but there is a company in Kamakura called ZEN ENTERPRISE that spreads the spirit of the "way" through surfing.

Since this is in line with BUSHIZO's corporate mission, I was so intrigued that I went to cover it!

ZEN VAGUEWhat is Zen Vague?

Image source: ZEN VAGUE (https://www.zenvague.com)

—It's a very stylish facility. What can you do here?

person"Thank you very much. We created this facility (named ZEN VAGUE) with the aim of promoting the beauty of Japanese culture both domestically and internationally. It can be used in a variety of ways, including as a lodging facility, gallery, studio, and relaxation salon."

*ZEN ENTERPRISE Co., Ltd. Director Norihiro Hijikata

—What are the most common uses for it these days?

person"We often have guests from overseas staying here. We also open our studio to the public, and are used by people from the local area.The other day, model Rie Hasegawa served as our Wabi Yoga instructor.The workshops we hold regularly are also a big hit.

Image source: ZEN VAGUE

—The gallery is simple and beautiful. Just being in this space makes you feel Zen.

person"The gallery is also popular. Would you like to see the rooms available?"

—Please, I look forward to it!

person"This is the guest room. There is a surfboard on display. It was dyed by Nagahara Reki, a renowned surfer and indigo dyer from Tokushima Prefecture."

-It's very beautiful... Is the design original to your company?

Kanakata “I agreeIt is based on a traditional Japanese design called Seigaiha.

person"The reverse side of the logo is designed with the image of the whirlpools at the Naruto Bridge in Tokushima in mind. The designer is Tokoro Asao, who also created the logo for the Tokyo Olympics. It was suggested by Nagahara, and we decided to use it."

—It's a rare opportunity to see what's going on behind the scenes.

person"That's right. It's a precious thing because it can only be shown to those who are destined to have it."

—There's blue scattered throughout.

person"Do you know the origin of Japan Blue? The Japanese national soccer team is called Samurai Blue. There are many types of indigo,Among them, the darkest indigo color is called "Kachiai."Apparently, during the Sengoku period, samurai wore it as a lucky charm. This facility is also built with blue as its main color."

ZEN VAGUEWhy we created

*Masuda Shosei, CEO of ZEN ENTERPRISE Co., Ltd.

person"I started the company with Masuda, who was my classmate in junior high school. At the time, we never even considered doing business together."

When did you two start thinking about going into business together?

(I.e."Since before,"Is it possible that the good aspects of Japanese culture are not being conveyed to Japanese people?"I wanted to convey the teachings of Zen as they are, but I felt that if I went too directly, young people would find it difficult to accept.After thinking about how to make it easier for young people to understand, we decided to do it this way.'

—So in order to communicate, you need to be creative.

(I.e."I also run a surfing association,The concept is sword and Zen as one.It's the same as kendo. It's important to have both technique and mindset. We run the sport with the desire to nurture athletes with a simpler mindset, rather than a culture that adds to the culture."

—That's the very idea of ​​"the way"! Why did you have such an idea, Masuda-san?

(I.e."I've always been known as an oddball (laughs).I wanted to spread the word about the greatness of Japanese culture.As with kendo, in martial arts that have the word "do" in their name, older people are often better at it. It's the same with surfing; people over 60 are often better than us."

—Surfing is similar to the road!

(I.e."Because you're facing nature, you need mental strength. People who have mastered surfing"Maybe it would be better to call surfing "Namido" (Wave Road)."He says."

—I thought surfing was a different kind of sport from roads, so I'm surprised!

(I.e."For example, athletes like Ichiro are also very insightful mentally. They have mastered the art of baseball. It's not enough to just build muscle; I want to produce many athletes from Japan who are also highly skilled mentally."

- Why did you decide to promote Japanese culture?

person"I played soccer overseas, so when I went abroad I realized how wonderful Japanese culture is."

The true nature of the zone is "mindlessness"

(I.e."A little while ago, the Japanese national rugby team was in the news. Goromaru, a key player, is always conscious of“Mushin”That's the idea."

—The word "mushin" is often used in kendo. Is "mushin" important in surfing as well?

(I.e."It's important. Nowadays, surfing and yoga are often thought of as a set, but it all started when the famous surfer Gerry Lopez started practicing Zen. He's even been called the 'Zen surfer.'He says that when he is riding the waves, he is close to the state of "emptiness" in Zen.'

Steve Jobs was also devoted to Zen. Perhaps top business and sports people reach a similar state of mind.

I want to create a market for Japanese surf culture

(I.e."Japan's surfing and marine sports industry is just an agent for overseas manufacturers, so it doesn't make any money.Japanese professionals have a glamorous time when they are young, but they have no way to make a living after retirement.'

—It's tough for soccer and baseball players too.

(I.e."It's difficult to make a living even as a professional surfer in Japan. I manage to make ends meet by working as a fisherman or doing part-time work at a yakiniku restaurant."

- How do you plan to solve this problem?

(I.e."Among the beach cultures of the world,I would like to do activities that will help make Japanese beach culture a trend.If Japanese beach culture becomes a trend, it will benefit people involved in surfing in Japan. In particular, the surfing market is growing rapidly in Korea, China, Vietnam, etc.I hope to effectively promote this at the Tokyo Olympics and capture inbound demand.'

—Surfing has become an official Olympic sport since the Tokyo Olympics, so this is a great opportunity to show off!

(I.e."One of the reasons behind this is that we had to build the business at a rapid pace in time for the Tokyo Olympics (laughs).I would like to spread the message of Zen and other great Japanese culture to people overseas through surfing. I would be happy if it could also be an opportunity for Japanese people to rediscover the value of Japanese culture.'

Summary

Although the format may be different, I believe that ZEN ENTERPRISE and BUSHIZO share the same goals as a company. Inspired by fellow like-minded people at ZEN ENTERPRISE, I was able to renew my resolve to continue working to spread the beauty of Japanese culture.

If you're interested, please come and stay there! I highly recommend it!

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ZEN VAGUE

9:00 – 21:00

​7-29 Hase 2-chome, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 248-0016

PHONE 0467-81-4405

MAIL info@zenenterprisegroup.com

https://www.zenvague.com/house

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