YUSHINKAN DOJO
Katori Shintō-ryū Philippines Sugawara Sogo Budo is the official branch of Sugawara Sogo Budo Institute Japan in the Philippines, where we’ve been teaching Aikido and Katori Shintō-ryū in Manila since 1998. However, it’s important to clarify that our Philippine dojo is named ‘Yushinkan’.
Our dojo name ‘Yushinkan’ has its origins in specific kanji characters:
• 友 (Yu) means friend, friendship.
• 真 (Shin) for truth and authenticity, and inspiration from 真剣 (shinken) representing seriousness, dedication, and the world of real Japanese swords, as well as 真珠 (shinju) meaning pearl.
• 館 (Kan) refers to a hall or building.
These kanji characters beautifully encapsulate our dojo’s mission and essence, representing the genuine friendships forged during our martial arts journey, the dedication and seriousness to Japanese sword arts training, and our deep respect for the Philippines, often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.