Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

🔥 Sold in a flash! A truly rare 2.76-shaku giant katana! 🔥

The third katana I introduced in my recent Let’s Ask Shogo video has already found its destined owner!✨
The person reached out to me through Shogo’s Katana Shop (shogoskatanashop.com/) and told me right away — “I absolutely want this one.” Even though two other people were considering it, destiny clearly had already made its choice.

I’m always amazed by how fate connects people and swords in such mysterious ways. Each katana seems to know exactly who it belongs to.⚔️

—

Would you like to find your destined katana too?
I’d be honored to help you on that journey — whether online or in person here in Kyoto.

You can contact me anytime through the form on Shogo’s Katana Shop (shogoskatanashop.com/),
or book an in-person consultation via TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g29856….

Let’s find the katana that’s meant for you.✨

1 month ago | [YT] | 87

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

We had Hinata’s Shichigosan photo shoot! 🎉👘

This year, Hinata finally turned 7, so we had a family photo session with all five of us—and my younger brother, who happened to be visiting Kyoto, making us six in total. 📸 It was our first time using this particular studio, but it was absolutely wonderful. The staff were so kind and cheerful, and the facilities were top-notch. Honestly, we’d love to go back again! ✨

For those who don’t know, Shichigosan (七五三) is a traditional Japanese celebration held every November 15th for children who are turning 3, 5, or 7 years old. Families usually dress their kids in kimono and visit a shrine to pray for their healthy growth and happiness. 🙏 It’s also a special time to take lots of photos and enjoy chitose ame (long stick candies) that symbolize a long and prosperous life. 🍬🌸

Next year, Zen will turn 3, so we’ll likely do another photo shoot then. 📷 Two years after that, we’ll celebrate Nagi at 7 and Zen at 5 together—and that will mark the last Shichigosan celebration for all three of our children.

Time really flies, and watching them grow fills us with joy and gratitude every single day. 🌟👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👶

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2 months ago | [YT] | 6,059

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

I Passed My ZNKR Iaido 3rd Dan! 🎉

From September 17th to 20th, we held a special Muso Shinden-ryu training camp with Seki Nobuhidé Sensei, an 8th-dan Kyōshi. About ten students came together and trained hard for three full days, immersing ourselves in iaido practice.

The very next day after the camp, we had the ZNKR Iaido Dan exams in Ibaraki — and I’m so happy to share that all seven students from Seki Sensei’s dojo passed!

The results were: two students passed 1-kyu, two passed 3-dan, and three passed 4-dan.
As for me, I was honored to successfully pass my 3rd Dan.

⸻

🗡️Continuing the Journey

These days, most of my energy is focused on training in the koryu style Asayama Ichiden-ryu. But since our headmaster, Seki Sensei, is an 8th-dan iaido teacher, I’m also very grateful to have opportunities to train in iaido and take exams like this.

It will be another three years before I’m eligible to take the 4th-dan exam, so until then, I plan to keep training hard and steadily improve.

⸻

🌏Train With Me Online!

If you’d like to practice koryu together, check out the online lessons I manage here:
www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei

And recently, we also started online lessons for shurikenjutsu — I’d love your support!
www.patreon.com/c/shurikenjutsu_onlinelessons/memb…

See you in training,
Shogo

Skip the Carousel

1 2

2 months ago | [YT] | 2,107

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

👘Learn Men’s Kimono Dressing Online—for Free!

Yes, you read that right. I’m offering completely free online lessons on how to wear men’s kimono—taught by me, Shogo—on my Patreon page!

👉 Click here to check it out: www.patreon.com/c/lets_ask_shogo/membership

⸻

What You’ll Learn

In these lessons, you’ll discover:
• Nearly 10 different ways to tie a kaku obi (men’s obi)
• Three styles of front-tying hakama
• How to fold your kimono properly
• How to wear hakama over kimono
• And much more to enjoy your men’s kimono life with confidence!

Honestly, once you go through my lessons, you’ll know everything you need to get started. Pretty awesome, right?

⸻

“That sounds nice... But I don’t even own a kimono!”

