Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Organisation

**Jim** · 07-06-2008, 08:29

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any information (other than that found on the website) for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai organisation based in Japan.

Best regards,

Jim

**STORMCROW34** · 07-06-2008, 09:54

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for, but a quick google search turned up this rather lengthy and informative article with sources.

http://www.fighttimes.com/magazine/m...sp?article=293

**Ron Davis** · 07-06-2008, 12:34

Originally Posted by Jim

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any information (other than that found on the website) for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai organisation based in Japan.

Best regards,

Jim

What type of information are you looking for? I can tell you that they are a top rate orginization with some of the most talented martial artist I have ever seen. As well as some of the best people I have ever met. I recently returned from the Butokusai held by the Butokukai Hombu in Kyoto.

**Gunyo Kogusoku** · 07-06-2008, 19:24

Originally Posted by Jim

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any information (other than that found on the website) for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai organisation based in Japan.

Best regards,

Jim

The Dai Nihon Butokukai was voluntarily disbanded in 1945 after the United States under Gen. MacArthur's supervision, occupied Japan. The original DNBK was a bit like the Kokuryukai in Kyushu - Ultra right-wingers and radicals, and fascists meeting together at budojo, training and then organising political activities via networking.

The modern organisation is drastically different from it's pre-war counterpart. It deals in gendai budo and, unlike the old DNBK which dealt with both gendai and koryu.

The have been some rather odd stories about the Japan office.

One was of a number of people applying for recognition and dan grades in their chosen budo. The Representatives at the modern DNBK took the grading fee, didn't test the person, did no investigation to see if the said individuals were of the rank they stated, and just awarded the menjo with the desired dan grade.

That's hearsay though, so neither here not there.

**ben** · 07-08-2008, 09:34

There was a fairly interesting discussion over on e-budo, of which this post is about the most interesting. The whole thread's worth a look though.

b

**Jim** · 07-10-2008, 07:15

Thanks for the replies all, very helpful especially the links.

Ben, if you're ever heading up my way let me know. It'd be good to have you in a class.

(see Robert! I told you it wouldn't turn into a flame out... oh wait, you told me...

)

**Mekugi** · 08-14-2008, 06:31

I was just at the Butokukai last spring for the big Kendo event. I went to see the zenkenren jo, but they moved it to the day before without telling us (ugg). From what I gather, just another Budokan now (and has been for the last 50 years), with a little historical blurb on the West Entrance calling it the "Kyoto Budo Center. It's really gone local and it's like another tourist attraction there (darn good one at that). A few local Kendo and Judo groups train there, maybe even a MSR group. If there is an organization there, it's local for the Kyoto area.

Anyway, that post by Lance is outstanding. I know Lance personally and his information is extremely well researched and thought out. This one is super-good.

Here's a picture of outside the Butokuden, a stele commemorating it the old Butokukai from spring. Interesting stuff.

**gaijin samurai** · 03-30-2010, 02:56

I can tell you for sure that the DNBK is an elithest martial arts society, not everyone can join but once you are in you have to work harder than before. About that story related to the guy who got his dan without taking an exam, yes it is possible, based on the recommendations of his sensei.
I am a certified member of the DNBK and I've been in Kyoto in april 2008 at the Third World Butoku Sai. What I've seen there has changed my life forever, pushing me to continue my training for as long as I live. As for the Budo Center, yes there are some local groups that train there (I don't know if they're part of the DNBK or not) but not everyone can enter the Butokuden which is the Hall of Martial Arts. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have the privilege of entering and taking an exam in the Butokuden.

**Lance Gatling** · 02-27-2011, 13:17

Originally Posted by gaijin samurai

I can tell you for sure that the DNBK is an elithest martial arts society, not everyone can join but once you are in you have to work harder than before. About that story related to the guy who got his dan without taking an exam, yes it is possible, based on the recommendations of his sensei.
I am a certified member of the DNBK and I've been in Kyoto in april 2008 at the Third World Butoku Sai. What I've seen there has changed my life forever, pushing me to continue my training for as long as I live. As for the Budo Center, yes there are some local groups that train there (I don't know if they're part of the DNBK or not) but not everyone can enter the Butokuden which is the Hall of Martial Arts. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have the privilege of entering and taking an exam in the Butokuden.

Anyone that rents the place can enter the Butokuden. All that is required is registration with the local admin body that runs the center. No mystery there.

Most of the groups using the main building and the Butokuden have nothing to do with the DNBK.

**Anders Pettersson** · 03-02-2011, 02:01

Originally Posted by Lance Gatling

Originally Posted by gaijin samurai

I can tell you for sure that the DNBK is an elithest martial arts society, not everyone can join but once you are in you have to work harder than before. About that story related to the guy who got his dan without taking an exam, yes it is possible, based on the recommendations of his sensei.
I am a certified member of the DNBK and I've been in Kyoto in april 2008 at the Third World Butoku Sai. What I've seen there has changed my life forever, pushing me to continue my training for as long as I live. As for the Budo Center, yes there are some local groups that train there (I don't know if they're part of the DNBK or not) but not everyone can enter the Butokuden which is the Hall of Martial Arts. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have the privilege of entering and taking an exam in the Butokuden.

Anyone that rents the place can enter the Butokuden. All that is required is registration with the local admin body that runs the center. No mystery there.

Most of the groups using the main building and the Butokuden have nothing to do with the DNBK.

Can confirm this. I lived in Kyoto for a couple of months in -92, at the time my dojo (that has its own place not that far away) rented the Butokuden every Monday night, so that they could have a bigger space once a week.
A small group of foreigners that were friends to another member of my dojo at the time rented the Butokuden day time once or twice a week on a weekly basis.
So I used to practice there once a week during those months in -92, and since then on most visits to "my" dojo for many years. They stoped renting it weekly around 2005 (IIRC). They also used it often for their yearly demonstration.

When we had a big international seminar in -97 Shorinji Kempo Hombu rented it, along with the main hall in the Budo center. I actually had my Yondan test in the Butokuden in 1997.

And most weekends if there are events in the hall more or less anyone can go in and watch.

Butokuden is a very nice building/dojo, but it is open to most people that wants to rent it.

/Anders