Farewell Practice for the Graduating Committee
I took part in the farewell practice for the 62nd year of the Waseda University Aikidokai, the year led by Captain Nakanishi.
The current fourth-years have been in the midst of the COVID pandemic since the start of their third year, and I had worried about the state of mind in which they would leave university, but every one of them graduated looking bright and refreshed.
I suspect this year’s students were forced to endure the most difficult campus life since the Anpo protests. Aikido practice must have been the last thing on their minds. They truly deserve our thanks for all their efforts.
With COVID it had been three years since I last showed my face at the students’ practice, and watching them set out on their new journeys left me feeling freshly resolved myself.
A sign of the times
This post was translated from the Japanese original. この記事を日本語で読む