Earlier this year I was invited to Korea to witness the installation ceremony of the new Presi­dent of Korea, The Hon: Zen. There was alot of pomp and grandeur surrounding the whole event, in­cluding live coverage on television. Many people were invited to this very interesting occasion. Throughout the whole proceedings,’ security guards were present which is very symbolic of the pro­blems in Korea. As a whole the ceremony was very bright and colourful.

After The Hon. Zens inauguration ceremony, he, delivered a speech which has made a very deep impression upon me. I have had the opportunity to meet him privately on two, separate occasions. The president, is indeed a very-clever and intelligent with many interesting ideas. He mentioned to me that the former president Mr. Kim had changed the Korean society a great deal in the short space of time he was president, and that his ideas again were different again from the former president Mr. Kim that policies and society will change again The Hon. Zen is certainly full of ardor for his country. In his speech he said:

“Korea will last for along time”

“Power and strength should not dominate the people of Korea.”

“The security of Korea is very important to the security of Asia.”

“Korea’s security must guard against the insecurities of other countrys.”

This speech made me feel very good. By the way everybody someday will fade away or dis­appear but society will remain for a little bit longer, and the Earth will remain forever however the face of the Earth will always change.

Strangers often meet and become friends and soon separate. At one time in our life we must say good-bye to our children when they to grow-up and marry. It’s also possible that we are forced to say good-bye to our friends one day. Even a student one day must say good-bye to his teacher one day.

Life is full of Farewells, it is always hard to do so. You must have what we call in Japanese Kiyoi Kocoro (innocent heart) a more relevant meaning is to say good-bye with no remorse. It is very important that we never betray the confidence put in us by other people.

In the Kyokushin Tokyo Honbu students very often leave but I would I like them to leave with no remorse.

KIYOI KOCORO

Society, in the previous few decades has changed so dramatically, that sometimes it gets a little out of control. Children’s crimes have manifolded into such criminal deeds, such as murder!

For example,

Reported recently on the television a child killed his parents with a baseball bat. If however we look into the history of this unfortunate incident, there is more to it than meets the eye. The Boy was studying very hard to get into University, his parents kept on daily encouraging him to study} harder, along with his school teachers. Their encouragement resulted in putting to much pressure, onto the child. The conclusion was what we call in Japanese, a mental split (total rejection from the original path). He then attacked his mother and father with a baseball bat, killing them both.

The other day in Iran, the American hostage’s were released, we have since learned that their captivity was not very pleasant. Iran is a country that demands to be listened. America to, tends to influence other nations thoughts. Both country’s stubbornness Led to a Long captivity. I am so glad that the hostages are safe now.

I have received many letters about Willie Williams and Shigeru Oyama about 500 letters all in all. All basically saying the same thing. I have tired to answer as many as possible, but I will say this now everybody must obey the rules of Kyokushin there are no exceptions! Kancho is the principle of an organization. Therefore I cannot alone, permit them to come back. Of course I want them to come back but Kancho is Kancho. Kancho’s feelings or emotions are not enough to bring them back, it must be a democratic decision and not based on one mans emotions. This is also the same for society.

In a sense Kyokushin is small as an organization, but also very large with dojos in most coun­tries. If one man abuses the law and gets away with it, then the whole of Kaikan would be broken.

I respect Shigeru Oyama very much for he has had the patience to wait over one year since his suspension. I sympathize very much with Willie Williams and Shigeru Oyama. Everyone says and thinks Kyokushin Karate=Mas Oyama, this is not quite true. Karate is not only me, everybody is a part of Kyokushin.

Recently the Tokyo Honbu Committee and the Committee of Kyokushin Honbu have been thinking a lot about Shigeru. The Committees have been trying many times to make a final decision but up to now, there has been no final solution. Everybody is working hard under adversity to find the correct answer.