International Order of Holoknights
 

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!!!News Flash!!! 27 October, 2010

Pierre of Ghent passes away

A Great Master of Holography Pierre of Gent passed away on October 27, 2010. Pierre will be remembered through his innovations in holographic interferometry, pulse laser holography, holographic 3D displays and portraits, and simply as a very dear friend. Pierre was a professor and department head of the University of Ghent where for many years he operated a world class holography laboratory and studio. He was a pioneer in the development and application of pulse holography techniques to a wide range of non destructive test applications. He also supported the holographic art community by availing his advice and laboratory to artists. His unique bleaching formulas were widely used in the art community.  Pierre, himself, created and exhibited many excellent fine art works. He developed an art studio and made hundreds of holographic portraits including a portrait of King Leopold of Belgium. Pierre's portraits are some of the finest in existence and have become extremely valuable collector items.

Pierre was awarded the medal of the order of Leopold II, a rarely given, by royal decree, award  for outstanding service to his country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Leopold_II

Pierre and his lovely wife, Brigitte, were legendary as hosts to many who visited Ghent. Pierre left no stone unturned to insure that  guests see and experience the country that he loved, commonly giving personal tours of Ghent and Brugges and visits to his lovely country home. Pierre was knighted Pierre of Ghent in September, 2001  by reigning holoknight, Wolfgang of Berlin. The knighting service took place in Bremen Germany at a "Fringe" conference.

He is survived by his wife, Brigitte, two sons, two daughters, and seven grand children.

Pierre displaying one of his many creations                                                 Photo by Pauline Abbott Photo by Mitsuo Takeda

A legendary host, a beloved holoknight.        

Novosibirsk-2002-3- by Wolfgang of Berlin	Novosibirsk-2002-3-by Wolfgang of Berlin	Novosibirsk-2002-by Wolfgang of Berlin
From Left: Vladimir of Kiev, Pierre of Ghent, Mitsuo of Tokyo-Photo contributed by Malgorzata of Warsaw	Gent-2005- by Wolfgang of Berlin

One of Pierre's famous, last-minute- hand-prepared, slide presentations.

Balatonfüred-2001-2- by Wolfgang of Berlin

Newest Holoknight

September 13, 2010

Nadya of St. Petersburg knights Fernando Mendoza Santoyo.

In a knighting ceremony in the triple-S-rated setting on a beach in Florianopolis,  Santa Catarina, Brazil, a new Holoknight was inducted into the International Order of Holoknights.  His Holoknight-name is "Fernando of Leon".  The Holoknighting Ceremony took place during an evening dinner hosted by Sir Armando of  Santa Catarina at the Speckle 2010 Conference.  The figure here was contributed by Sir Rich of Massachusetts
 taken on Monday, 13 September 2010, which will be remembered as the "Fernando Day".  Lady Nadya of St. Petersburg, assisted by Sir Ichiru of Kiryu and Sir Armando of Santa Catarina, presented the sword and parchment and Knighted Sir Fernando, seen kneeling in front of her.

Photos by Wolfgang Osten

Nadya of St. Petersburg knights Fernando as Fernando of Leon.

Photo by Wolfgang Osten

Eight Holoknights participated in the service.

News, March 7, 2008. Dr. Hans Rottenkolber, founder of the International Order of Holoknights, joins God's holography team.

Hans Rottenkolber began his new assignment with God on 7 March, 2008. He was a great human being and scientist, having made important contributions to the field of holography. His company pioneered commercial holographic interferometry and was first to offer a practical system that employed thermoplastic recording material. We all loved, respected, and honored this man, whose very presence would bring warmth to a gathering.  He founded the order of Holoknights over 20 years ago to  honor those who were not only important contributors to the field of holography but who also were great promoters of international friendship and cooperation. He will be missed greatly by the community.

Dr. Rottenkolber, right, toasting with Werner of Bremen, the first knight, in 2005 at the Fringe 05 Conference in Stuttgart.

