Homma Kancho visits Laos (Lao PDR- the Peoples Democratic Republic)

June 2-6th 2008

In Hmong village with Hmong villagers.

Homma Kancho stopped by Laos for a short visit on a fact-finding mission for AHAN and to discuss future plans for teaching Aikido to the Laotian Military. He began his visit in the capital city of Vientiane where he met with Senior JICA Instructor Kudo Sensei who teaches Aikido to local civilian in Vientiene. The purpose of Homma Kancho’s visit was not to conflict with the teaching of Aikido to civilians by Kudo Sensei but to work with military and police groups of the Lao government.

Guidebook award for “City with least amount of foot traffic” (I agree!)

: Vientienne aikidoka.

: Senior JICA Instructor Kudo Sensei and Kancho.

The Mekong River, from left; Nghia, K and me, Cindy. Across the river is Thailand.

Homma Kancho was interested in visiting the Hmong hill tribes to learn of their historical roots and see their culture in their own native homeland. The focus of this research for AHAN was also personal for Homma Kancho who had worked with Hmong refugees in the late 70’s and early 80 in Denver.

During the Vietnam war of the 1960’s and 70’s, the Hmong people in Laos sided with the United States military and suffered higher casualties than the US in that region during that time. After the war ended, the Hmong people of Laos became gravely endangered by the newly dominant government and tens of thousands of the Hmong people escaped through Thailand as refugees. After fleeing to Thailand, many Hmong refugees relocated to the US.

Homma Kancho and I traveled by truck about three hours to visit a Hmong village deep in the mountains. There, the traditional lifestyle of the Hmong people was as it has been for centuries. My parents were among the refugees that fled to the US after the Vietnam War, and I was born in Denver. This was my first visit to my original homeland to see the roots of my people in Laos. 30 years ago,

Homma Kancho worked as a manager for an apartment complex that housed about 400 Hmong refugees. The complex was severely overcrowded, and Homma Kancho helped these new US residents by teaching Aikido to the children and forming a night janitorial service company with the adult Hmong men and women called “Samurai Janitorial Services.” This helped provide the Hmong community with a source of income and a chance learn the skills associated with running a business. Homma Kancho was known at that time by the Hmong people of Denver as the “Colorado Tiger.” Now at Domo Restaurant, owned and operated by Homma Kancho, there are including myself, usually four to five Hmong people employed each year.

The hotel we stayed at in Vientiane is owned by the Hmong people and overlooks the Mekong River. We were able to see temples across the river that were actually in Thailand since the Mekong River separates the two countries in this area. The hotel rooms were beautiful and the food was delicious!

Many thanks to Nghia and K for all of their help as drivers and guides.

Someday, I would like to visit Laos again and the Thai-Mhong refugee camps to see if there is a way that I can be of help to them through AHAN.