Rembuden Kendo Club 40th Anniversary 1986 - 2026

26th Rembuden Kendo Taikai, 05 & 06 September 2026

26th Rembuden Kendo Taikai「第26回錬武殿剣道大会] 05 & 06 September 2026: 2 days of kendo shiai completed over the weekend. Thanks to competitors, parents and supporters from North Shore Kendo Club (NSK), Auckland Kendo Club (AKC), Rembuden Kendo Club (RKC), Yoshinkan Kendo Club (YSK), Maru Kenshikai (MKK), Aotearoa Kendo Club (AOT) and Otago Kendo Club (OKC), who contributed to make this a successful weekend on the New Zealand kendo calendar. Thanks also to those who officiated the shiai as shinpan: Martin Lee (7th dan), Jason Oh (7th dan), Akira Nakamura (7th dan), Sue Lytollis (6th dan), Masaki Nakazono (6th dan), Akiyo Yamaguchi Ellin (6th dan), Liz Dutton (5th dan), Haruko Tsuzuki (5th dan), Rina Kobayashi (5th dan), Yoko Maruyama (5th dan).

It is said that Kendo is a lifelong pursuit. It was good to see that demonstrated over the weekend with a diverse range of age and experience on show. While many of the older and experienced members featured in the medals, it was good to see them getting challenged by the next generation. Consistent success at Rembuden Taikai is a real benchmark for New Zealand kenshi, so we hope to see you all again next year, testing yourselves in the shiai-jo.

A special highlight for Rembuden Kendo Club, Max Lee winning the men’s senior dan division for the 3rd consecutive year, the first time this has been achieved in the 26-year history of this Taikai. Combined with his win at the 1st Asia Oceania Kendo Tournament this year, Max is tracking well for the 20th World Kendo Championships in 2027.

After 100+ individual shiai and 16 team shiai over the weekend the results for club members were as follows:

Women’s Kyu

• =3rd Elva Wong, Leith Macintosh

Women’s Dan

• =3rd Haruko Tsuzuki (RKC)

Men’s Senior Dan

• 1st Max Lee (RKC)

• 2nd Rob Challies (RKC)

• =3rd Jason Wong (RKC)

Veterans Open

• =3rd Masaki Nakazono (RKC), Rob Challies (RKC)

Team Open

• 1st Rembuden A [Andre Karlovsky, Max Lee, Rob Challies]

• =3rd Rembuden B [Anson Tsang, Jason Wong, Chris Cliff]

Fighting Spirit Awards

• Anson Tsang (RKC)

• Kumi Black (RKC)

2026 NZ National Championships, July 10-11

Rembuden Kendo Club members competed at the 16th NZ National Championships.  The Rembuden Men's Team (Jason, Max, Chris, Rob and Masaki) came 1st beating North Shore Kendo Club in a tight final.  Since 2004, the 14 times the Nationals has been held, the Rembuden Men's Team has won the Men's Team title 12 times.  Great effort! The Womens's Team (Sui, Haruko and Kumi) were not able to retain the title they won at the 2024 Nationals, coming 2nd to the Auckland women's team.  In the Men's individual competition Max was unlucky to come 3rd - had some calls gone his way, he would have had a good chance to retain his title. Masaki came 2nd in the Veteran's event.  Max and Chris paired up to place 3rd in Kata.  Kumi received a fighting spirit award for her efforts.  At the last Nationals in 2024, Rembuden placed 1st in all events.  While we were not able to repeat such fantastic results, they were still good - particularly with members having to deal with various challenges in the build up.

1st Asia Oceania Kendo Championships (AOKC) 30-31st May 2026, Tokyo

Congratulations to Rembuden Kendo Club member, Max Lee, representing New Zealand at the 1st AOKC.  Max won the Men's Individual (3rd dan and below) division, and was recognised with a Fighting Spirit Award for his efforts in the Men's Team Event.  Max won all his fights in both events, and impressively in doing so did not concede a single point.  The AOKC featured 23 countries and over 250 competitors.  Max's achievement represents unprecedented success for a New Zealander at an international kendo tournament.  Max represented New Zealand and Rembuden Kendo Club superbly.

26th Rembuden Kendo Taikai 2026 「第26回錬武殿剣道大会」