Four Holoknights and Wedding

Hans of Amerang attending the wedding of Jim of California with Werner of Bremen and Wolfgang of Berlin in England in 2001. The Holoknights made a lasting impression at the wedding, and the locals still talk about the visit of "the Germans" to Bedfordshire.

Hans presents Lilies to Pauline and emphasizes that she has just married a Holoknight.

Knighting Services from Previous Years

September, 2009: Dr. Nadya Reingand is knighted Lady Nadya of St. Petersburg.

Photos by Wolfgang Osten

Sir Charles of Washington knights Nadya as Nadya of St. Petersburg

Photos by Wolfgang Osten

October 27, 2008

Chuck Vest elevated to Holoknighthood.

In a knighting ceremony held in Springfield, Massachusetts Dr. Charles Vest, President of the National Academy of Engineering and President Emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was elevated to the level of Holoknighthood by Sir Vladimir of Kiev (Dr. Vladimir Markov), the last knighted member of the International Order of Holoknights. The brotherhood, founded by Dr. Hans Rottenkolber in 1988, to bring together as friends the top researchers in the field of holography, celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. The charter of the order promotes cooperation, hospitality, and friendship among holoknights and their countries. Members are selected not only for their technical leadership but also for their reputation for hospitality, openness, and assistance to others.

 The ceremony took place during the Society for Experimental Mechanics International Symposium to Commemorate the 60^th Anniversary of Holography ( http://sem.org/PDF/08fTechProgram.pdf ), which was organized by Holoknight Professor Ryzard Preputniewicz (Rich of Massachusetts). Dr. Vest was a keynote speaker in the conference; however, he was unaware of his selection until the final moment since this information remains a secret unknown outside the order before the knighting takes place.

Sir Vladimir of Kiev knights Chuck Vest.  He was presented the sword of Charlemagne, which was used in the ritual, and a parchment proclaiming his new title, Sir Charles of Washington.

The sword of Charlemagne, used in the knighting service and presented by Vladimir of Kiev to Sir Charles of Washington, is engraved, “Sir Charles of Washington, Holoknight. The parchment was signed by nine other holoknights who attended the service. 

Ten holoknights participating in the Springfield knighting service. Back row, left to right, Anand of Singapore, Malgorzata of Warsaw, Ichirou of Kiryu, Werner of Bremen, Charles of Washington, Front Row, left to right, Mitsuo of Tokyo, Vladimir of Kiev, Jim of California, Wolfgang of Berlin, Rich of Massachusetts.  

Dr. Charles M. Vest is President of the National Academy of Engineering and President Emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

At the University of Michigan he served as associate dean of engineering from 1981-86, dean of engineering from 1986-1989, when he became provost and vice president for academic affairs. In 1990 he became president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and served in that position until December 2004. He then became professor and president emeritus.

In July 2007 he was elected to serve as president of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for six years. He has authored a book on holographic interferometry, and two books on higher education. He has received honorary doctoral degrees from ten universities, and was awarded the 2006 National Medal of Technology by President Bush. 

Held at the peak of the autumn colors in Massachusetts, attendees were treated to an explosion of color surrounding Springfield.

Trees along the Jacob’s Ladder drive near Springfield, Massachusetts, 26 October, 2008.

River scene along the Jacob’s Ladder drive near Springfield, Massachusetts, 26 October, 2008.

Trees in the Boston Common photographed on 30 October, 2008.

Hillside along the Jacob’s Ladder drive near Russell, Massachusetts.

Trees near Springfield, Massachusetts, 26 October, 2008.

Knighting Service of Pierre from Gent in Bremen Germany-September 2001

2004-Anand of Singapore

Anand of Singapore will select a 2005 Holoknight in Merida, Mexico in February 2005.

