Refresh Seikatsukan FK, a “recycle store” that has been a well-patronized stop for shoppers in the Tenri Hondori Shopping Arcade for at least a dozen years, has closed its doors for good. Here is a translation of a sign that was posted late last month:
To our customers,
Circumstances have led us to close our store for good. All our executives and employees would humbly like to thank you for your patronage over the last 15 years.
All items half price!
Please make a purchase!
We will close as soon as we run out of merchandise.
Thank you once again.
Another business, the Tenri Kanko Hotel, which closed late last year, is presently being torn down. Here’s how the demolition is progressing the other day:
We’ll post an update as soon as we find out what are slated to replace these two Tenri mainstays.
More Tenri judo news from Fukuoka, where Tenri University athletes competed in a tournament that helped select the Japanese team to compete in the Judo World Championship in Rio scheduled to begin in August this year.
Video by Doyusha:
(Translation of video narration)
On May 12 and 13, the 2013 “All-Japan Judo Invitational Tournament” was held at Fukuoka Convention Center. Four athletes from Tenri University competed.
In the 81 kg weight division, Goki Maruyama, junior at Tenri U., faced top-seeded Keita Nagashima in the opening round.
Maruyama launched a physical assault against his opponent and secured himself an ippon victory by combining an uchimata (inner thigh throw) with an osoto-gaeshi (large outer reaping throw counter).
In the semi-final, Maruyama went up against Yasuhiro Ebi, who took third place last year. He advanced into the final round with a stunning uchimata 4:38 into the match.
Tenri U. senior Tomofumi Yasuda also competed in the 81 kg class. He obtained ippons in both the opening and semi-final rounds to advance to the final.
The 81 kg weight division final was a battle between two Tenri U. judoka. Both athletes being well-acquainted with one another, became locked in an intense offensive and defensive exchange. Maruyama’s aggressive approach gave him the advantage as he scored two shidos against Yasuda, landing himself his first ever championship in his weight division.
In other competition, Tenri U. senior Shohei Ono placed third in 73 kg weight division competition, becoming the only Tenri judoka to be selected for the national team in his weight division.
A Colombian university youth TV program, Tiempo Real de Verdad, recently featured Luis Enrique Duque at the Tenrikyo Colombia Center (in Cali) in a Youtube video. I have heard that Luis Enrique was a Tenrikyo Language Institute graduate and in this show, he explains that he is teaching Japanese at the Colombia Center. Click on the link for the video and a translation!
It was Anai’s ninth appearance and first in two years. He scored an ippon in the second round and an awase-waza osae-komi (hold-down) in the third round.
In the semifinal, Anai faced last year’s semifinalist Ryuta Ishii. Anai advanced to the final with a tai-otoshi 14 seconds into the match.
In the final, Anai faced judo’s upcoming 20-year old sensation Hisayoshi Harasawa. Anai put up a tense offensive and defensive exchange with Harasawa, who was making his first appearance in the All-Japan Judo Championship. Anai won his first championship in four years after his opponent accumulated two shido.
On April 19, the 95th Tenrikyo Women’s Association Convention was held in the Inner Courtyard of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters with the Shinbashira Zenji Nakayama presiding. Roughly 42,000 association members across Japan and overseas came to Oyasato, the Parental Home to attend the event.
The Shinbashira then took the lectern to speak on the founding of the Women’s Association and expressed his expectations for members to enhance the substance of association activities.