No worries! You can find everything you need to get started on this beginner-friendly site I recommend:
👉 www.kimono-yukata-market.com/

They have a great selection for international customers!

⸻

❓Why I Do This

You might be wondering—why am I so passionate about spreading men’s kimono culture?

It’s because I believe fashion is a reflection of who we are.
For me, wearing kimono feels the most “me.” And I know there are many people around the world who feel—or will feel—the same way.

That’s why I want to make it easier for more people to begin their kimono journey.

⸻

🇯🇵Let’s Meet in Class!

I hope to see you in one of my lessons soon.
Oh—and all sessions are recorded, so you can watch them for free anytime on my Patreon page.

www.patreon.com/posts/june-26-2025-132319501?utm_m…

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message.
Let’s start your kimono life together! 👘

(I have in person lessons in kyoto too: www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g29856…)

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3

5 months ago | [YT] | 1,109

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

⭐️Shogo's Japanese Lessons are BACK!!⭐️

📝Sign up for the lessons HERE: www.patreon.com/c/lets_ask_shogo/membership

Want to confidently communicate in Japanese while traveling or living in Japan? Join the live online lessons every Friday from 7:30 am to 8:30 am JST with Shogo, a nationally certified Japanese language instructor! No prior experience needed—everyone is welcome! If you can’t join live, no worries! You’ll get full access to recorded lessons so you can learn at your own pace.

▶︎What You'll Learn in the Elementary Class:
✅ Hiragana, Katakana, and Basic Kanji – Build your foundation in reading and writing Japanese
✅ Essential Grammar – Understand key sentence structures
✅ Everyday Phrases – Learn practical Japanese to navigate life and travel in Japan with ease

▶︎How It Works:
1️⃣ Receive Zoom Access – A private post with the meeting link and password will be shared on Patreon each week
2️⃣ Join the Lesson – Simply use the provided link to attend the live class
3️⃣ Watch Anytime – Recorded lessons will be uploaded to Patreon, so you never miss out!

▶︎What You Need:
📖 Irodori A1 PDF (download here) – A free, downloadable textbook designed for real-life communication
💻 A Device – A computer, tablet, or phone to connect to Zoom
✏️ Notebook & Pen – Take notes and practice writing

▶︎Why Choose Shogo’s Japanese Lessons?
⭐ Affordable Pricing – While other lessons can cost hundreds per month, this program is just $35 per month
⭐ Certified Instructor – Unlike many self-taught teachers, Shogo earned a national certification after a year of intensive study
⭐ Practical Learning – We focus on real-world Japanese, not just test preparation
⭐ Deep Cultural Insights – Shogo is also experienced in Kobudo, tea ceremony, Noh, and traditional instruments, offering a unique perspective beyond just the language

▶︎Have Questions?
Feel free to message Shogo on Patreon/Instagram or leave a comment! Let's start your Japanese journey together!

5 months ago | [YT] | 246

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

🌟 Harumi’s Kimono Dressing Lessons Are Now Online! 🌟

Join Here on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/lets_ask_harumi/membership

Big news—my wife Harumi has officially launched her career as a professional kimono dresser this year!

After a year of intense training and passing a challenging certification exam, she earned her license from the one and only Sunao Sensei—a name everyone in the kimono world knows.

Harumi is now working as an instructor at Sunao Sensei’s kimono school and also dresses visitors from around the world who come to Kyoto.

But that’s not all…
To help people everywhere experience the joy of transforming themselves through kimono, Harumi is now offering online lessons!

⸻

👘 Want to learn how to dress yourself in kimono?

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to wear kimono on my own someday…” — this is your chance.
Harumi’s online lessons are designed especially for complete beginners, and she’s created a 2-month program that covers all the basics!

💡 In just 8 weeks, you’ll learn everything from putting on a yukata to styling a casual kimono with an obi.

⸻

💰 And guess what?

The cost is only $40/month. The lessons are recorded and free to rewatch anytime.
It’s one of the most affordable and supportive ways to start your kimono journey—no matter where in the world you are.

