2024.12 KENDOJIDAI
Interview by Yanagida Naoko
Translation by Sato Mariko, Pepijn Boomgaard
In June 2024, at the regular board meeting and general assembly of the Nagano Kendo Federation, it was decided that Futatsugi Mutsumi, Kyoshi 7th Dan, would assume the position of president of the federation. She has made history as the first female president of a prefectural kendo federation. We spoke with her about her thoughts on this new role, including her deep connection to Kendo in her home prefecture of Nagano.
Futatsugi Mutsumi, Kyoshi 7th Dan
Born in 1956 in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, attended Omachi High School (now Omachi Gakuyo High School) before advancing to the University of Tsukuba. After graduation, she became a junior high school teacher and later worked at a special needs school and high school. As of June 2024, she serves as the president of the Nagano Kendo Federation. Her competitive achievements include two appearances in the All Japan Women’s Championship, victory in the Women’s Individual Category at the National Teachers’ Tournament, participation in the National Sports Festival (Kokutai), the All Japan Housewives’ Tournament, and the National Prefectural Women’s Team Tournament, as well as a third-place finish in the Ladies’ Kendo Tournament.
Navigating a New Leadership Role: United in Purpose and Action
On June 23, 2024, the regular board meeting and general assembly of the Nagano Kendo Federation were held, where it was decided that Futatsugi Mutsumi, the federation’s vice president, would assume the position of president. This marks the first time in history that a woman has been appointed president of a prefectural Kendo federation in Japan since their establishment.
“The title of ‘first’ naturally draws attention, and I feel a great sense of responsibility. However, I accepted the role with the hope that more women will follow in the future. I previously served as vice president, but I never imagined being offered the position of president. To be honest, I was quite nervous when I received the news.”
When she was approached about the position, it was truly a bolt from the blue, leaving her completely astonished.
“I was simply overwhelmed by the offer to become president. However, many people reassured me, saying, ‘We will support you, so don’t worry.’ Even male Sensei encouraged me, expressing their full support. Considering the circumstances of our federation and the future of women’s kendo, I felt that accepting this role was the right decision. I am now working in an environment where there is a warm sense of unity, with everyone saying, ‘Let’s move forward together as one.’
Currently, the Nagano Kendo Federation has 11 committees and divisions, each responsible for different aspects of its operations. This year, in addition to appointing committee chairs, we have also introduced vice chairs for each division. Our goal is to strengthen the foundation of our organization and actively implement initiatives that benefit our members. This is something we are all working on together.”
As the first female president of a prefectural Kendo federation, there are high expectations for her leadership and vision.
“I believe that many female Kendo practitioners train rigorously alongside powerful male players. I want to support these dedicated women. Additionally, many female Kendo practitioners are involved in youth kendo, and depending on how we approach this, we can increase the number of young Kendo students. By supporting each other, I hope to further promote women’s Kendo. Establishing a women’s division this year is part of that effort.
While ensuring that the current Kendo population does not decline, I also want to create an environment where new people can develop an interest in Kendo. We are still navigating our way forward, but I am committed to walking this path together with everyone in Nagano.”
Building Connections and Strengthening Women’s Kendo in Nagano
Nagano Prefecture spans approximately 128 kilometers east to west and 220 kilometers north to south, making it a vast region. The Nagano Kendo Federation consists of 17 branches, and effective communication is essential to maintaining strong coordination across this wide area. Within the federation, regular reporting, consultation, and discussions are encouraged to ensure smooth collaboration.
“We strive to receive feedback on tournaments, training sessions, and new initiatives within the federation. Even within the newly established Women’s Committee, we have been actively discussing ways to launch new projects.”
One of the committee’s first initiatives was the 1st Nagano Women’s “Rindō” Exchange Meeting, held in September. This event was designed to create a welcoming space for female Kendo practitioners to connect and continue their training.
“Rindō (Gentian) is the prefectural flower of Nagano, and its symbolic meanings include ‘justice,’ ‘sincerity,’ and ‘victory.’ In the future, we plan to organize more events under the ‘Rindō’ name.”
In Nagano, where the prefecture stretches far in all directions, opportunities for female Kendo practitioners to connect with one another have been limited. By leading the organization of these exchange events, the Nagano Kendo Federation is helping to foster natural connections and camaraderie among female Kendo players. This initiative has been a welcome development for many.
“The first exchange meeting was successfully completed, which has given the Women’s Committee a great boost in confidence. Moving forward, we plan to expand our efforts beyond the expanding and promotion, focusing on initiatives to support rank advancement and enhance refereeing skills.”
In four years, Nagano will host the National Sports Festival (Kokutai), making this a crucial period for preparation. The National Sports Festival Preparatory Committee, in collaboration with other committees, is spearheading intensive training efforts to strengthen the team and aim for victory in the home-turf tournament.
“Our goal is absolute victory—we are determined to reach the top in both the adult and youth divisions, for men and women alike. Nagano has never won a championship at the National Sports Festival, so this is an unprecedented challenge for us. We are still navigating uncharted territory, but training camps are already underway, and we have started making steady progress toward raising the overall level of our athletes step by step.”
Balancing Family and Kendo While Leading at the Forefront
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