History of Kendo in Hong Kong
Hong Kong kendo began with after-work practice among Japanese residents in the late 1960s. The Hong Kong Kendo Association was founded in 1971 and joined the International Kendo Federation in 1975; today it summarises about eleven affiliated dojos and five hundred members. The material once arranged by theme is here reorganised into six periods — a timeline first, then year by year below. Names and dates follow the association’s 50th-anniversary booklet; later editions follow the association’s own notices.
Beginnings and founding (late 1960s–1970s)
After-work keiko among Japanese residents led to the 1971 founding by Mr Chu Wun-lin with Mr Isamu Sato and Mr Wai. Early halls were borrowed rooms and a rooftop dojo. In 1975 HKKA joined the FIK; that year a JAL goodwill team and an FIK teaching group visited, and Hong Kong sent delegates to the first World Kendo Leaders Summer Camp. In 1976 three Hong Kong members competed at the Third World Championships in the United Kingdom.
Roots and institutions (1980s)
Queen Elizabeth Stadium opened in 1980 and became the main hall. The first local dan examination followed in 1981. Mr Jun Takeuchi of Mitsubishi helped raise standards from 1982; Mr Kazuo Horibe coached the Hong Kong team from 1988, and Ms Akemi Horibe later founded Tokushinkan.
Affiliated dojos and local events (late 1980s–1990s)
In 1989 president Chu institutionalised the association before emigrating, and Yu’s Kendo Club (later Seidokan) became the first affiliated dojo. Sekishinkan followed in 1992; by mid-decade three dojos and more than five hundred practitioners were recorded. HKKA became a limited company in 1994. The Asian Open invitational began in the early 1990s; the President’s Trophy started in 1998. Mainland interest grew from around 1996 through practice circles in Beijing and Shanghai.
Toward the international stage (2000s)
In 2001 the invitational became the annual Hong Kong Asian Open. President Wong Po-kit served as FIK Treasurer from 2003 to 2009. The Greater China Cup began in 2005; local dan examinations reached fifth dan in 2007. The Novice Championship and the low-ceiling, shortened-shinai essay both belong to 2008.
Popularisation and youth (2010s)
The Junior Championship arrived in 2010. In 2012 came the junior squad scheme, a university trophy, and children’s events. The first Asia Open Iaido invitational was held in 2019; the Greater China Cup paused that year because of the pandemic.
Pandemic and return (2020s)
The Asian Open and the President’s Trophy paused in 2020. The booklet hoped for a 2023 return. The 22nd Asian Open was held on 28–29 March 2026 at To Kwa Wan Sports Centre, with a 1–5 dan examination; the 19th Regional Championships and the 4th Iaido invitational have also been announced. Official recaps are on the association’s YouTube channel.
Hong Kong Kendo Association — chronological history
The following passages reorganise material from the Hong Kong Kendo Association 50th Anniversary Commemorative Publication (香港劍道協會 50 週年紀念特刊), section「協會發展史」, by decade and year. Names and dates follow that booklet; editions after the booklet follow the association’s later notices.
1. Beginnings and founding (late 1960s–1970s)
Late 1960s: Japanese businessmen who loved kendo met after work in Hong Kong and gradually introduced the art to local partners. With little publicity, most residents still did not know kendo; newcomers usually arrived through friends. 1971: Mr Chu Wun-lin, with Mr Isamu Sato (later Secretary General of the International Kendo Federation) and Mr Wai, founded the Hong Kong Kendo Association; Mr Wai was the first president, and Mr Chu succeeded him a few years later. Early venues were scarce — the Seamen’s Club library, Repulse Bay International School, and a rooftop dojo at Mr Chu’s home for kendo and iaido. 1975: HKKA joined the FIK. That year, JAL Hong Kong branch manager Mr Shigenobu Tanaka led the first Japan Airlines goodwill team visit; FIK sent a senior teaching group led by Mr Kyu Ozawa (9-dan hanshi), with Mr Hachiro Tsubouchi, Mr Nagamasa Nagai (both 8-dan hanshi), and Mr Koichi Matsukawa (6-dan kyoshi); HKKA also sent representatives to the First World Kendo Leaders Summer Camp in Saitama under the All Japan Kendo Federation. 1976: Mr Chu Wun-lin, Mr Ma Wing-tak, and Mr Chan C. W. represented Hong Kong at the Third World Kendo Championships in the United Kingdom.
