The theme of the event’s training is Shizen Shigoku (自然至極), best translated as "extremely natural". It is a reference to the Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu theme in the third set of its kata and has been commonly mentioned in Nagato Sensei’s classes in Japan. Sensei may pull from it as an inspiration throughout the event.

We agree, this is a very expensive event. Every effort has been made to reduce costs and still provide the best experience for event attendees. Unfortunately, it’s expensive to host an event limited to 120 attendees, and as a result it may not be affordable for everyone.

If you have the means, it is important to go to Japan for training. It is the source of all Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and its ryu-ha lineages. The Japanese Daishihan have a wealth of knowledge and learning from each in their respective dojo training halls is superior to any foreign event offered.

For some, going to Japan is not an option. It is a major commitment in time, funding, and resources. Flight costs, passport requirements, time commitment, language barriers, etc., all add complexity to an international trip. In lieu of going to Japan, attending Nagato Sensei’s 2025 Tai Kai in Dayton will provide an opportunity to train with Nagato Sensei in a smaller group setting (a traditional dojo). Sensei will be teaching on the mats, moving around, watching and correcting students. In this way, it replicates his classes in Japan (for those that can not make such a trip). Nagato Sensei will be teaching and overseeing ~15 hours of training at the Tai Kai in Dayton, Ohio (about the same as spending eight days in Japan attending Nagato Sensei’s weekly classes). For these reasons, we believe the investment is worth it for those unable to travel to Japan.

For those not able to pay the full amount at registration, an option exists to make a $300 down payment when you register and pay off the balance in full ($588) by April 15, 2025. Select the “partial payment” option during registration.

Yes, there is a waitlist option. During registration, if the event is sold out, you will automatically be added to the waitlist. Visit the Register link to start the process. When a cancellation occurs or a new space opens up, you will receive an email about a vacancy available at the event and have a few days to respond.

In 2021, Dayton held a Tai Kai for Nagato Sensei and 370+ attendees participated. There was not an appetite to repeat the same event. After discussions, the decision was made to hold a smaller event to ensure a more focused and engaging experience for attendees by reducing distractions during training. The intimate setting of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo allows for more meaningful instruction and conversations. The smaller event size - 120 registered participants only - provides a more personalized and impactful experience for attendees, allowing Nagato Sensei to teach and interact with participants directly in a safe training environment (something not always feasible at larger events). The fully air-conditioned dojo includes 9200 sq ft of space and 107+ tatami training mats for attendees to train in. See the Facility page for more information.

In order to reduce complexity and simplify expectations for the event, a single fee structure - $888 per registered attendee - is the only option. There are no a la carte, one-day only, quantity discounts, or less costly options available. The event is limited to 120 registered attendees. In an effort to streamline planning and ensure sufficient preparation for all attendees, a single fee structure has been created. The event’s theme and location aim to create a cohesive and memorable experience for all participants. By offering a single fee structure, the event team can ensure that all attendees have equal access to the Tai Kai’s resources and planned training. The single fee structure is set to cover the costs of organizing the event, including venue, travel and instructor fees, catering, and most expenses (the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo is also contributing substantially to support the event’s overhead).

A small area at the front of the Dojo offers select seats for approved guests to sit and observe. If a registered participant has a spouse or partner who would like to observe some of the training, please contact us. (Seating for the Approved Guest List is extremely limited.) Children are not permitted.

Visit the Fees page to learn what is included in the registration cost when you attend. (There are options to purchase additional event t-shirts or bring a guest to the event dinner banquet.)

Due to the nature of the event and its dynamic environment, children are not permitted at the event.

Discussions and training are focused toward adult participants. If children were present during the event, it would disrupt the atmosphere and detract from the intended experience of training with Nagato Sensei. Children and infants are prone to unpredictable behaviors like crying and fussing, which can be disruptive to conversations and activities. Additionally, children and babies require constant attention and care, of which the event environment can not support. By restricting the event to adults or young adults (14 yrs old+), Nagato Sensei can ensure a more focused and enjoyable experience for the intended attendees participating.

No registrations are permitted "at the door." We will turn away people who are not registered. Our requirement for advanced registration is needed to ensure Sensei knows who is attending and for logistical planning efforts. We expect to be sold out at 120 attendees so all admissions are for the full event only.