👉 Check out the lessons here: www.patreon.com/c/lets_ask_harumi/membership

⸻

❓ Got a question?

Feel free to leave a comment on this post or DM Harumi directly on Instagram:
📱www.instagram.com/lets_ask_harumi/

Let’s start your kimono journey together!

5 months ago | [YT] | 364

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

★[FREE LESSON] Finally, online lessons are now available to practice iaido with Shogo★

☆Sign up now☆
patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei?utm_medium=clipboa…

▶︎What’s special about this online lesson?
Thank you very much for your support. I’m very happy to announce that I have finally started providing “Online Iaido Training” with Seki Sensei from Let’s ask Seki Sensei (90K subs). Seki Sensei is an 8th Dan (top rank) Kyōshi Iaido master who has trained for over 40 years. Not only that, but he has won the national championship THREE TIMES in the past. He is absolutely one of the best samurai masters to learn from, and now his lessons are accessible worldwide. I’ll always participate in every lesson to provide English interpretation so no Japanese skills are required.

●What does Iaido (Musō Shinden Ryu) look like?
https://youtu.be/BzDEsMhomhY

▶︎How are the lessons held? Who can join?
The online lessons will be held over Zoom every Tuesday 10:30~11:30 pm JST. Even if you can’t make it in time to participate on time, you can watch the archived videos of all the past lessons as many times as you want. No previous training is required, and you can join the community anytime. On the other hand, even if you already belong to a different dojo or Ryuha, as long as you’ve clarified it with your Sensei, you are free to join the online lessons. Members of the online lessons will also have the right to come to Japan and participate in the official examinations by the ZNKR Iai as Seki Sensei’s student. We hope to hold annual training camps right before the examinations, so please look forward to the information about that too (I am also Seki Sensei’s student and will be taking exams as well, so I hope to see you in Japan).

●What are the lessons like?
https://youtu.be/E8_0vDlV-8E

▶︎How do I sign up?
To join the online lessons, please jump to our Patreon page from the link. We hold two online lessons, so please be sure to choose the Musō Shinden Ryu course. After you press the “Join” button, you can make an account on Patreon and decide whether to pay by credit card or Paypal. You will then be able to see all the previous posts and archive videos. A post with the Zoom ID and password will be posted every Monday (JST), so you can copy it and join the lessons.

●For further information, please check out this video:
https://youtu.be/8xOIm8jrncg?si=QrIp5...

We will offer a FREE LESSON for the first month to celebrate our new challenge. If you are in any way interested in learning iaido, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Thank you very much for reading this post, please have a nice day!

▼Sign up now▼
patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei?utm_medium=clipboa…

Skip the Carousel

1 2

2 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 319

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

＜Very close to reaching my goal… Another step toward my big dream!＞

“Let's ask Seki Sensei,” a new channel launched on January 1 of this year, has reached 3/4 of its goal this month (We are aiming to achieve 100,000 subscribers by the end of this year, but we already have more than 79,000 subscribers). It is all due to your support that we have been able to come this far in less than half a year. We will continue to do our very best to show the world the fascination of Kobudo, ancient Japanese martial arts.

Let's Ask Seki Sensei is a YouTube channel where you can learn the techniques of a Kobudo Ryuha (Asayama Ichiden Ryu) with a history of over 400 years. Seki Sensei, the 22nd headmaster of the school, generously shares his stunning skills with us. The techniques of the Samurai of the Sengoku period (1467~1615) include elaborate skills that are unimaginable in modern Budo.

Seki Nobuhide Sensei's Profile:
-Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu 22nd Head Master
-Muhi Ryu Iaijutsu 15th Instructor
-Muso Shinsen Jushin Ryu Instructor
-Shinto Muso Ryu Jo-jutsu Instructor
-Isshin Ryu Kusarigama-jutsu Instructor
-AJKF Iaido 8th Dan, Jodo 7th Dan, Kendo 5th Dan

The following videos are particularly popular on this channel…

・How "Throw" Draw is Actually Used in a Real Fight
https://youtu.be/Uk_9lIne9u4
・Proving that the Saya Sheath is as Powerful as the Katana Blade
https://youtu.be/cd5FiSVaxQk
・Proving Why the Jō (Japanese Staff) is So Strong
https://youtu.be/7nOMQIUFuaQ

If you haven't seen these videos yet, be sure to check them out. I guarantee you that it will greatly change your values towards iaido and swordsmanship.

