With no-one else staying at the dojo, I had the place to myself except when classes were being run. This was my very spacious room at the dojo.

The training area at the dojo

Saku dojo from the outside. My room opened onto the black balcony.

Saku dojo is in the middle of the rural countryside. And crop harvesting in all areas was well underway by the third quarter of September (when I was in Sakudaira).

The more mature students follow-on class. Children who attend this class have usually been training with Ariga sensei for 6-7 years.

This waterfall, or series of waterfalls, speak for themselves. The highest waterfall is at the start of the walk. You feel as though you are walking straight into the waterfall itself because the path comes in at the top third of the waterfall.

Dragon flies filled the air in Sakudaira and its surrounds in lightly weaving clouds. Individual dragonflies, like this one, rested in warm spots.

This shot is from behind the waterfall, looking down the valley into which the river flows.

Top of the waterfall looking out to the valley

The Chino classs (and parents). Some of the adults in this pic were early arrivers for the next class. The second class finished at 9pm, followed by a lively supper at a restaurant a few minutes down the road, which was then follwed by the 1.5 hour drive back to Sakudaira.