Passing of Sumi Masatake Hanshi

On February 4, 2026, Sumi Masatake Sensei sadly passed away. He served as the Shihan for the Fukuoka University of Education Kendo Club in Fukuoka Prefecture and the Kyushu Electric Power Kendo Club. He was also the coach of the Japanese women's team at the 11th World Kendo Championships in Santa Clara in 2000, where the Women's Individual Championships began. Five years ago, he expressed great delight at the launch of our magazine. In his On the Occassion of the Publication, he traced the development of women's kendo from the inception of various tournaments and urged that, in pursuing future growth, we never forget kendo's essence as a culture of self-cultivation. He continued to offer encouragement thereafter. With permission from Paul Budden sensei, one of Sumi sensei's students and a contributor to our magazine who writes articles on the history of women's kendo, we are republishing his tribute article and presenting its Japanese translation.

With deep gratitude to Sumi Masatake sensei, we pray sincerely for his eternal rest.