2. Roots and institutions (1980s)
1980: Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai opened and gradually became the association’s main practice hall; the Japanese International School continued to lend space into the early 1990s. From the mid-1980s, teacher Mr Tadashi Yoshida worked closely with HKKA and introduced Principal Mr Akihiro Kaku, who raised local standards and eased the shortage of venues. 1981: with FIK assistance, HKKA held its first local dan examination. 1982: Mr Jun Takeuchi of Mitsubishi Corporation was posted to Hong Kong and helped raise standards; after returning to Japan he became Secretary General of the All Japan Kendo Federation. 1988: Mr Kazuo Horibe coached the Hong Kong team; his daughter Ms Akemi Horibe later founded Tokushinkan.
3. Affiliated dojos and local events (late 1980s–1990s)
1989: President Chu stepped down and emigrated to Canada. Before leaving he set development policy, built links with the government’s sports department, and with core members drafted a constitution with a committee system and an elected presidency. The same year, the first affiliated dojo — Yu’s Kendo Club (later Seidokan) — was founded by Mr Yu Kwok-chiu. Early 1990s: the Asian Open invitational began. Mid-1990s: Hong Kong–Macau exchange started; after 2000, 7-dan teachers in Hong Kong gradually built mainland contacts, and exchange among Hong Kong, the mainland, and Macau settled into a steadier rhythm. 1992: Sekishinkan was founded by Mr Lai Fu-yan (7-dan). Within a few years local practitioners numbered more than five hundred across three affiliated dojos — Yu’s, Vajra, and Sekishinkan. 1994: HKKA was incorporated as a limited company under Hong Kong law. 1996: Mr Masaru Shiikawa, posted to Beijing and Shanghai, practised with Japanese and Korean kendoka and gradually aroused local interest — the start of kendo’s postwar growth on the mainland. 1998: with association support, Sekishinkan held the first inter-dojo President’s Trophy; later editions continued under HKKA through the 23rd (paused in 2020 because of COVID-19).
4. Toward the international stage (2000s)
2000: Mr Kenichiro Shimomura was appointed Hong Kong team coach and manager for the 11th World Kendo Championships in Santa Clara, USA; Mr Masahiro Horibe received honorary membership. 2001: under president Wong Po-kit, with senior members’ support, the early-1990s invitational became the annual Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championship at Hong Kong Park Sports Centre. Teams from mainland China, Macau, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, and Russia took part over the years. 2003–2009: Mr Wong served as FIK Treasurer. 2005: with LCSD support, HKKA added the Greater China Cup to encourage exchange among the mainland, Chinese Taipei, and Macau — fourteen editions in the booklet’s count (paused from 2019 because of COVID-19). 2007: local dan examinations rose to fifth dan. From the 1990s the association could already examine to third dan locally; with Mr Yoshida’s introductions, senior members sat fourth and fifth dan in Miyazaki, Japan. 2008: HKKA held its first Novice Championship. The same year its article collection published the low-ceiling essay: in rented rooms and home dojos the standard swing hit the ceiling, so Ms Akemi Horibe used a shortened shinai so indoor keiko could continue — a Hong Kong equipment response to crowded venues, not a Japanese custom.
5. Popularisation and youth (2010s)
2010: the Junior Championship was added. 2012: the Hong Kong Kendo Junior Squad Training Scheme began, along with a university trophy and children’s events. With LCSD support, national-squad members gained extra weekly training and more exchange abroad. 2019: the first Asia Open Iaido invitational was held — the first international iaido event in China; the Greater China Cup paused from this year because of the pandemic.
6. Pandemic and return (2020s)
2020: the Asian Open (19th) and the President’s Trophy (23rd) paused because of COVID-19 and travel limits; Mr Shoji Sasahara received honorary membership. 2023: the 50th-anniversary booklet recorded the hope of resuming events that year. 28–29 March 2026: the 22nd Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championship returned at To Kwa Wan Sports Centre, with a 1–5 dan examination; the 19th Regional Kendo Championships and the 4th Asia Open Iaido invitational have also been announced. Today the association summarises about 11 affiliated dojos and 500 members, including university clubs at HKUST, HKU, CityU, HKSYU, and HKBU. Official recaps of the 22nd Asian Open, the 25th President’s Trophy, and the novice and junior championships are on the association’s YouTube channel. The Greater China Cup’s latest edition should be confirmed on hongkongkendo.com rather than assumed from the booklet alone.
Watch & learn
Frequently asked questions
- When was the Hong Kong Kendo Association founded?
- 1971, according to the association’s 50th-anniversary booklet. It joined the FIK in 1975.
- Has the Hong Kong Asian Open resumed?
- Yes. The association announced the 22nd edition for 28–29 March 2026 at To Kwa Wan Sports Centre and posted an official recap.