I shot these clips of Tsukuba-san-jinja (筑波山神社) in Ibaraki prefecture as the evening fell.
I went there with a group of brilliant martial artists from different ryu-ha, to buy boken etc from Sugiyama san's shop. Mr Sugiyama is retiring and as he closes down his shop, a chapter of budo history closes with it. The equipment he made for budo training was probably the best in the world and he has no apprentice to take over after him.
In a way this vid. is in recognition of his extraordinary skills and his great service to those of us who bought his products. I don't think Sugiyama san fully understands how much personal evolution, fun, and passion his hands have helped create in people's training and life. It seems to me he is one of these rare, quiet but splendid masters of a craft that, through his being so unassuming in his ways, never really is known to the Japanese public, but becomes a hero to a small group of people who understands and appreciates his outstanding skills.
His shop saw many famous costumers, like Morihei Ueshiba and Don F Draeger, to name a few...

Big Thanks also, to Mark, Podgy and Richard for letting me come along on the trip. You guys rule and i had the best time in years.


The legend of Mt:Tsukuba: Thousands of years ago, a deity descended from the heavens and asked two mountains for a place to spend the night. With its great summit and almost perfect cone, Mt. Fuji refused, believing with pride and arrogance, that it does not need the deity's blessings.
Mt. Tsukuba, on the other hand, humbly welcomed the honored guest, even offering food and water. Today, Mt. Fuji is a cold, lonely, and barren mountain, while Mt. Tsukuba bursts with vegetation, and is filled with colors as the seasons change.
Ancient chronicles say that the sacred progenitors of the Japanese race are enshrined here, the male divinity, Izanagi-no-Mikoto, at Mt. Nyotai, and the female divinity, Izanami-no-Mikoto, at Mt. Nantai. Legends say that the two deities wed and gave birth to other deities, and even to Japan herself.


Music: 'Laputa' from the movie with the same name by Miyazaki Hayao

Vimeo uploading skills taught to me by Podgy. Super Big Thanks for the patience mate!

Tsukuba Coordinates for google earth: 36°13.31′N 140°06.24′E

Enjoy !