Greeting from the mountains of northern Nagano. I am C.W.Nicol, and I came to Japan for the first time in 1962 to study Karate. In 1965 I became a marine mammal technician with the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Arctic Unit, based in Montreal. By this time I had gained my first dan black belt in Japan. In Canada, when not doing field work in the arctic, I continued to practise Karate and helped to teach beginners in the evenings. From that time on Karate has been my ‘way.’ In Canada, after Karate practise, whether it was in Montreal, Winnipeg or Vancouver, it was a ritual to gather and have a few beers. I would always tell stories of those wonderful early two and a half years in Japan. My Karate buddies encouraged me to write it down, and the result was ‘Moving Zen.’
To my surprise, ‘Moving Zen’ became an international best seller (and one of the most pirated books in the world). Now I am a Japanese citizen, and I continue to write, and to dodder about in my own dojo. Martial arts in general and Karate in particular has gained me so many friends and has enriched and enabled my life. May I please share a little of it with you?
Ossss!
C.W. Nicol
Moving Zen: Karate as a Way to Gentleness
20 January 2019
You may or may not know that our Uncle Nic, as well as being an avid conservationist (amongst other things) is an extremely talented author. One of his most famous printed works is Moving Zen: Karate as a Way to Gentleness which is the biographical account of C.W.’s journey into the heart of Shotokan Karate. The book itself is an international best seller and has been reprinted numerous times since it was first published in 1975.
C.W.NICOL’S INVOLVEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN JAPAN
14 January 2019
C.W. has had a strong voice in Japan with regards to all things environmental, having been sat on a panel for the Japanese Minister of the Environment in the late 1980’s. One of the issues he brought too the fore, was the lack of trained national park rangers, so he submitted a plan to establish a college. In recent years however, he was discovering more and more that new students didn’t have the outdoors experience. He and his staff initiated a program to bring children from orphanages for three days of play in the woods.
Notes on the C.W.Nicol Afan Woodland Trust
14 January 2019
Uncle Nic is a huge part of our story, as if it were not for him, we would never have discovered our fantastical sansho berries. The Afan Woodland Trust has been his life’s work, read about it in his own words here
We’re Hiring
22 May 2018
We’re looking for a passionate and ambitious Brand Ambassador to join our UK team. Could this be you? Get in touch at sales@kokorogin.com.
Blackpool Rocked!
22 March 2018
As Kokoro’s first appearance at the Blackpool Gin Festival, we were more than excited to be back in our hometown. Based within the beautiful setting of the Tower Ballroom, we instantly knew it would be a festival to remember. We were situated on the balcony above the ballroom so we had great views of the ballroom itself and of course the stage for the band.
Kokoro at Nippon Kitchen, Glasgow
28 September 2017
Recently we had the pleasure of hosting a Kokoro dinner at Nippon Kitchen in Glasgow where we told tales of the forest, ate some excellent Japanese food paired with three of our favourite Kokoro cocktails. We started the night with the Kokoro perfect serve, G&T with a twist of lemon and a big sliver of fresh ginger. Sansho berries are at the heart of Kokoro Gin, and when they’re fresh like we use in our distillation, they are wonderfully aromatic and with loads of citrus flavour with a gentle warming spice…
