居合斬り：昇段審査と春の大会/Iai-giri: The promotion contest and the spring event
本日（6/3）はいよいよ昇段審査を兼ねた春の居合斬道大会。朝の9時に集合し準備に入ります。
Today (3rd June) is finally the Spring Iai-giri contest which also takes place as the Dan promotion contest. We have met up at 9:00 and started preparing.
(English text continues to the latter half of the page)
これが会場の太田区民センターの体育館と、昇段審査のための当日指定技の公開。
昇段審査は「型」の部が午前、「斬り」の部が午後一番からで、自分も両部門で1段ずつ昇段させていただきました。しかしここのところ参加人数が減ったために、審査があっという間に終わってしまうのは実にもったいない！恐らく都内で毎週巻き藁を作って実際に真剣で斬らせてくれる団体はあまりないのでは、と思います。道場には入門者用の真剣も用意してあります。日本刀に魅力を感じる方、刀を通した居合の技術と精神に興味のある方はぜひ見学から始めてもらいたいと感じています。
自分が審査される側なので大会中の写真はほとんど撮れませんでした。最後に師範演武でＯ先生とＦ会長の演武をアップしておきます。Ｏ先生の技は燕返し（裏）、Ｆ会長は袖すり返しになります。
Today (3rd June) is finally the Spring Iai-giri contest which also takes place as the Dan promotion contest. We have met up at 9:00 and started preparing.
This is the gymnasium of Ota ward residents center where we use every year. And on the board is requested skill for each Dan level.
Promotion contest took place in the morning for “Kata (Choreography)” and in the afternoon for “Kiri (Cutting)”. I was also promoted each 1 Dan for both classes. Incidentally it is so shame that both contests finished in a very short time as contest takers are so few. Our group prepares Makiwara (bundle of straw tubes, Cutting object) for every week for real cut. This group offers very rare and precious chances for trainees. We prepare a real sword for beginners. If you find attractive in Japanese swords or are curious in technics and spirits of Iai-do, please start from the observation.
I couldn’t take many shots during the contest as I was on the side of being reviewed. Movies above are performances by O Sensei and F Master. The skill of O Sensei is “Tsubame-gaeshi ura (Swallow turn 2)” and “Sode-surigaeshi (Sleeve sliding back)” for F Master.