☆☆☆☆☆

As I always say, my dream is "To make all Japan Lovers' Dreams Come True!"

It is a shame that Seki Sensei's skills which he has dedicated almost 50 years of his life to hone are confined to only his dojo in Ibaraki prefecture in Japan. There are many people around the world who want to learn from him, but there was no bridge to connect them. So I wanted to be that bridge.

I will continue to do my best to preserve Japanese traditional culture and make Japan a better place for future generations. It would be great if you can continue to support me on my journey.

P.S. I’m going to be starting 3 other huge projects from the beginning of June, so please look forward to more information

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

2 years ago | [YT] | 1,167

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

▼Interested in learning Iai/Kenjutsu skills online?▼

Join the lessons here:
patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei?utm_medium=clipboa…

I am happy to announce that I’ve finally started online lessons of Iai (katana drawing) & Kenjutsu skills. Your instructor will be Seki Nobuhide sensei, the 22nd headmaster of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu. This Ryuha style has carried on authentic samurai skills for 400 years in Japan, and I made a channel at the beginning of this year to introduce their skills (Let’s ask Seki Sensei youtube.com/@letsasksekisensei).

Seki Nobuhide Sensei's Profile:
-Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu 22nd Head Master
-Muhi Ryu Iaijutsu 15th Instructor
-Muso Shinsen Jushin Ryu Instructor
-Shinto Muso Ryu Jo-jutsu Instructor
-Isshin Ryu Kusarigama-jutsu Instructor
-AJKF Iaido 8th Dan, Jodo 7th Dan, Kendo 5th Dan

I will attend every lesson too to interpret everything into English, so even if you don’t speak Japanese there’s nothing you need to worry about. The lessons will be held every Saturday from 10:30 pm to 11:30 pm (JST), and every lesson will be recorded and will be available to rewatch anytime.

What you can train: Basic Iai and Kenjutsu skills of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu (which you can do on your own at home)
-Throw draw techniques
-Kenjutsu body and weapon operation
-Basic Iai Kata, etc.

Equipment you need to take part in the online lessons:
-Uchi-katana Iaitō (training katana) OR Bokutō with sheath
-Training Gear (Dōgi, Hakama, Inner Obi, Outer Obi)
(Recommended shop to buy necessary equipment: tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo)

Please watch this video to learn more about the online lessons: https://youtu.be/ZBXqjXbbknM

Thank you so much for reading this post! I hope you have a nice day.

2 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 2,691

Let's ask Shogo | Katana, Budo, & Kimono

<My New Channel Achieved 25,000 Subscribers!!>

All thanks to your support, my new YouTube channel "Let's ask Seki Sensei," which I started at the beginning of this year, achieved 25,000 subscribers in less than 2 months!

(Check it out!)
youtube.com/@letsasksekisensei

Our goal is to achieve 100,000 subscribers by the end of this year, so we really hope you can continue to support us by giving us LIKEs and sharing our videos!

I’m very close to convincing Seki sensei and the dojo members to start online lessons and to hold annual seminars in Japan, so please look forward to more information about it too.

If you haven’t checked out my new channel yet, these are some of the most recommended videos!

●How "Throw" Draw is Actually Used in a Real Fight
https://youtu.be/Uk_9lIne9u4

●How to Draw & Sheath a 150cm/60in Long Katana
https://youtu.be/hFVL0RzmbbI

●When Wakizashi (Short Katana) are Way Better Than the Katana
https://youtu.be/5KSbv_IIWN8

●This is How Two-Katana Style was Actually Fought
https://youtu.be/Zf-3W97twbk

●7 Self-Defense Techniques Using Metal Fans
https://youtu.be/PdJLQfLaOP4

Thank you so much for reading this post! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

2 years ago | [YT] | 1,477