Kendo Music Composition Competition
All Japan Kendo Federation

IKEDA Satoru won at the competition with his composited music "KENSHI NO PAVANE "

The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) was held a Kendo Music Composition Competition. The winning composition was played at the opening ceremony of the EXPO Kendo Festival, which was held in EXPO Dome, World Expo 2005 Aichi, on August 31, 2005.

Everyone can enjoy practicing Kendo throughout their lives, irrespective of age or gender. Feeling the tension and advancing straight ahead are mentally and physically refreshing. Through rigorous training, you will improve yourself, becoming more polite and kind to others, even to your competitors, as well as to your teammates. Kendo tournaments are full of moments of serenity before matches, courage that helps us move forward, and harmony between all living things. We hope the kendo music will reflect this atmosphere. We also expect the music to capture the spirit of kendo.

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Competition Information was as follows.

1. The competition is open to everyone, regardless of nationality, age, and other personal details.

2. Each entry should be an unpublished composition of instrumental music that is two to three minute long. It may be played with Japanese or Western musical instruments or both. (There are not any restrictions concerning the composition of the musical instruments; however, the music should be able to be played by up to about seven musicians.) Each participant may enter as many compositions as he/she likes.

3. A panel of judges commissioned by the AJKF will judge the compositions entered. Shin Sato, the composer, will chair the panel. The best composition will be awarded 300,000 yen, and AJKF will hold the copyright for three years from the first performance day.

4. The competition results will be published in Ken-so, which is the AJKF magazine, and on the AJKF website. The winning composition will be played at the opening ceremony of the EXPO Kendo Festival, which will be held in EXPO Dome, World Expo 2005 Aichi, on August 31, 2005.

5. Send the composition scores to the address below.

a. Scores should be a copy or written with black ink. (Scores prepared with computer software and printed on paper are also acceptable).

b. Specify the speed, such as the speed of the metronome, in the score.

c. Write down the title of the music, composition of the musical instruments, and playing time on the cover of the score. The name of the composer, however, should not be written on the score, including the cover.

d. If the judges select the score, the entrants should prepare part scores, and send them to the AJKF. The AJKF has the right to utilize such part scores free of charge.

e. With the score, send in a paper with your name, address, age, occupation, and telephone number written down. Any format is acceptable.
(Note: Scores will not be returned. We advise sending a copy, not the original.)

6. Send your submission between June 1, Wednesday and June 14, Tuesday, 2005. (The date on the postmark on the envelope should confirm this.)

7. Send it to the Kendo Music Composition Competition, All Japan Kendo Federation,
Yasukuni Kudan Minami Building 2F, 2-3-14 Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, 102-0074,Japan.

8. For further information, email kendo@its-c.jp or fax 03-5204-9762.
(We cannot give out any information concerning competition results.)

9. This competition is organized by the All Japan Kendo Federation (http://www.kendo.or.jp/).