If you could turn kendo into a job - that's a thought that anyone who has been involved in kendo for a long time has probably thought at least once. We interviewed two young entrepreneurs who have made that dream a reality and launched a service. (Published in the August 2017/October issue of Kendo Nippon)

Two people who grew up in a "kendo town"

-First of all, could you tell us what motivated you to start kendo? Ueshima: I started kendo when I was in the first grade of elementary school. I was born in Miyagi Prefecture (Moniwadai, Sendai City), and grew up in a so-called "kendo town." I think I was raised in an environment where kendo was a natural thing to do. My older brother also practiced kendo, and my friends who I played with also practiced kendo, so naturally I started kendo as well. My teacher was a special training instructor, so I think I was in a very fortunate environment. A photo of him participating in the Miyagi Prefectural Police Junior Judo and Kendo Championships when he was in the fifth grade of elementary school. Kudo: I also started kendo at the age of 6. I have been practicing kendo for 26 years. Like Kamishima, I am from Otobe, a "kendo town" in Hokkaido. The town has a population of about 4000, and about 40 of them are practicing kendo. The local town of Otobe has a population of 4000. Kudo: I devoted myself to kendo in junior high and high school, and graduated from Rikkyo University, but I was also a member of the Meiji University Kendo Club.Riba swordAfter I started working, there was a time when I was absorbed in other hobbies such as snowboarding, surfing, and marathon running. When I graduated from university, I thought that I would never do kendo in my life. What prompted you to restart it? Kudo: In 2015, a kendo club was established at Yahoo Japan Corporation, where I was working. This prompted me to resume kendo after an eight-year absence. I became absorbed not only in improving my technique, but also in reexamining the spirituality of kendo and martial arts. Gradually, I began to feel a strong desire to contribute to society through a business centered on kendo, the martial art that had raised me. Members of the Yahoo Kendo Club. They practice about twice a month.

Making Kendo my job - When did I start my own business?

-When did you both start thinking about starting your own business? Ueshima：Since I was a university student. Until high school, my life was all about kendo. I was devoted to kendo and never thought about the future. I thought that if I continued with kendo, I would be able to find a way into the working world and live a happy life. -It's great to be able to do what you love as a job. Ueshima: Yes. However, if you want to pursue kendo as a career, your only options are to become a police officer or a teacher. I think they are wonderful professions, but I don't think I have the temperament to be a civil servant. I have always worked for venture companies. It was a big shock when I realized that I could no longer pursue my beloved kendo as a career. - Mr. Kamishima, were your parents self-employed or ran a company? Ueshima: No, my father is a company employee. However, my family taught me to "do what you want to do and believe in your own potential." I was raised with freedom. Kudo: I also had a vague desire to start a business from the beginning. But I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. In contrast to Ueshima, I tend to be stability-oriented. This may have been due in part to the fact that my father was a local government employee. I love my job, but I was worried about whether I would ever find what I really wanted to do if I continued working like this. -By the way, did you two know each other before? Kudo: Actually, we worked together when I was working at Yahoo Japan Corporation and Ueshima was working at Inova Corporation. At the time, we didn't know that each other practiced kendo. We both enrolled at the Kinno Dojo in Shibuya, and when we met during practice, we were like, "Ah!" (laughs) They played on the same team at the 2017 Tokyo Tournament. -What an amazing coincidence! Kudo: Yes. After that, we started drinking together more often after practice, and we started talking about kendo and entrepreneurship. Meeting Ueshima was a very big thing for me. I had never met anyone who wanted to start a business centered around kendo... I thought, maybe starting a business in the field of kendo, which had raised me, was something I really wanted to do. I began to think that I wanted to succeed in this genre.

We don't just want to sell products, we want to tell the stories behind them.

