For those currently in Tokyo, I recommend attending the following event (Nov. 3) if you have time:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fq20081024a2.html

This is an excellent display, no doubt. On a nice fall day, it's a great outing.

Typically same day, different part of Meiji Shrine, there's a kobudo exhibition that is one of the best of the year. Two 'stages' going nonstop for hours, everything from jujutsu to armored grappling, guns, yabusame across the trail..... all for Culture Day. Some of the best demos I've ever seen were done there in the grass.

Nice! Where can I find a list of embu and such? I'll be in Japan for all of December, but I've yet to find the "tourist's embu guide".

You find one, let me know. AFAIK it doesn't exist.

Try Metropolitan magazine, the Kodokan website, all the major budo orgs (Kendo, Aikikai, Shodokan, etc.). There's no single source AFAIK. PIA is a commercial magazine that advertises events and presells tix.

Most of these organizations do not play well together. So much for the spirit of budo....

Darn. But someone has to get info from somewhere... Lots of koryu embu seem to take place around shrines and the like. I'll have to find some sort of common organisation that is putting them all together and find this elusive koryu embu event list...

The 3 main koryu organizations in the country have 1 main exhibition each per year. And IIRC none are in December.

The are many events on Culture Day in November, some all or partially organized in part by those organizations . Other festivities, etc., happen periodically but are locally organized.

The large organizations like the All Japan Kendo Federation have their own regional and national events, but are almost solely advertised, if at all, inhouse.

I have looked for a national level registration for such events; closest thing to it is Hiden magazine, I reckon, and the calendar at the back. Not online, and in Japanese only.

Thanks for the notice, CK-sensei...I will definitely attend this year.