First Iwama Visit
Photos from Sensei Sargeant's first visit to Iwama in 1994.
Sensei Sargeant & Sensei Simon Whitaker, on right, with other deshi & dojo dog.
The dreaded cooking rota at the Iwama dojo.
"Sometimes you would be cooking for up to 15 deshi."
The kitchen where everyone ate.
"Many times Sensei would join us & tell us stories. On special days he would
cook for us."
The outside view of the kitchen.
"We had many a long night talking, drinking & making friends from around the
world."
O'Sensei's house that is connected to the dojo itself.
"His house is a quarter of the size of the dojo."
Inside O'Sensei's house, this is the main living room as it was still with
his trophies in it.
"The women deshi had the privilege of sleeping here for their stay in Iwama.
The men slept in the main dojo. I wish I had been a woman, for a night at least,
what an honour."
In between O'Sensei's house & the dojo O'Sensei had a small kitchen that was not used anymore. This was the place for students to place their cases & clothes also, in the afternoon, the deshi would sleep here.
Preparing the dinner table. "It was a normal duty to do this each day but we were getting ready for Saito Sensei this day, as he was cooking hot green chillies. He was the only one laughing when he gave us them and we tried to eat them! He would laugh saying they're not hot and pop another in his mouth."