June 2001-Balatonfurid, Hungary

Wolfgang of Berlin in after knighting service

2000-Knighting Malgorzata of Warsaw in San Diego See Story
Mitsuo of Tokyo makes the presentation
September, 1999 Mitsuo of Tokyo is knighted in Poland at Pultusk Castle

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A HOLO-Ritter agrees by accepting his induction into the order to a vow to advance the field of holography and optics and to assist all other HOLO-Ritters in both business and personal matters in every way within reason.

Each new HOLO-Ritter has the right to select the next one. However, he accepts to choose a new HOLO-Ritter within two years after he has become a HOLO-Ritter.

The new HOLO-Ritter candidate must be a widely recognized contributor to the advancement of the field of holography and related topics. He should be still active in the field.

The new HOLO-Ritter should choose the next HOLO-Ritter from a country other than his own unless he has the okay of a majority of other HOLO-Ritters to do different.

Members of the order may recommend candidates for his consideration in order to assist the new HOLO-Ritter in his choice of the next HOLO-Ritter.

No more than one new HOLO-Ritter should be inducted in any single year without a majority vote of all HOLO-Ritters.

The last-elected HOLO-Ritter has to provide the new HOLO-Ritter with a sword which has to be given to him during a knighting ceremony. The sword can be of any variety and should be of quality to dignify the order.

The parchment should include equivalent words of the laudation, given as an example in the enclosure, in the language of the presenter.

It is the responsibility of the selecting HOLO-Ritter to insure that the candidate understands and accepts the induction.

The identity of the new HOLO-Ritter should be kept secret until the knighting time.

If a HOLO-Ritter chooses the next HOLO-Ritter but does not find a suitable meeting at which he can perform the knighting himself, he can appoint any other HOLO-Ritter to perform the ceremony for him. He must still furnish the appointed knighting knight with a sword and a scroll of appropriate wording with which to perform the ceremony.

If the foregoing HOLO-Ritter fails to sponsor a new HOLO-Ritter in the designated time without justification, then it will be the responsibility of the senior most knight to convene a forum of active HOLO-Ritters whose majority will make the selection.

 

Enacted at

Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria December 9^th 1988

Sample Parchment

and he will be called

………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………….

In 1999, Professor Mitsuo Takeda became a Holoknight in the usual tradition during "Interferometry ’99" in The Pultusk Castle near Warsaw. Three other holoknights conducted the service, Werner of Bremen, Jim of California, and Paul of Alsace. At the time, none of us realized that Mitsuo, whose name means "Lord of light", is a trained Samurai. Shortly after the ceremony he gave us a demonstration with his new Ninja sword, using his senior colleague at university, Ichirou Yamaguchi, as a subject and making us wonder if Ichirou (who some years later became Holoknight, Ichirou of Wako) would leave the castle in one or two pieces.

The saga of the Takeda sword began as Werner of Bremen prepared to take it from Bremen to Warsaw. Shortly after checking in at the nearby Hannover airport, Werner was called to the airport counter whereupon two very large airport security men escorted him to an interrogation room. One of the men asked him if the box he had checked in with contained a weapon. Werner, realizing that he should choose his words carefully asked for the definition of "weapon". When the guard informed him that a weapon would be something with which one could hurt someone, he realized that almost anything could be called a weapon under that definition. Then the guard explained that it if was an antique, there was no problem, but if it was a weapon, it could not go on the flight.

Werner reasoned that since the sword was not very sharp, it would most likely not hurt someone. Finally, he said the magic words that the sword was a collectible antique. Therefore, the sword passed its first hurdle. Warsaw was much easier and the sword passed customs without a hitch.

Mitsuo's real test as a Holoknight began a few days later when he prepared to leave Poland with the sword. He was immediately arrested in the Warsaw Airport for being in possession of a weapon, being the first holoknight to be arrested before leaving the country of origin.

