Kendo Federation will not recognize Chiba governor’s ranking
Scandal!! Chiba Governor Kensaku Morita (pictured above in his movie star days) has admitted that he has no evidence to back up his claim of holding a second dan kendo ranking:
Morita said at a press conference that he had been verbally allowed to acquire second dan by his kendo teacher, who held the highest title of hanshi, when he was a first-year high school student.
“Therefore I’ve been claiming that I have second dan for more than 40 years. I still feel that way,” Morita said.
Morita added he would keep claiming to hold the rank because, “It’s never been pointed out to me [that I was wrong to claim second dan].”
Those who want official recognition of a kendo ranking are required to take a test conducted by the All Japan Kendo Federation or another martial arts organization, but Morita did not.
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