Kendo: The Samurai Legacy of NTT Data 51 st NTT Group Enterprise Kendo Tournament

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1 Kendo: The Samurai Legacy of NTT Data 51 st NTT Group Enterprise Kendo Tournament Each year NTT Group sponsors an enterprise-wide kendo tournament for its employees who participate in kendo. NTT and each of its subsidiary companies, including NTT Data, have kendo clubs and look forward to this event. NTT Kendo clubs have a reputation in the Japanese kendo world for exceptional skill and spirit. This year NTT Data organized and hosted this tournament in Tokyo on October 21. NTT Data Kendo Club at the 51 st NTT Group Enterprise Kendo Tournament. Mr. Harrison is first from left in the first row. This year s tournament was a resounding success, attracting over 200 competitors from many of NTT s companies and divisions, including for the first time, NTT Data Services! Representing Services was Dave Harrison, ETL Team Lead at the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare account. Dave was included as part of the NTT Data contingent and is the first American to participate in this event. Dave is also president and head instructor for the Boston Kendo Kyokai and has been practicing kendo for over 38 years. He currently holds go dan or 5 th degree black belt in kendo. The tournament, held at the Tokyo Sports Culture Center in Koto, Tokyo, was exceptionally well organized and well run thanks to the efforts of the organizing committee and all the NTT Data employees who volunteered to help make this a first-class event. The tournament was comprised of several distinct competitions: Men s Individual division, Women s Individual division, Men s Team division, Women s Team division, Senior (over 40) Men s division, and Senior Men s Team division. The NTT Data team s performance was outstanding with bronze medals in the Men s Individual, Men s Team and Women s Team events. Dave competed in the Senior Men s and Senior Men s Team divisions and although giving his best effort lost in the first round in both events.

2 Spotlight caught up with Dave after his return from Japan. Spot Light: First of all, what is kendo? DH: Kendo is usually translated as the Way of the Sword and is one of the oldest and most respected Japanese martial arts/sports. Kendo traces its origins to the training of the Samurai warriors. When Japan modernized beginning in the 1860s, many of the leading figures were Samurai. While modernization abolished the Samurai as a class and outlawed the carrying of swords, the Japanese maintained the tradition of fencing as a means of instilling in citizens certain virtues such as courage, stoicism, politeness, humility, and perseverance. Today, kendo is included in the curriculum in Japanese public schools from elementary through high school. Kendo is practiced by boys and girls, men and women of all ages. All colleges and universities have kendo programs. All Japanese police departments train daily in kendo. Most major Japanese corporations, like NTT have kendo clubs and support kendo among their employees, as do many government agencies including, of course the Japan Self Defense Forces. SL: How did you do in the tournament? I had modest expectations coming into this tournament so losing both my firstround matches wasn t a shock. Given the experience and excellent kendo skills of my opponents I m happy to have been at least competitive in my matches. I had a great time, met so many wonderful new friends, and learned quite a bit. In kendo, as in life, losing is inevitable and winning is never guaranteed; it s how you handle each that says a lot about your character. Good sportsmanship is being magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat. Dave Harrison in action against Mr. Enoki of NTT SL: How do you score points in a kendo match? DH: To score a valid point (yuko datotsu) you must strike the correct target (datotsu bu) with the correct part of the fencing foil (shinai) with the correct posture and spirit. And you must shout (kiai) the name of the target while striking. It is extremely difficult to do when your opponent is not cooperating. Two of three judges must call the point. The valid targets are all part of the protective equipment (bogu): the forehead (men), the wrist (kote), and the trunk (doh). The matches are 3 minutes, which

3 may seem short, but on court it seems like a long time, especially when your opponent is strong. The first to score 2 points or whoever is ahead after 3 minutes is the winner. Dave Harrison in action SL: How did it come about that an American kendo enthusiast participated in an event that almost no one outside Japan or NTT knew about? Dave Harrison: Back in the spring Boston Kendo Kyokai had a visitor from Japan, Mr. Hideki Yoshimoto, join our kendo practice while he was in Boston to visit friends. When I saw his name tag I said, NTT Data? I work for NTT Data, too! We hit it off at that point. After our practice, Yoshimoto-san asked me if I knew about the NTT Group tournament, and of course, I didn t. He said I was probably eligible to participate and that he would find out. Well, it turns out I was eligible, and we started the planning. SL: What was it like to be the only NTT Data Services associate and the only American to participate? Mr. Hideki Yoshimoto with Dave Harrison at Boston Kendo Kyokai