With some fortune and some misfortune, other conference attendees at the Warsaw airport pitched in to help explain the situation. One of these was a Russian scientist, Dr. Vladimir Pisarev, though somewhat intoxicated after a few too many shots of vodka while waiting for the flight, tried hard to help convince airport officials to allow Mitsuo to board with the sword. Although extremely suspicious about the party, comprising a strange Japanese with a Samurai sword and a drunk Russian with a bottle of vodka, eventually, others pitched in and convinced the airport police that this sword was a special collector sword and did not qualify as a weapon. The sword would be allowed to ride with the pilot for this leg of the flight.

This first episode was a rather minor portent of what was to come before arriving home in Tokyo. For various reasons, including a visit to the family of his postdoctoral scientist, Alexander Tavrov, Mitsuo's flight would take him through Russia and the Moscow Airport where he would have to pass through Russian customs.

Upon leaving the plane the pilot disappeared and the sword was handed directly to the control of Moscow Airport Police. Immediately after passing through customs Mitsuo was approached by two airport police who directed him to accompany them. Mitsuo describes these as very large men who never smiled. Because of his interest in Russian scientific literature Mitsuo could read some Russian and also was able to speak a few words, which later seemed to be more of a hindrance than help. The men guided him into a very small room in which four other very large men were waiting to interrogate him. None of them were smiling.

In his warmest possible voice and with his broadest smile Mitsuo greeted the men good morning in perfect Russian. No one smiled; no one greeted him back. No one said anything for what seemed a long time. Sitting on the table was the box containing the sword.

Mitsuo suddenly felt that the room had become extremely hot as he felt a bead of sweat on his forehead. Finally one of the men broke the silence with a stern question, "What is this?" pointing to the box containing the sword.

Now in the movies, a Samurai would quickly snatch the sword from its box and would, in one swift movement, kill all the men in the room and make an escape. In reality, Mitsuo could see that he was in more trouble than he could handle and he began wondering how a Japanese holographer would fare in Siberia.

At that point, two more big policemen arrived with Mitsuo's Russian associate, which gave Mitsuo a momentary feeling of relief

Mitsuo was left to sit alone in the room for what seemed like hours. Finally at some critical point his Russian postdoctoral scientist, Dr. Alexander Tavrov, was allowed to enter the room. He explained in full detail the story behind the sword and what a great honor it is to be a Holoknight. He created a brilliant story in real time of the absolute need to bring the sword back to Japan where he would relay it to the next Holoknight.

He was then allowed to take the sword into Moscow and was told that on the ultimate flight back to Tokyo, he should ask the captain to keep the sword in the cockpit.

Finally he could stop worrying about spending the remainder of his life in Siberia.

A year later, Mitsuo of Tokyo knighted Malgorzata of Warsaw in a ceremony in San Diego, California. She had been the chief organizer of Interferometry ‘99.

Today the Takeda Holosword resides in the Temple of the Takeda family as a votive sword to the Goddess of Kannon. Mitsuo’s mother, who wanted him to learn spiritually the ways of Bushido (Japanese Chivalry) and encouraged him to practice kendo (Japanese Fencing) in his boyhood days, was very happy to learn of his becoming a Holoknight with the sword. She had been faithful to Kannon through her 84 years of life, and she most likely associated the knighthood with Bushido. It was she who suggested that Mitsuo dedicate the sword to Kannon Temple.

Tag on the Holosword with the name of the dedicator, according to tradition.

From the inscriptions on the old tombstones in the Takeda family graveyard the Takeda family line can be traced back to the Edo Period in 19th century. Although the Takedas have the same common Kanji Name and family crest of the same origin as the famous Samurai, Takeda Shingen, Mitsuo has no direct records that would tie his family into the line of Takeda Shingen. Additional information can be found at

 
The Takeda family name derives from "Take", which means marshalism of Samurai "da" means rice fields that give harvest at the time of peace. Mitsuo, or "Lord of Light", was given him by a guardian of a Shinto shrine and destined him to do optics. It is very appropriate for his Holoknight status.

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