News & Events

Report 16th Furuya cup 2008

The 16th Furuya Cup -a stormy tournament March 1st finally arrived. A grand total of 153 participants, members of 16 kendo clubs from 8 countries were ready for the biggest kendo team tournament for juniors and youth in Europe: the Furuya Cup. Outside a strong storm was raging, inside tension was building. While most people were on the couch recovering from their working week on friday night, a handful of volunteers were working late into the night to prepare the Emergohal for the early arrival of the participants the following day. After months of preparation that last night and early morning founder of Renshinjuku Bert Heeren and Japanese liaison Machi Miyahara gave the last instructions to a handful of voluntary enthusiasts. Around 0830h the first busses from belgium arrived. The Germans were punktlig wie immer as well. The Polish and French team wisely arrived the night before to lay down in the ever comfortable Hotel de Veenen. The Aruban top juniors arrived already earlier that week but were having a tough time ........ outside. Our most social participants were clearly suffering from the difference in temperature. The Japanese participants already arrived a few days earlier as well to recover from traveling fatigue. In the beginners catagorie (without bogu / fighting equipment) home team Renshinjuku members were performing excellently with a 1st and 2nd place for Mio Hosakawa and Yuki Yokata. The junior team (10-14 years) of Renshinjuku found their opponents predominantly in teams from Belgium and Germany. The team had a slow start but clearly grew into the tournament. After 5 group fights in which they won 2, lost 2 and drew 1, they found themselves in the semifinals against Wakakoma from Brussels. Missing one player, the Renshinjuku juniors were one nil down by default. The next four fights ended in balanced a 2-all result meaning Wakakoma progressed to the final and were able to take the winning cup home to Belgium. The contest for youth teams enjoyed a strong field as ao the Polish and French kendo federation regarded the Furuya Cup as perfect practice for the European Championships (16 and older) later this month. The Renshinjuku team (with Dutch champions Ran Miyahara and Sayo Koseki) were able to fight their way into the quarter finals. In that quarterfinal Renshinjuku were facing the strong French team. In this repetition of the 2007 final, the French again proved to be the strongest team. In the semi-final even the very physical Polish team were not able to withstand the French and in the final the French team clearly beat the 2006 winners Seikenjuku from Oldenburg Germany. The Aruban team was rewarded with a fighting spirit price for their travels and effort. After a long and exiting day the organizing committee proudly looked back on a day filled with beautiful fights and sportsmanship behavior. A great tournament with a great finale.