4 DH: Of course, at first I was a little nervous. But my NTT Data colleagues were so friendly and gave me such a warm welcome. I quickly became part of the NTT Data team. Plus, the day before the tournament we had a joint kendo practice that was amazing. I had the opportunity to practice with several highranking kendo teachers from the various NTT companies. And that evening NTT Data hosted a Welcoming Party at NTT Data headquarters building in Toyosu. Great food, plenty to drink, and I met a host of wonderful, interesting people. They made me give a short speech in Japanese which was well received despite my poor Japanese. Kendo people are very outgoing and appreciate anyone who shares their passion for kendo. Dave Harrison with Mr. Hideki Yoshimoto of NTT Data at Boston Kendo Kyokai SL: How would you describe the tournament? DH: The tournament was electric! Everyone was energized to do their best. The skill level was extraordinary. Everyone was better than me, stronger, faster and mostly younger than me. And the competitive spirit was extremely high. I ve been to many tournaments in the US and this was, by far, the most exciting tournament I ve been a part of. Dave Harrison in action SL: What surprised you the most about the event? DH: I suppose it shouldn t have surprised me, but the level of support from NTT Data leadership was amazing. The commitment of resources and time to organize an event of this size is tremendous. And everything was done as close to perfection as humanly possible. Many senior leadership attended and Mr. Honma personally presided over the event. SL: Why is the support of Senior Leadership important? DH: It s tremendously important for employee morale. Knowing that leadership respects and supports your passion generates positive energy in NTT Data employees. As Mr. Honma pointed out in a recent CEO communication on Ability, Vitality, and Merit, positive energy drives people to excel at their work. Seeing Mr. Honma and other senior leaders at the tournament reinforces that. Dave Harrison with Mr. Yo Honma

5 SL: What is the difference between kendo in the US and kendo in Japan? DH: The biggest difference is that in Japan kendo is mainstream. People begin kendo in elementary school and continue through high school, college and beyond. It s part of the culture, understood and respected by everyone, practiced by millions of people from all walks of life. In the US kendo is a fringe sport, little understood by the general population, with a few thousand some would say strange - people who practice kendo. And of course, the skill level is vastly greater in Japan; although many Americans are highly skilled and compete quite well against the Japanese in the World Championships. SL: What motivated you to participate in the tournament? DH: At first, it was more of an improbable wish. But as it turned out I was going to be in Japan for other reasons. In July a major typhoon struck Japan causing terrible flooding and damage from landslides. Many people were killed. The town where my wife s family lived and where we have property was hardest hit. So, we made plans to travel there when it was safe to do so and transportation was possible. It just happened that the dates of the tournament and our trip overlapped, that s when the idea to participate became fixed. In kendo there is a saying, Ko Ken Chi Ai, which means roughly Friendship through Crossed Swords. My primary motivation was, and always is, to meet new people and make new friends who share my love of kendo. Second, I wanted to be in a kendo environment where everyone was better, stronger and more experienced than me. It s this kind of environment where learning thrives and where I could challenge myself. Also, I thought this would be a great way to raise the visibility of NTT Data Services with some of our Japanese colleagues, sort of a kendo ambassador for NTT Data Services. SL: What does the NTT Data Banner say? DH: I ve asked several Japanese speakers to translate for me, including my wife. All said it is hard to translate. Literally it is an exhortation to Fly. And Japanese is a language that says a lot with very little. So, I ll try to guess at a meaning try the impossible, exceed your limitations, reach for the sky. Something like that. SL: What about next year? DH: I d absolutely love to return for the 52 nd NTT Kendo Tournament. Everyone on the NTT Data Kendo Team is looking forward to me returning. We ll see. If I do go back, I ll need to improve my kendo and my Japanese. NTT Data Banner reads "Fly!"

6 SL: Last thoughts? DH: What an experience! One item checked off my Bucket List. I am very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people. I d like to thank all my NTT Data Kendo teammates, especially NTT Data Senior Men s Team A, Mr. Masato Yoshino and Mr. Yuichi Kurita: Gambate! And of course, thanks to all the NTT Data associates who worked as timekeepers, scorekeepers, referees, announcers and all the other things too many to list. My friend Mr. Hideki Yoshimoto, my guide and interpreter. Mr. Honma and his staff. I d also like to thank Mr. Bob Pryor for his support for my participation in this event. Domo arigato gozaemashita!