Kendo: The Samurai Legacy of NTT Data

51st 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 51st 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 5th 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.

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 first-

round 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.”

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

Dave Harrison in action against Mr. Enoki of NTT

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.”

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?

Dave Harrison in action

Mr. Hideki Yoshimoto with Dave Harrison at Boston Kendo Kyokai

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 high-

ranking 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.”

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.”

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. Hideki Yoshimoto of NTT Data at Boston Kendo Kyokai

Dave Harrison with Mr. Yo Honma

Dave Harrison in action

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 52nd 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!"

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!”