Failing 8th Dan: Japan's Cruel & Elusive Test
Passing 8th dan examination in Japan is widely regarded as one of the most rigerious tests in the world with pass rates usually below 1% regardless of the martial art. One of the most notoriously strict 8th dan tests is kendo and I will write about my experience attending a kendo 8th dan examination in a future post.
Here, I will focus on the kyudo (Japanese archery) 8th dan examination, having spent many months following and filming a leading kyudo master in his 16th attempt to pass this ultimate final high dan grade.For many budo practitioners in Japan, passing 8th dan becomes a lifelong pursuit that can last 3 or 4 decades and the few that achieve this almost impossible task, are often in their 60's or 70's years of age and beyond.
Video: Takeuchi sensei interview
In the above video clip taken from our documentary One Shot. One Life, Takeuchi Masakuni talks about his emotions and his preparations to pass the 8th dan examination after attempting this for the past 16 years.
Takeuchi Masakuni shown above at his dojo in Sendai. He says, "I am preparing myself by practicing here in this dojo, everyday getting ready for the 3rd of November. Also, there is a yearly examination in May in Kyoto, so I will also attempt that one as well. So both examinations in Tokyo and Kyoto in this next year. This attempt will make it my 16th year in trying to pass the 8th dan grading."
Jon Braeley filming kyudo master Takeuchi Masakuni in Sendai
Takeuchi continues, "This examination is very strict, but that is why I cannot stop and I must continue. I am struggling to make the best of my technique and potential, but that struggle is also my driving force. I want to be able to express what I was taught and what I have taught myself. The 8th dan examination is the way I can do this."
IKYF Examiner Ishikawa Takeo
The senior examiner for the 8th dan examination in which Takeuchi sensei entered is Ishikawa Takeo, a distinguished hanshi kyudo 9th dan and is the current President of the International Kyudo Federation (IKYF). He can be seen on the left in the top feature photo taken at the Meiji Jingu Kyudo dojo.
In our interview after the examination he says, "Well, yes, the 8th dan or hachidan is the highest grade, therefore the examination is very strict or severe. Those taking part must demonstrate perfect technique and mastery of 'shahin', that is, dignity and refinement. Yesterday, the pass rate for 8th dan was zero. For the first round of the examination, only one person was approved. This person and five other participants who had been approved in the previous examination continued to the second examination round, but no one passed in this one. This is why we had zero pass rate."
Takeuchi sensei Fails his 16th Attempt
In the photo above, kyudo master Takeuchi Masakuni is about to release his second arrow in the 8th dan examination at the kyudo dojo in Meiji Shrine, Tokyo. He completed his examination, where he hit the target both times with both arrows - the only candidate in his group to do so.
After the examination he says, "My friends have just asked me "Why didn't you pass the first round even though you hit both arrows?" On my previous attempt of this examination I also hit both arrows. But just like me, there are many people who hit both arrows. Of course, there are also people who do not, but there are also plenty who do.If it was a tournament, it would be good if one would hit with both shots, but in an examination there is also the shooting ceremony, the shooting procedure, not only the technique involved in hitting the target. Taihai, the manner in which one moves, and also expresses the spiritual aspect. Observers see that and they can be moved."
The IKYF Examiner Explains the Difficulty
Examiner Ishikawa says, "I can try to briefly explain. Kyudo is not only about hitting the target. It is not only that the form must be achieved and observed, but also that the movements to communicate the heart are observed. It happens often that even though the target is hit the examinees do not pass."
"It is not whether or not the target is hit, but the person's shooting refinement and character. Are their feelings infused into the bow? How is the posture? Is the body properly stretched and how are their motions? Do they adhere properly to the shooting procedure. These are the kind of things which are being carefully watched. Achieving the 8th dan is very difficult."