-What kind of business is BUSHIZO, which you two started? Ueshima: In a word, it is a select shop for kendo goods. The service name BUSHIZO comes from the idea thatBushido"WhenNitobe Inazo's "Zo"I created this site by combining the above. When purchasing kendo equipment online, I'm sure there are many people who find it difficult to choose a product because there is too little information available. That was me. For this reason, BUSHIZO carries products from multiple kendo equipment manufacturers, allowing site visitors to compare and consider products. In addition to introducing the products, I also intend to carefully convey information about the manufacturers themselves and the background to the products' creation. BUSHIZO (https://bushizo.com/) allows you to compare and consider kendo equipment from multiple manufacturers. Interviews with each manufacturer to share their thoughts Kudo: I would like to create an e-commerce site that makes it easy for customers to consider products by providing information about manufacturers and products. I am also considering disseminating information overseas in the future. I would like to make this an endeavor that is worthwhile for me as a Japanese person.

What I want to achieve through BUSHIZO

-What specifically do you want to achieve through BUSHIZO? Ueshima : I want to re-introduce the samurai spirit inherent in the Japanese people and have a positive impact on people's work and lives.There are many different interpretations of the spirit of Bushido, but we believe thatTo value oneself and the present moment, and to live earnestly with a humble and growing spirit." is the spirit of Bushido. I think that anyone who practices Kendo can naturally embody this spirit. -It seems to be similar to Zen thinking in some ways. Ueshima:"Living in a moment."There is a saying that goes, "When you practice kendo, you concentrate on kendo and don't think about anything else. When you eat, you concentrate on the food, and when you're working, you concentrate on your work. Zen teachings teach that "happiness lies within you," and I think modern people should invest more time in facing themselves. -How has it been since starting your own business? Has your perception of "happiness" changed? Kudo: I'm very happy. When you're employed and belong to an organization, you have to do things you don't want to do in order to keep the organization running, but right now I'm doing 100% what I want to do. Also, I feel like we're all on the same boat, with the same mission. It's fun to work with people who share the same motivation. Kudo: Also, regarding the earlier discussion about "facing yourself,"It is important to think about everything from the perspective of "yourself" and to be careful.I think so. When your opponent scores a point in kendo, you don't think, "Your attack made me raise my hand!" You would think it was because you were weak, or because your attack was immature. You can reflect on what you should have done or not done. In everyday life, we sometimes blame others for our mistakes, but I think that by remembering kendo, we can admonish ourselves.

How kendo has helped me in my real life and work

-You both have been practicing kendo for over 25 years and also use it as a career. How do you use the experience you gained from kendo in your real life and work? Ueshima: I think it helps to eliminate arrogance. It's human nature to become proud of yourself when you achieve good results at work or get promoted. By practicing kendo at times like these, I feel like I can naturally stay humble and treat people with respect. There's no point in comparing myself to others, and I can do my work with the feeling that I'm comparing myself to others. Kudo: It's a simple expression, but I think that through rigorous training, I have developed the spirit to never give up. The experience of seeing hard work pay off was a big one for me, and I think that experience has led to my attitude towards work. Although it is important to keep trying until you achieve your goal, there are times when it becomes mentally tough. I feel that it is thanks to kendo that I am able to persevere and move forward at times like that.

Future prospects

-Could you tell us about BUSHIZO's future prospects and goals as a player? Ueshima: First of all, we want to improve the usability of the site. We recently launched a concierge service for customers who don't know what to buy. We will make product suggestions that are suited to each individual. We also hope to eventually handle martial arts equipment other than kendo. We have knowledge of internet marketing, so we would like to use that knowledge to support companies in the martial arts and performing arts industry. We are also considering expanding overseas, such as by stocking inventory in Europe. For example, we could dispatch personnel to promote kendo... This would create jobs. We would be happy if BUSHIZO became an option for people who want to make a living solely from kendo. Kudo: My first goal in kendo is to continue practicing for a lifetime. My father is my kendo master, and he raised me, teaching me the joy and rigor of kendo. I would like to continue on the path of kendo and give back to him. As for the business, I don't intend to limit myself to selling kendo armor and supplies. I believe that my mission is to deepen my understanding and respect for the history and culture of martial arts, including kendo, while marketing them domestically and overseas. As a company, I would like to not only steadily grow one service, but also develop multiple services using a variety of approaches. ----- This is "Monthly Kendo Japan October 2017 issueThis is an interview article adapted from the one published in the October 2017 issue.Kendo Nippon celebrates its 500th issueThe commemorative special feature is "The Way of the Sword, the Spirit of the Sword," and it also comes with a DVD of the All Japan Student Championship.

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