Sunday 20 August 2006

Dojo and Ro-buki practising

Today, my friends Kevin Melville and Bev came over for ro-buki practice. We had not all practised to a level of confidence between times but it was nice to develop a sense of community. We watched some travel slides, drank genmaicha and ate sembae and rice crackers, etc. from Tokyo Mart at Northbridge. I played Hifumi Hachigaeshi - it was good practice to play with an audience, though still never the same as when privately practising! We watched some of the Yokoyama video lesson. I have set up the new furnishings in my lounge room to achieve a hint of Zen simplicity and sincerity: just the simple bamboo mat, Japanese low table and chair to practice on, and the possibility to sit on tatami cushions on the floor.