kagami baraki pdf. sent to Eiko

2016 Kagami Biraki New Year’s Ceremony
Forty five years ago, Professor Keiko Fukuda brought a traditional New Year’s celebration from
the Kodokan to her Judo Club in San Francisco. This celebration is called Kagami Biraki.
In Japan, many of us grew up being told by our parents an old Japanese expression, “Ichi nen no
kei wa gantah ni ari”. That meant how we start January will reflect on our success for the rest of
the year. Sensei Fukuda strongly believed that we should celebrate Kagami biraki for a
successful year in Judo.
At the Kodokan, the world headquarters of Judo, Kagami Baraki is celebrated each year on the
Saturday of the third weekend in January. The celebration at the Kodokan includes
demonstrations of kata and randori followed by the eating of shiruko, soft sweet red beans and
rice cakes.
In the beginning years Soko Joshi was the only club participating. Now it has expanded to
include 3 clubs, Palo Alto Judo Club, San Jose Buddhist Judo Club and Soko Joshi Judo Club.
As we all work together we can keep this special traditional Kagami biraki for many years to
come. I am looking forward to seeing you on January 16, 2016.
Best wishes,
Eiko Saito Shepherd 7th Dan