October 28th was the day we traveled from Brno to Hranice.

Originally, we had planned to go by train, but due to construction work, we needed to take a bus to Olomouc and then transfer to a train. Fortunately, our friend B, who lives in Hranice, kindly offered to pick us up in Olomouc, so we decided to enjoy some sightseeing until meeting him.

Our bus was scheduled to leave around 11:30 a.m., but before that, we had to wash four aikido uniforms from the past two days at a coin laundry.

As soon as the shop opened at 8 a.m., we started the washing machine and took showers while waiting. Last time, we put in enough money for two drying cycles, but the machine broke and only ran once—and the money wasn’t refunded. So this time, we decided to be extra careful.

When I returned to the laundry after my shower, the uniforms looked mostly dry except around the collar, so we brought them back to the room. But once we spread them out, they were still quite damp.

“I’ll go back to the shop again.”

While intense heat continues across many regions, Tokyo has enjoyed relatively mild temperatures, and we are already beginning to feel hints of autumn in the air.

We are pleased to share the latest updates for the always popular Aikikai Hombu Dojo Shihan Seminars. Below you will find information on the seminars scheduled for November, along with newly added events.

✔ Aikido Seminar

On October 27th, we met in the morning and headed to Lednice Castle.

Japan also has many castles, but their structure and atmosphere are completely different. And since Mike’s home country, New Zealand, doesn’t have a “castle culture” at all, both of us were absolutely fascinated by European castles.

Lednice Castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “The Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape” in southern Czechia. Once used as a summer residence by the Liechtenstein family, it features elegant English-style Neo Gothic architecture and vast, beautifully maintained gardens.

I couldn’t help whispering,

“Wow… what a beautiful castle.”

The next morning, we headed to Brno, where T’s dojo is located.

We planned to stay there for two nights, enjoy some sightseeing, and train at his dojo. Since they had come by car, we were grateful to be able to ride along with them.

T is a big guy, and his car matches his size—large, sturdy, and perfect for long drives. He teaches Aikido at his own dojo from Monday to Friday, and on weekends he travels across Europe to participate in seminars. “Dedicated young martial artist” describes him perfectly.

During the drive, we stopped at a highway rest area for a short break.

I picked up a small donut and a drink called Kofola. According to T, it’s the Czech version of cola. It’s made with extracts from 14 kinds of herbs and fruits, plus licorice. Instead of an artificial sweetness, it has a gentle herbal flavor, a light sweetness, and refreshing carbonation—exactly the kind of taste I love.