The Spirit of Budo Japanese martial arts exhibit has come to Guam at the Isla Center for the Arts at the University of Guam. This exhibition features replicas of bows, helmets, and traditional samurai armor. These works include beautiful details such as lacquered woven silk cords that are used to bind and decorate the armor, as well as copper and gold finishes. There is also a section of training gear that includes practice swords, iron clogs, and hand weights. A brief video presentation summarizes the different forms of martial arts in Japan.

Teaching Assistant and gallery management staff Alecsandrew Gan gave KUAM the details.

"The Spirit of Budo is a traveling exhibit currently held by the Japanese Consulate on Guam," he said. "They have planned to display a bunch of artifacts, such as weapons, practice materials, sets of armors, gear, traditional martial arts clothing as well as to inform the general public about the history of Japanese martial arts such as Judo and Kendo."


With the appreciation of martial arts on Guam, enthusiasts can visit to learn more about the rich history of Japanese martial arts and how it's still contributing to modern-day combat sports.

"A lot of the artifacts here have been historically used," Gan said. "A lot of them were recovered from donations and from other situations in Japan. A good portion of these are also just simply created for the purpose of these practices, such as the kendo sticks.
It's mostly eye-catching because the exhibit itself is very historical and very informative about the martial arts of Japan. Especially considering that martial arts is very popular in Guam. I feel that it is important for people to come and visit either the exhibit here or at the Guam Museum to better understand a brief history of artifacts and the martial arts they come to enjoy."

The exhibit will be at the Isla Center for the Arts for the rest of September from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The exhibit will move to the Guam Museum from Oct. 7 to Nov. 7 and admission is free.