ODA, Katsuo sensei

Iaido Hanshi 8-Dan/Kendo Kyoshi 7-Dan

 7 January 1942 ~ 19 April 2020

It is with great sadness that the Australian Kendo Renmei (AKR) announces the passing of Oda Katsuo sensei on Sunday 19 April 2020.

Oda sensei’s first connection with Australia was in 1999 when he visited Australia with Nakanishi sensei as part of a team to run seminars around Australia in Kendo, Iaido and Jodo. The following year he visited Australia again, this time to assist Haga sensei in the running of the Iaido seminar at the AKR National Iaido and Jodo Seminar and Championships (AIJSC). At the National Council Conference of that same year (October 2000), Oda sensei was appointed as the Australian Iaido Technical Advisor. He attended all AIJSC events during this time and, despite retiring from this position in 2015, he continued to assist senior Iaido members with advanced training and advice for their examination attempts in Japan. Although he was in Australia specifically for the development of Iaido, he was also an accomplished Kendo practitioner who would also run Kendo trainings in Australia during his ‘time off’ from his Iaido commitments.

Oda sensei’s continuing influence, guidance and support for Australian Iaido and Kendo was profound and will never be forgotten. We are all very grateful for his dedicated help and great friendship and deeply saddened by his departure.

Rest in peace.