Another peculiarly Japanese activity is kendo. Here in the Budokan, or Hall of the Martial Arts, the annual kendo competitions are taking place. Kendo means “the way of the sword”, and it is an art which goes back to the 12th century. Originally it was practiced with real swords, but since the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and the dissolution of the samurai class a bamboo stave has been used, and the protagonists now wear a protective helmet. But the principles employed remain the same. The most important thing is the concentration of power at the proper instant, which requires perfect coordination of the body and lightning speed.
Just now I mentioned the Meiji Restoration of 1868. This was a crucial event in modern Japanese history. The Shoguns had been virtual rulers of the country since 1600, and the Emperors had been mere figureheads. But for a number of reasons the Shoguns’ power declined. The final blow came when the American Commodore Perry came in 1853 demanding trading and other concessions. The Shogunate was too weak to respond, and collapsed, and the office of Emperor was returned to its full status.