Canadian Iaido Association

The ZNIR/CIA Relation

The Canadian Iaido Association is a Canadian Non-profit organization dedicated to the study and promotion of Iaido in Canada. In 2014 the CIA became officially recognized as a Kyōkai in the Kantō Chiku Renmei of the Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei (ZNIR). Later, in 2015, the CIA became an Association with the rights of a Shibu, or division, of the Kantō Chiku Renmei with support and special assistance from Nishi Tokyo Shibu and Chiba Shibu. To date, the CIA is the first and only foreign association to join the ZNIR.

Founded in 1948, the ZNIR is the largest and oldest Iaido only specialist organization in Japan and was established in accordance with the Japanese bushido spirit to pass on the time-honoured system of Kobudo Iaido developed over the past 500 years. The ZNIR is one of two of the largest Japanese organizations which practice Iaido: the All Japan Iaido Federation (ZNIR) and All Japan Kendo Federation (ZNKR). According to the Japanese government Corporate Registry, the ZNIR is the largest Iaido only specialist organization in Japan. Visit All Japan Iaido Federation (ZNIR) on Wikipedia to read more.

Notes for the diagram:

• Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei (全日本居合道連盟) is the All Japan Iaido Federation
• ZNIR Kantō Chiku Renmei (関東地区連盟), translated directly as “ZNIR Kanto Region Federation”, is a Renmei in the ZNIR encompassing the Kantō region of Japan which includes the greater Tokyo prefecture and six other prefectures.
• Nishi Tokyo Shibu (西東京支部) is the West Tokyo division of the ZNIR Kantō Chiku Renmei
• Chiba Shibu (千葉支部) is the Chiba division of the ZNIR Kantō Chiku Renmei
• Other Shibu are various divisions under the Kantō Chiku Renmei.
• The Canadian Iaido Association name in Japanese is “Canada Iaido Kyōkai” (カナダ居合道協会). The CIA is an Association similar to a Japanese Shibu, or “branch/division” under the Kantō Chiku Renmei.