Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art that traces its origin to the swordsmanship of the samurai. True to its name, “the way of the sword,” it is regarded as a path of self-cultivation through the practice of the sword. Today, training and matches are conducted with bamboo swords (shinai) and protective armor, and kendo is practiced across the world. Yet at its core, kendo is fundamentally different from a sport that pursues victory or records. Kendo is not a “sport” but a “martial way.” This is because its aim is not merely to defeat an opponent or leave behind achievements, but to honor courtesy, discipline the mind, and refine one’s character.
In practice and matches, strikes are delivered only to specific targets—the head, wrist, torso, and throat. For a strike to be acknowledged as a valid point, speed and strength alone are not enough; it must be accompanied by a spirited shout, correct posture, and proper distance. What is demanded is the unification of “mind, technique, and body.” Thus, kendo is not simply a contest of winning or losing—it is a mirror that reflects one’s inner self, a discipline where one confronts personal weakness and doubt, and strives to overcome them.
Kendo begins and ends with a bow. The opponent is not an enemy to be defeated, but a partner who helps one grow. In this spirit, every bow carries gratitude—not only toward the opponent, but also toward the dojo, and even toward the sword itself. Behind the intensity of strikes lies a quiet relationship of mutual polishing of character. This attitude—respecting the other and reflecting upon oneself—marks the greatest difference from sports. Whereas sports often place their ultimate purpose in results, kendo values above all the way in which the heart is refined, regardless of victory or defeat, and the movement toward becoming a better human being.
To an observer, kendo may seem full of loud shouts and vigorous movement, but beneath this surface lies stillness of mind. More important than the outcome is the constant training of one’s spirit, respect for the opponent, and daily discipline. For this reason, kendo is not a sport but a path of spiritual cultivation—a lifelong way of learning.
Nakai once wrote in a newspaper column titled “Mu-kenshō” (“Without Judgment”) about this spirit of kendo. At the “First Higher School” established in the Meiji era (the predecessor of today’s University of Tokyo College of Arts and Sciences), the kendo club placed great emphasis on fostering dignity and inner strength through the way of the sword, rooted in traditional bushidō. One of its most striking principles was mu-kenshō—“no judgment.” In other words, the outcome of a match was to be judged by oneself. If one imagines the bamboo sword as a real blade, then the result is self-evident without need for an umpire.
If one listens to the voice of one’s own heart and treats the opponent with respect, there is no need for external judgment. This tradition of the First Higher School kendo club has left a profound mark on Japanese kendo, continuing to inspire practitioners to this day.