Organised by the Aikido Organisation of Ireland, the 2007 Irish AHAN Seminar directed by Gaku Homma Sensei, Nippon-Kan Kancho, was held in Dublin
Gaku Homma sensei taught at an AHAN Fundraising seminar in Dublin, Ireland in mid-October, sponsored by Aikikai Ireland (Simone Chierchini Sensei) to raise funds for a student-operated second-hand community store in Sligo where Simone Chierchini Sensei is based.
The seminar was held at the Dublin Technological University and the Donore Community Center with about eighty students in attendance. Homma Kancho was accompanied by Nippon Kan Headquarters instructors Carl Finney and Jason Lowrey.
After joining the European Union, many immigrants moved to Ireland, and growth especially Dublin has exploded in recent years with the influx of many different peoples and cultures. Dublin has grown quickly and seems to suffer from some of the problems that come from a massive influx of new residents in a short amount of time. Homma Kancho commented “Last year we held our seminar in the countryside of Northern Ireland and it was wonderful to experience the country peoples of Ireland. Dublin is a fast-moving city and does not have the feeling of safety that the countryside provides. They say the cities in America are dangerous, but at least in the United States people acknowledge each other and say hello on the streets. Here, people do not even make eye contact.” Aikido is relatively new in Dublin and we hope that Aikidoka in Dublin will be able to find ways to promote Aikido as a way for its many people to come together in practice.
On our last day in Dublin we were invited to the Lemongrass Restaurant owned and operated by a Dublin Aikidoka, Mr. Daniel Diago who immigrated himself to Ireland from Cuba over ten years ago. Mr. Diago has opened up 22 of his Lemongrass Restaurants and is doing well with his innovative cuisine. Said Mr. Diago: “I first left Cuba for Russia before I came to Ireland. When I first arrived in Ireland the people in Dublin were very kind and friendly. There was an atmosphere of kindness and neighborliness in Dublin that in great part contributed to my being able to succeed here.” I was very impressed with his attitude, especially considering all of the challenges he must have faced starting a new life in a country where the customs, language, weather and foods were so drastically different than his own. We were fortunate to meet such a fine person in Dublin.
Proceeds raised at the seminar were documented and announced by Simone Chierchini Sensei at the seminar closing. Simone Sensei promises to keep us all updated on the progress of this project.
Source: http://www.nippon-kan.org/ahan/nippon-kan-kancho-gaku-homma-teaches-ahan-seminar-in-ireland/
Articles by Gaku Homma on Aikido Italia Network:
Il Fondatore Morihei Ueshiba, una Divinità?
Gli Ultimi Anni di O’Sensei
More articles on Gaku Homma activities organised by the Aikido Organisation of Ireland:
Gaku Homma Visits Ireland for the Musubi Mat Fundraising Seminar
Travels in Ireland
Aikido Italia Network 