Event title: Exploring the Spirit of Kendo: Tradition, Philosophy, and Values with guest Mr. Taro Ariga
Location: Humanities Gateway 1030 (HG)
Mr. Taro Ariga, one of the few individuals outside Japan to attain the prestigious 8th Dan rank in kendo, will deliver a lecture on the historical and philosophical foundations of Japanese kendo. His insights offer a rare and meaningful perspective on the cultural values, discipline, and philosophy embedded in traditional Japanese martial arts.
Born in Japan and raised in Brazil, Mr. Ariga exemplifies the “Frontier Spirit,” with a journey that spans continents. He founded kendo clubs at the University of Waterloo in Canada and at IBM in Japan, and later established the Butokuden Martial Arts Dojo in Irvine, CA. His kendo training includes intensive instruction at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, one of Japan’s most esteemed institutions for martial arts. Mr. Ariga represented Canada in the World Kendo Championships seven times, earning third place in the team competition on four occasions. He also served for many years as the coach of the Portuguese National Team. Currently, he is the President of the Southern California Kendo Organization and a board member of the All United States Kendo Federation. Beyond his accomplishments in kendo, Mr. Ariga is a successful entrepreneur, serving as CEO of E-BOGU.COM, a leading supplier of martial arts equipment, and BEANCUBE INC., a global consulting company.