We understand conflicts arise, and some who register may find they are unable to attend. Refunds are available until April 1, 2025. After April 1st, a “Cancellation Transfer” is required. The Event Staff will help coordinate notifications to waitlist participants but can not ensure a refund is available until the transfer is confirmed.

How does the "Cancellation Transfer" work? When you notify us of your need to cancel via email, we will put your cancellation in a queue. When new event attendees pay from the waitlist, we will provide full ticket refunds with those new ticket sales. Refunds will be paid according to the order of the queue (first come, first served). If you help us by finding someone to take your place, that person's new ticket purchase will transfer directly to you (regardless of your place in the cancellation queue). Please email the dojo for more information or to start the process.

It is customary to bring a small gift or token of appreciation as a gift when visiting Bujinkan teachers in Japan. However, this practice is not recommended for Nagato Sensei’s 2025 Dayton Tai Kai. Doing so creates a burden for Sensei (he has to travel internationally and bring the gifts back to Japan, possibly incurring costs because of the gifts). Instead, know that attending the event and training are the best way to show appreciation for his event.

If you are a Bujinkan Yondan (4th Dan), have been at least one year, and wish to take the Godan test, please notify the Event Staff upon arrival. You must have a copy of your Yondan certificate, a Shidoshi/Shihan instructor's endorsement, a passport-style picture, and 50,000 JPY to qualify for testing. Based on Nagato Sensei's input, you will be added to the testing element of the event. Upon successfully passing the Godan test, your fees, photo, and documentation will be sent to Japan for processing. Event Staff will assist in making sure your paperwork is in order for the Godan test and help coordinate its delivery to Japan.

Pictures and video are prohibited during training sessions, but for a good reason - we want you to enjoy the training and not be concerned about documenting it with photos. So, a professional photographer and videographer team from Knack Video & Audio will document the event all weekend. These photos and videos are part of your registration package and will be made available to you once ready. Also, a time and location for an individual/group photo with Nagato Daishihan will be announced during the event. Personal cellphone “selfie” photographs and autographs with Nagato Sensei are not permitted. Event Staff and Security will enforce expectations when Sensei is involved in photo sessions.

Before/after training sessions and during breaks, taking personal photos with friends or of the facility is allowed. (Ask the Event Staff if you are unsure or would like additional guidance.)

Attendees are welcome to bring training weapons such as a wooden bokken, wooden tanto, shinai, fukuro-shinai, wooden hanbo, wooden rokushakubo, padded hanbo and any other type of soft padded weapons. Attendees are prohibited from bringing "live" weapons, such as metal blades, swords, daggers, or knives of any kind. Absolutely no firearms are permitted inside the event facility. No exceptions. As this is a private training event, Security reserves the right to remove a training weapon or participant if deemed unsafe during the event. Law enforcement will be present during check-in, training sessions, and the dinner banquet for the safety of attendees.

There are no formal designated uke for this event. Nagato Sensei will be choosing uke as he does in his normal classes in Japan - by picking a volunteer for each session he teaches.

Nagato Sensei's goal during his visit to Dayton is to represent the Bujinkan and Soke Masaaki Hatsumi. The event schedule and size of the event have been designed to provide each participant with an opportunity to "catch" and practice Nagato Sensei's movement. Because of the schedule, private time for Nagato Sensei is limited to rest and preparing for the event's training sessions. As such, private discussions are unfortunately not available with Nagato Sensei.

During training, it is recommended attendees wear their full do-gi training uniform during all training sessions. Then, if Nagato Sensei chooses not to wear a do-gi jacket and instead teaches in a t-shirt or sweatshirt (as he commonly does), you’re welcome to follow his lead. (Please do not wear vulgar or inappropriate t-shirts during training.) All attendees are invited to wear cloth-sole tabi, leather- sole tabi, or socks during training. Rubber-sole tabi, sneakers, and bare feet are not permitted on the mats.

Bringing your own energy drinks and small snacks is permitted during the entire event. Please be courteous to others, clean-up after yourself, and do not bring alcoholic beverages. Water stations will be setup during the training sessions for all participants to use. In addition, a refreshment stand will have non-alcoholic drinks (juice, soda, etc.) for sale. Within .5 miles of the event there are also a number of convenience stores, fast-food, and fast-casual locations.

The included private dinner banquet at 6:30 PM Saturday night with Nagato Sensei is a seated, three-course plated dinner and includes an open bar.

