[Kolokireo]

I would just like to add a few points that I forgot.

As I remember "all" the panel have to pass you for Godan. For Yondan its perhaps four out of five.

When I did ZNKR Iaido grading for Yondan at a Kendo seminar in London They got together two people. One was Nomasa Sensei a Hachidan from Kita Kyushu who did Shinden. And Horiuchi Sensei a Kendo Kyudan who had never done Iaido. As I graded Nomasa sensei was explaining things to Horiuchi. Perhaps they were unaware that I knew what they were saying. Afterwards they asked me who taught me Jikiden and about particular waza. The point I am really making is that gradings abroad do not necessarily follow ZNKR guidelines.

For my Godan there were as usuall about five or six people only. Its at the nationals that these fours and five multiply into thousands as a dozen or so go from each prefecture for six seventh and eighth dan.

One person who shall of course remain nameless has taken me to gashuku to meet certain Sensei who were on grading panels. He said that is was important for him to "socialize". I am in no way ascertaining that there is any favoritism involved. Just that ones face needs to be seen and remembered.
Some might say that ah well you can't see whos fighting and they are just numbers. Maybe so, but your name is still written on your bum. If I see some one out of the hundreds of Yudansha I see I know who it is! Kiai alone is distinctive if you meet and practice with someone a few times.

This never affected me as I gave up the Dan-I road some time ago to follow the shogo system.

Is that Japanese menjo better? Best leave that until after we finish a practice.
No good waving about a peice of paper after a match and saying "Hey you can't do that, I have peice of paper to say I am a nanadan!"

Ben, I had that. Once a teacher I know went to check the papers before they announced the results. He pointed to me then the paper and did a throat cut sign!

Hyaku