By Paul Budden
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Masatake Sumi Sensei.
A teacher of the highest calibre and without question the finest instructor I have ever met or could ever hope to meet. His technical precision, depth of insight, and profound humanity have shaped generations of kendoka in the UK and across the world.
Sumi Sensei’s legacy lives on in every cut, every breath, and every moment of sincerity we bring to our practice. We honour him not only in memory, but in the way we train, teach, and carry ourselves.
Background
In the spring of 1988 during a visit to France. Organised—together with Terry Holt Sensei—for a group of British kendoka to spend a long weekend training with the Maisons‑Laffitte Dōjō just outside Paris. Our host, Jean‑Claude Tuvi Sensei, welcomed us with great generosity, arranging keiko both at his own dōjō and at Budo XI in Paris.
At the Saturday morning session at Budo XI, I encountered Sumi Sensei for the first time. Then a 7‑dan, he had been sent by the All‑Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) to support the French Kendo Federation. He was accompanied by his wife, Kaoru, herself a distinguished naginata Sensei, and their two young sons, Kentarō and Sōichirō—both already spirited and enthusiastic kendo practitioners. (Kaoru Sensei would later attend the Kodokan Seminar on several occasions.)
What struck me immediately as Sumi Sensei entered the dōjō was his quiet yet immense presence—completely unspoken, yet unmistakable. Only later did I come to understand this quality as fūkaku, a depth of character that radiates without a word. In that moment, I knew instinctively that he was the Sensei I wanted to follow.
During that first meeting, Sumi Sensei mentioned his interest in visiting Britain, and we quickly extended an invitation. Later that summer, he and his family spent a long weekend with us in the UK—a visit that marked the beginning of a treasured friendship and a lasting tradition.
At that time, the Kodokan Seminar, had already been running for two years under the guidance of Jumpei Matsumoto Sensei, together with Shoji Enomoto Sensei, Emeritus Professor at Nanzan University and an esteemed Budō historian. Enomoto Sensei was in England on a sabbatical year, during which he was researching the history of British and European fencing, and he took the lead in running the seminar that year.
Both were and are exceptional teachers and held in the highest regard by all who attended. However, neither was able to join us for the following year.
In conversation, I asked Sumi Sensei if he might lead the seminar in their place. Without hesitation, he graciously accepted—and that decision changed everything. His first Kodokan Seminar, held in 1989, marked the beginning of an extraordinary legacy and association with British Kendo.
Sensei led the event for twenty-nine consecutive years, often accompanied by his close friends Junichi Tashiro Sensei and Morio Kumamoto Sensei, as well as many other teachers—too many to name—who supported him throughout those decades. It was also through his introduction that Sotaro Honda was appointed as National Coach, a contribution that has also had a lasting impact on the development of kendo in the UK.
Their presence enriched not only the training itself but also the cherished “Après Kendo” gatherings that became an integral part of the seminar’s spirit. These moments of shared conversation, laughter, and camaraderie reflected the warmth and community that Sensei cultivated wherever he went. He always had time to talk and engage with anyone who approached him; such was his generous and gregarious nature.
Masatake Sumi was born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1943 and graduated from Chikushigaoka High School before continuing his studies at Fukuoka Gakugei University (now the Fukuoka University of Education). After graduation, he worked as a high school teacher and later returned to Fukuoka University as an assistant professor before being appointed as professor.
From 1999 to 2002, he served as a permanent director of the All-Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF). Among his competitive achievements, he was placed third in the 23rd Meiji-mura Kendo Tournament. He was also the ladies’ coach for the Japanese national team at the 11th World Kendo Championships in Santa Clara, USA.
He was Professor Emeritus at the Fukuoka University of Education and served as head of their Kendo Club.
Sumi Masatake Sensei’s Kendo Journey
- Began kendo at age 8 in primary school, Fukuoka.
- Achieved ranks rapidly:
- 1-dan at 15
- 2-dan at 16
- 3-dan at 19
- 4-dan at 20
- 5-dan at 23
- 6-dan at 26
- 7-dan at 32
- 8-dan at 47, passing on his first attempt among more than a thousand 7-dan applicants—an exceptional accomplishment.
- In 2001, he was awarded the rank of Hanshi, one of only three conferred that year (none were awarded the previous year). At the time, there were roughly 350 Hanshi among 600 Hachidan, highlighting the rarity and distinction of this title.
- Served as Captain of the Fukuoka team in the All-Japan Professors’ Championships and as President of the University Kendo Association of Kyushu.
From 2004 to 2006, Sensei played a central role in the International Kendo Enbu Taikai held in Edinburgh, participating in all three events and contributing substantially to the BKA’s successful organization of this unique event.
In 2005, his commitment to the advancement of Kendo in the United Kingdom was formally acknowledged with the award of an Honorary Fellowship of the British Kendo Association.
Sumi Sensei is the author of several influential works in English and many teaching videos and books in Japanese:
- Kaoru no Michi
- Training Methods for Kendo by Age
- Kendo Is About Basics
- Kendo for Personal Development
In closing
May we all carry his teachings forward with the sincerity he embodied, the curiosity he encouraged, and the humanity he lived every day. In our keiko, in our friendships, and in the quiet discipline of our practice, his presence endures. Though we feel the weight of his loss, we also feel the strength of the path he set before us.
We bow in gratitude for his life, his guidance, and the light he leaves in our care.
Paul Budden Kyoshi, 7-dan
Kodokan Kendo Club UK
Copyright © 2026 Paul Budden