During the Saturday night Dinner Banquet with Nagato Sensei, there will be special announcements and discussions, and a toast will be held. This is a formal dinner with Nagato Sensei who has come to Dayton, Ohio to celebrate the Bujinkan community on behalf of his teacher, Hatsumi Soke. Although an open bar is available, expectations are to remain professional and keep exorbitant drinking to a minimum. (Nagato Sensei isn't a drinker, and generally looks down on those who can't control themselves when they drink.)

A selection of menu items are available during registration to choose from, including specialty items for dietary needs. The Saturday evening dinner banquet dress is "business casual party attire." Dress or button-down shirts and slacks are recommended.

For those wishing to celebrate after the dinner banquet concludes at 10:00 PM, recommendations will be made for local establishments.

During the event, please say "Sensei" (先生) when addressing Nagato Daishihan. Sensei means 'teacher' in Japanese and is an honorific term that can be translated as "one who comes before". It is pronounced 'sen-say' (audio link). Referring to Nagato Sensei as "Daishihan" outside of initial introductions is honorifically correct, but unnecessary.

Yes. Professional interpreters will be providing interpretation services during the entire event, including all training session, the dinner banquet, and any side discussions with attendees and special guests. The event facility overhead speaker system will be used so everyone can hear. Our interpreters are long-time Nagato Sensei students who have lived in Japan and are bilingual. Nagato Sensei is familiar with the interpreters and has approved their services.

Thank you for offering to assist during the event! It is the Core Event Committee's goal for all participants to enjoy Nagato Sensei's training and Bujinkan insights while in Dayton, Ohio. For this reason, a number of professional service companies and event staff members with experience managing large events have been pre-selected to oversee certain logistical and operational activities during the event. This was done on purpose - so that you can enjoy training with Nagato Sensei and know that everything else is taken care of. In the rare case additional volunteers are needed, we will make announcements during the event for those who wish to help out.

There is limited space for Bujinkan vendor sales at the event. However, for approved vendors, a vendor package is available for those wishing to sell merchandise at the event. An area is designated for merchandise sales at the event, centrally located to all activities. Please contact the dojo via email request more information.

To ensure the safety and security of Nagato Daishihan, the event participants, guests and staff, a professional law enforcement-based executive protection team will be providing security services. You may notice security personnel around Nagato Sensei throughout the event. Please obey all requests of the security enforcement team and keep a clear path for their movements. In addition to the security team, Law Enforcement, Public Safety and First Responder personnel will be seen at the event supporting the mission of safety and security for all event participants.

For those traveling to Dayton via airline, there are three airports local to the area:

• Dayton International Airport (DAY) - 30 minutes from the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo

• Cincinnati Covington International Airport (CVG) - 75 minutes from the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo

• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) - 90 minutes from the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo

National Museum of the US Air Force (link): Only fifteen minutes from South Dayton and admission is free! The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 6 miles northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display.

Glen Helen Nature Reserve (link): The Glen Helen Nature Preserve is a nature reserve immediately east of Yellow Springs, Ohio. A number of outdoor trails, activities and parks are in the area.

Dayton Art Institute (link): Founded in 1919, The Dayton Art Institute is one of the region’s premier fine arts museums. In addition to exhibiting outstanding special exhibitions and impressive collections of art from throughout the world, the museum is renowned for education programming that includes an array of offerings for diverse audiences.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (link): The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is a children's museum, science and technology center and zoo in Dayton, Ohio, United States that focuses on science and natural history. Exhibits include an extensive natural history collection as well as maintaining a collection of live animals native to Ohio and abroad.

Cox Arboretum (link): The Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark is an arboretum and park located at 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, Ohio. It is open daily without charge. Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark is one of many Dayton area metroparks within the Five Rivers Metroparks system.

Carillon Park (link): Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre park and museum in Dayton, Ohio, which contains historic buildings and exhibits concerning the history of technology and the history of Dayton and its residents from 1796 to the present. Two restaurants are on premise.

In October 2021, Nagato Sensei visited Dayton, Ohio to hold a Tai Kai at a large convention center. The event was originally scheduled for 2020 but delayed due to Covid-19. More than 370 attendees from 21 states and three countries attended the three-day event. Photos from the Tai Kai are available to view along with a video highlight reel here.

Yes! A PDF flyer is available for the 2025 Nagato Sensei Tai Kai in Dayton, including a link and QR code for more information or to register. You can download the event flyer here.