On the 5th of March, the kendo team from Japan’s Chuo University came to TKU’s Tamsui Campus to take part in a friendly kendo meet. The 34 – member kendo team was received by the Director of the TKU Office of International Exchange and International Education, Dr. Pei Wha CHI LEE. Director LEE noted that this is the Chuo University kendo team’s third visit to TKU. She added that TKU has frequent interaction with its Japanese partner universities, and that this form of martial arts-based exchange is very meaningful. Meanwhile, the visiting team’s team captain politely remarked that it is an honor to partake in this form of exchange with TKU’s kendo team.

The friendly contest drew a sizeable crowd. Among the spectators were the Dean of General Affairs, Dr. Jeng Hoang-ell, the Director of the TKU Alumni Office, Perng Chem-young, the Chairman of the TKU Department of Japanese, Dr. Maa Yaw-huei, and several members of the TKU Kendo Association. The CU kendo team once won the Japanese inter-university kendo championship. From their warm-up routine, one could see the power and perfect synchronicity of movement that once propelled them to the top of their art in Japan. As they warmed up, students and teachers who were passing by stopped and stared in awe.

The contest itself was a one-sided affair, with the CU kendo team claiming successive victories. The captain of the TKU kendo club, Wang Pei-ru, said that she has been a member of TKU’s kendo club for 5 years, and that this is her second time competing against the CU kendo team.

She said that the CU kendo team’s movements are very precise. Also, she added, “their agile, rapid movements amazed and dazzled our club members.”