【Aikido × Travel】Kochi Aikido Seminar: Training with Friends from Across Japan! Day 3 : Part 2
After the seminar wrapped up, feeling fulfilled both physically and emotionally, I had just finished changing when someone kindly approached me.
“Do you know how to get to the venue?”
“Not yet, but I think I can figure it out.”
“In that case, I’ll send you the map.”
Today’s excitement wasn’t just about the seminar. A social gathering was planned for the evening, and the three of us were invited to join.
Everyone welcomed us so warmly. Sharing keiko together brought back memories of Mike, whom some hadn’t seen in decades, and they treated him with even more kindness.
“Thank you so much.”
Some of the participants will also be attending the national Aikido demonstration in May, so we exchanged contact information.
“Looking forward to seeing you again soon!”
With the refreshing feeling of post-training sweat and the joy of being embraced by the community, we walked back to the hotel with light steps.
Since we had missed lunch, we stopped by a food event near Kochi Station, hoping to grab a bite. Unfortunately, most stalls were already closing, so we had to give up on that idea. Instead, we took a cheerful photo with Baikinman to lift our spirits.
After picking up some delicious-looking bread from a bakery inside the station, we snapped another photo with the “God of Berobero.”
The station also had souvenir shops filled with local specialties.
Back at the hotel, we were happy to find complimentary coffee available, so we took a short break in our room.
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In the evening, we met up with A-san again and headed to the social gathering venue.
We took a bus to the city center, and upon arriving at the restaurant “Hayama,” we were warmly greeted outside.
We arrived ten minutes before the official start, but many guests were already seated. As expected of Aikido practitioners—punctual and precise.
To our surprise, our seats were right in front of Suganuma Sensei.
I’m sure many students would have loved to sit nearby, so we’re truly grateful to the Kochi Aikido group for their thoughtful arrangement.
Once Sensei arrived, the gathering began. After a few words of welcome, we toasted with beer.
Large platters of sashimi, meat, and vegetables were served, and we enjoyed sharing them with everyone around us.
Sitting in such a special seat, I wanted to speak with Sensei but found myself nervous and unsure of what to say.
So I started by serving food and offering thanks for today, gradually easing into casual conversation.
Mike, seated directly in front of Sensei, did his best to keep the conversation flowing.
Still, unfamiliar with such formal settings, he got flustered—offering the same dish multiple times and nearly pouring soy sauce into Sensei’s sake cup!
“No, no, not that…”
Sensei gently stopped him, and the moment brought laughter and warmth to the table.
It seems that here, there’s a custom of exchanging drinks after being served, and the sake cups are smaller than those we usually see in Tokyo.
It’s understandable to make such a mistake, though it was a bit embarrassing.
As the drinks flowed, so did the conversations.
Eventually, seats were shuffled, and we had the chance to chat with many wonderful people while holding our beers.
Time flew by, and after Sensei left and the restaurant began to close, someone suggested heading to a snack bar.
We happily tagged along.
Even in Tokyo, we rarely visit snack bars, and being a Sunday night, most places were closed.
We wandered through the streets until we found a cozy spot where a lovely mama-san welcomed us.
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The snacks served here were “Millet” biscuits, which A-san had brought in various flavors.
They looked like ordinary biscuits but had a rich taste and were surprisingly filling.
“So tasty!”
“Right? That’s why you have to be careful not to overeat!”
Even after a full dinner, we couldn’t resist nibbling on them.
We had been drinking beer all evening, but here we found “Dabada Hiburi,” a chestnut shochu often seen in Kochi souvenir shops.
A-san enjoyed a glass, and I tried a sip too—it was smooth and easy to drink.
As the clock passed 10 p.m., we remembered our plan to visit the mountains the next day and decided to head back early.
“A-san, feel free to stay longer if you’d like.”
“I’ll head back too.”
From the warm welcome to the keiko and the delightful dinner, we were truly cared for in every moment.
With gratitude that words couldn’t fully express, we said our goodbyes and left the bar.
The walk back to the hotel was just the right distance to cool down our warmed bodies.
We stopped by a convenience store for a little snack and returned to our room, cherishing the joy of this wonderful day.
Tomorrow morning, we’ll say goodbye to A-san over breakfast.
Let’s get a good night’s sleep and be ready for the day ahead.
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👉 Coming up next: 【Aikido × Travel】A Two-Person Journey After Aikido – Day 4