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Old 10-31-2009, 09:37 PM   #15
Peter Goldsbury
 
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Dojo: Hiroshima Kokusai Dojo
Location: Hiroshima, Japan
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Re: Sempai-Kohai relationship

I have become increasingly wary of making contributions to threads like this, for kohai / sempai seem to have a different usage in the US from what they have in Japan. I have been living here for a long time and I have direct experience of how the terms are used in Japan, especially in a large university, a Japanese company, or an organization like the Aikikai. The usage is nuanced, but quite specific and clear. Two persons who entered an organization at the same time are dohai or dokyusei. Judged purely on these grounds, neither can be sempai / kohai to each other. If the distinction is to be made, it must be made on other grounds, which do not relate to how the terms are used here.

Best wishes,

P A Goldsbury
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