Yakumo Junior & Senior Secondary Principal Kondo and his wife, at his stupendous celebration party (JKF blog notice) at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo on March 26 to celebrate Sensei receiving a Blue Medal Ribbon award from the Emperor of Japan.
先週の水曜日、東京の帝国ホテルにて。八雲中学校高等学校校長の近藤先生と奥様。
JKFホームページのメッセージ
Here's a rough translation of the JKF blog message about the event.
Mr. Akira Kondo (JKF High School Karatedo Director) Blue Ribbon Medal recipient celebration. The event was for celebrating the Blue Ribbon Medal the Emperor gave Mr. Akira Kondo. It was held at the Imperial Hotel's Peacock West banquet room, and the visitors exceeded 500 people from the political, educational, and Karate worlds on May 26, 2010.
Mr. Kondo, who is the chairman of the Tokyo Private Junior High & High School Society, was praised for his distinguished services carried out to the development of the society for many years, and he received the Blue Ribbon Medal on the 14th this month.
Moreover, when the Yakumo High School Karate Club's Girl's Kata Team achieved a 2nd straight national championships victory this year, Mr. Kondo himself passed to them the victory trophy in March this year.
At the celebration event, the team of three girls performed 'Sochin' kata, and at the end yelled out "Principal, Congratulations!'', to which the hall rose in applause.
Mr. Kondo said 'I think that I got this medal representing everybody who supports the director, the staff of the Tokyo private school society, and the private schools in Japan. It is due to everyone's efforts, schools under private management with a sense of value have pride in supporting the Japanese education, and I want to work hard in the future.'
For me, Kondo Sensei has probably one of the warmest, genuine smiles I've ever come across in Japan.
僕にとって、今まで日本で出会ったことがある中で最もあたたかくて、心からの微笑をお持ちの方の1人です。
Dignitaries tapping open the celebration sake casks! The banquet was dreamlike in its quality and presentation.
要人の方々による祝賀酒樽の鏡開き。パーティは優雅で演出も素晴らしくまるで夢のようでした。
National champions Yagumo High School Girl's Kata team's 'Sochin' demonstration!
全国団体形チャンピオン八雲高校学校のソーチン形の演武!
Many flowers of congratulations from different groups from around Japan.
日本中の様々な方々からのお祝いのお花。
Flowers from the Tokyo High School Karate association.
東京都高等学校体育連盟から。
Flowers from the Japan National Team at the Soccer World Cup 2010.
ワールドーカップ2010日本代表選手からも!