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TRAINING IN JAPAN TODAY
The last Mubyōshi Ryū dōjō is called Mushinkan Sō Honbu Dōjō, located in the town of Ōgigaoka in Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It is under the guidance of grandmaster Uematsu. Uematsu Sensei welcomes students from around the world and cordially invites anyone who wishes to become an earnest student of his school to his dōjō.
Any prospective student should first contact the dōjō through the information below or through currently active social media. Upon verifying the availability of Uematsu Sensei or one of his students, prospective students are encouraged to make the trip to Japan to enjoy the ancient teachings of the school. All lessons are given in Japanese, and a grasp of the Japanese language will aid in comprehension. However, as martial skills are physical in nature, don’t let a lack of Japanese language ability stop you from making such a journey. Following is a full set of travel instructions to help students find their way from Tokyo or Osaka to the dōjō.
Mushinkan Sō Honbu Dōjō
36-6 Ōgigaoka
Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
921-8812 Japan
Phone +81 (76) 246-4759
English-speaking contact: Joe Swift, info@tokyo-mushinkan.com
無心館総本部道場
館長 上松義幸
〒921-8812
石川県野々市市扇が丘36-6
Tel. 076-246-4759
Figure 4.1. Uematsu Sensei (left) and Joe Swift
TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS
Remember that your final destination is Magae Station. If you are having trouble, show the characters for the station name (馬替) to a train station staff member.
Train 1
Buy a ticket to Kanazawa Station.
• From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.
• From Osaka Station, take the Thunderbird Express (pronounced “sandābādo”) to Kanazawa.
Train 2
Buy a ticket to Nishi Kanazawa Station.
From Kanazawa Station, take the Hokuriku-honsen Line to Nishi Kanazawa Station, the first stop from Kanazawa.
Train 3
To change train stations, leave by the East Gate exit and follow the signs for Shin-nishi Kanazawa Station. Look for the sign (fig. 4.2) as you get to the East Gate, and follow the directions for the Hokutetsu Ishikawa Line.
It is a short walk, about a hundred yards, between the two stations. Note that the East Gate has two ways to exit.
At the time of publication, you don’t buy a ticket at the station. Instead, board the train and pay the conductor as you disembark at your stop. On the return journey, you have to take the small ticket given by the machine at each door as you board.
Figure 4.2.
Shin-nishi Kanazawa Station is a very small local station.
Go through the entrance, cross the track, and take the Hokutetsu Ishikawa Line.
Your train will be on the far side, farthest from the small station building.
Take the train on the farthest track (fig. 4.6).
Figure 4.3.
Figure 4.4. Shin-nishi Kanazawa Station
Figure 4.5.
Figure 4.6.
Get off at Magae Station—the dōjō is at this station. It is the fourth stop:
• Oshino
• Nonoichi
• Nonoichi Kōdai Mae
• Magae (the dōjō station)
Figure 4.7. Sign at Magae Station
Pay at the machine as you get off the train (have some change ready).
Figure 4.8.
Getting to the Dōjō
Cross the track and position yourself looking along the train line with the tracks to the left.
Walk along the road with the tracks to the left (fig. 4.10).
Figure 4.9.
Figure 4.10.
Get to the end of the road and cross the bridge.
As you get off the bridge, turn right and walk down the road with the stream to your right (fig. 4.12).
Figure 4.11.
Figure 4.12.
You will come to a building and bend in the road. Follow the bend left.
Follow the road down. The dōjō is just behind the building at left in figure 4.14.
The dōjō is on the left.
Figure 4.13.
Figure 4.14.
Figure 4.15.
As you are expected, knock and wait for an answer. If no answer comes, knock until you get one, as no one may have heard you. If not, call out “Uematsu Sensei.” If you are expected and still there is no answer, politely enter slowly while announcing your presence.
Figure 4.16. The dōjō entrance
Figure 4.17. Name plates at the dōjō entrance
When you are making the return journey, remember that the train station you depart from is very small. Make sure to board the train going in the correct direction, as shown in figure 4.18.
Figure 4.18.
DŌJŌ RULES
The following rules are found in the main dōjō and apply to all students of any art within the Mushinkan organization:
• Do not maintain an evil mind.
• Respect your superiors.
• Respect the gods and Buddha and retain that mind set; do not be conceited in the level of your own ability.
• Know yourself and be positive; train every morning and every evening.
• Even in combat, the way of the mind should be the same as normal times.
Figure 4.19. Dōjō rules