“The sword is the mind. When the mind is right, the sword is right.”

– Toranosuke Shimada, Edo-period swordsman

Mission

Kogetsukai, NFP, is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization dedicated to the preservation and teaching of traditional Japanese martial and cultural arts. Our training includes Zen Nihon Kendō Renmei (Seitei) Iaidō and Jōdō, Shintō Musō-ryū, Kasumi Shintō-ryū, Jikishinkage-ryū (Hōjō no Kata), and Sugawara Sōgō Budō Katori Shintō-ryū traditions.

We also offer a full children’s program, Rising Moon Warriors, providing youth with structured sword and staff training rooted in discipline, respect, and mindful movement.

The name Kogetsu (湖月), meaning Moon over the Lake, reflects the moon shining above Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Our mission is to cultivate a supportive community grounded in culture, discipline, and mindful practice, while maintaining a close relationship with Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple in alignment with our shared values and heritage.

History

Kogetsukai began in 2019 in the Chicagoland area as a small study group dedicated to classical Japanese sword, staff, and naginata traditions. What began as a focused training circle gradually grew into a broader effort to preserve, teach, and share authentic martial and cultural arts within the community.

In 2024, Kogetsukai became a recognized not-for-profit organization in the State of Illinois, formalizing our commitment to accessibility, education, and service. Today, we offer training for students of all ages while supporting cultural, community, and Zen-based programs throughout Chicago.

History

Today, we offer training for students of all ages while supporting cultural, community, and Zen-based programs throughout Chicago.

Moon (Zen, clarity)

Waves = 5 Arts:

Great Lakes Region

Moon (Zen, clarity)

Waves = 5 Arts:

Great Lakes Region

Meaning of Kogetsu

The name Kogetsu (湖月) means Moon over the Lake, symbolizing calm clarity guiding constant motion.

At Kogetsukai, our training is rooted in the Six Virtues of Budō:
Benevolence (仁), Righteousness (義), Courtesy (礼), Wisdom (智), Sincerity (信), and Bravery (勇).

These virtues shape both our martial discipline and our personal conduct, guiding how we train and how we live beyond the dojo.

Our crest, Five Waves and One Moon, reflects both our place and our principles.

The five waves represent our Five Arts:
Iaido · Kenjutsu · Jodo · Naginata · Ikebana
and are also inspired by the waters of the Great Lakes that define our home.

The moon above the waves symbolizes Zen clarity — the still awareness that illuminates movement, governs technique, and unifies all practice.

Together, the Five Waves and One Moon remind us that martial training is not merely the study of technique, but the cultivation of character, courage, and mindful presence — where clarity guides discipline, and discipline shapes the self.

The name Kogetsu (湖月) means Moon over the Lake, inspired by the moon shining above Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region. It symbolizes calm clarity guiding constant motion. The name is also drawn from the founder’s gō (budō name) in the Mugai-ryū tradition, reflecting both personal lineage and regional identity.

Relationship with Daiyuzenji

Kogetsukai is an independent not-for-profit organization that has trained at Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple for many years. While each organization maintains its own mission and governance, Kogetsukai provides an annual charitable contribution to Daiyuzenji in recognition of the temple’s role as our training home and its broader service to the community.

Zen and Budō

Kogetsukai maintains a close relationship with Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple, whose teachings and mission inform both our training and our organizational values. Zen is not separate from our martial arts — it is their source, shaping practice as a path of awareness, character development, and compassionate community engagement.

Vision

Our vision is to cultivate a community where people of all ages can train with sincerity and discover the timeless wisdom of budō, nurturing strength, humility, and friendship while carrying clarity, discipline, and compassionate action beyond the dojo.

Charitable Status

Kogetsukai, NFP, is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization in the State of Illinois. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. EIN: 33-1612535 In furtherance of its charitable mission, Kogetsukai provides an annual charitable contribution to Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple in support of the temple’s cultural, educational, and spiritual activities. The remaining funds sustain Kogetsukai’s martial arts instruction, equipment, facilities, scholarships, and community outreach initiatives. By training with or supporting Kogetsukai, you help preserve authentic lineages of martial and cultural tradition while strengthening community-centered education in the Chicagoland area.

Our Team

Kogetsukai’s programs are led by a dedicated team of instructors and guided by a committed Board of Directors. Our instructors bring deep experience in Iaido, Kenjutsu, Jōdō, Naginata, and Zen meditation (Zazen), while our board ensures that the organization operates with integrity, transparency, and service to the community.

Kogetsukai, NFP is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization dedicated to the preservation and teaching of traditional Japanese martial and Japanese cultural arts.

Donations support Kogetsukai’s educational mission and community partnerships, including Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple. Contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.