Greetings to all New Moon Festival participants. My birth name is Mansur, but that's not the only one I carry. In 2023, I started training with Sensei Zen Takai, who is a 16th-generation samurai. Under his guidance, I have begun my journey of discovering the ancient knowledge and traditional practices of Japan. From kenjutsu (ken = sword, jutsu = technique) to calligraphy, from ninja mudras to Godai philosophy, these are just some of the things that I was taught. The majority of my training took place on Tsushima Island, which is also the birthplace of Japanese shamanism. Recently, upon the completion of the special nighttime course training, I was given the honor of being officially initiated into the samurai lineage and given a samurai name. Now it is my mission to spread this philosophy and teachings to the world.

Join me at the New Moon Festival for traditional samurai training, which not only focuses on the martial arts aspect but also teaches practically how to harmonize and balance the elements within you.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Kohaku,
17th-generation samurai.