| Doshu
wo Kakomu Kai.(2011/4/19written) |
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The last Tsukinamisai
(monthly festival) in this year was held on December 12, 2010 at 11:30
at the Aiki-Shrine.
Moriteru Ueshiba, the Doshu, gave a congratulatory speech at the Aiki
shrine and prayed with around 120 people all together and then took
a commemorative photo.
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From noon,
“Doshu wo Kakomu Kai” was held at the Ibaraki Branch Dojo.
First, Mr. Hashimoto, governor of Ibaraki Prefecture, then Mr. Yamaguchi,
Mayor of Kasama-city, and lastly, Mr. Kazuhiro Fujieda,adviser of
Ibaraki Branch dojo, made speeches as guests.
After that Doshu also made a speech saying “I would like to express
my sincere appreciation to all relevant groups for your support. I
would like to train hard, respecting daily Keiko, next year too."
After Doshu’s greeting, we had a drink, toasted by Mr. Hiroshi Isoyama,
advisor of Ibaraki Branch Dojo. There were many participants from
other dojos in Ibaraki Prefecture and we all got acquainted.
The meeting was over at 2:00 p.m. |
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| Doshu
Special Seminar at Ibaraki Branch.(2010/11/16written) |
The Doshu
special seminar was held on September 18th and 19th at Ibaraki branch
in Iwama.(now Kasama), a place associated with Kaiso.
The seminar, the 6th in the series, had about 120 participants from
41 groups with a rank of first-dan or higher from all over the country
including newly joined Hokkaido, Kagawa, and Kumamoto prefectures
and from Poland, one of the overseas countries becoming regulars.
The seminar and the reception took place on the 18th. Aikido Doshu
Moriteru Ueshiba gave a lesson for 2 hours from 1 p.m. Doshu greeted
the participants by saying, “This is the 6th seminar, and I am very
glad that many people gathered here from all parts of the country.
Since there are 120 people in a dojo of sixty-tatami mat, pay attention
to those around you so as not to hurt each other, and I hope you’ll
find this seminar an enjoyable and valuable one.”
In this seminar, the participants practiced the basic techniques (Kihon
waza) such as “Ikkyo”, “Iriminage”, “Kokyuho” in a variety of styles
like “Shomenuchi”, “Yokomenuchi”, “Morotedori”, “Katatedori”, and
“Ryotedori”. Doshu emphasized the importance of the basic movements
such as “Tenkan”, “Irimi”, and “Tenshin”.
The participants were told that all techniques use three basic movements
(kihon dosa) and “Kokyuryoku”, and to practice not thinking each different
techniques separately, but being very conscious about the common basic
movements (kihon dosa).
After the seminar, the reception with Doshu was held from 6 p.m.
in the Ibaraki branch dojo. The counselor of the Ibaraki branch dojo
Hiroshi Isoyama started off by saying, “This is the 6th Doshu special
seminar at this Ibaraki branch dojo. Thank you for participating in
the seminar. Be careful not get too drenched with sake after you all
got drenched in sweat.”
Doshu followed with a speech, and Aikikai Foundation director Norio
Hayashi proposed a toast. During the reception, introduction of every
association and updates were given by Inagaki Shihan. Having looked
back on the afternoon seminar, the participants very cultivated the
friendship in the dojo connected with Kaiso.
The seminar on the second day was held for two hours from ten o’clock
in the morning with Doshu as an instructor. He taught basic techniques
such as “Ushiro ryotekubidori”, “Ushiroryokatadori”, and “Katadorimenuchi”.
He ended the day by summarizing the two-day seminar. |
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| “Aiki
Shrine Festival” and “the memorial service for Kaiso & Kisshomaru-Doshu”
were held successfully.(2009/7/2written) |
Aiki Shrine
Festival and the memorial service for Kaiso & Kisshomaru-Doshu
were held at Aiki Shrine, Kasama-shi in Ibaraki Prefecture by AIKIKAI
from 11:00a.m. on April 29. The previous day’s heavy rain had gone
magically, and approximately 1500 prayers attended under the beautiful
sunny sky.
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Aiki Shrine
Festival started with SHUBATSU (Shinto ritual), TAISAI-SHUKUJI (felicitations),
TAMAGUSHI-HOTEN（offering a branch of the sacred tree/SAKAKI to a god）
by the Ueshiba family and representatives from various fields, and
then all attendances prayed KAMIGOTO and moved on to the memorial
services.
The memorial service started with SOREI and
IREISAI-SHUKUJI and TAMAGUSHI offered by the Ueshiba family, the associates
of Kisshomaru-Doshu and the representatives of the attendances, and
AMATSU-NORITO was prayed.
Subsequently, Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu made a speech. “I am pleased
that a great number of people found time in their busy schedules to
attend the Aiki Shrine Festival. The founder Morihei Ueshiba passed
away on April 26, 1969 and Kisshomaru-Doshu passed away on January
4, 1999. The statue of Kaiso was donated to Aiki shrine last year
by all of you with your warm tribute, and it watches for us upright
and bravely. It is our mission that we must inherit Aikido accurately
to the next generation. In order to accomplish our mission, we should
value Keiko everyday and devote ourselves to Aikido.”
After Doshu’s salutation, HONO-ENBU was demonstrated by Acting Dojo-cho
Mitusteru Ueshiba and Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu. All ceremonies were
closed at 12:30 p.m.
This year, there was a big crowd surrounding the Kaiso’s bronze statue
unveiled last November, in order to see it. The line to take photos
of the statue seemed ever lasting.
NAORAI was held in (Iwama) dojo and the garden, azalea in bloom, from
12:50 p.m. Ueshiba Doshu, Mr. Nobuki Yamaguchi the mayor of Kasama
city represented the VIPs and Mr. Takuma Shodo, the deputy mayor of
Tanabe city, gave speeches. Then, Data-Honbu Shihan gave a toast and
moved onto a get-together in a cheerful atmosphere. Mr. Hiroshi Isoyama,
an executive advisor of Ibaraki branch dojo, performed a salutation
and NAORAI was closed. |
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| Thanks
for your cooperation for the voluntary service(2009/7/2written) |
Voluntary
cleanup work for Aiki Shrine and the surrounding area was conducted
on April 18 and 25.
Over 40 people, including Ueshiba Mitsuteru(Acting Dojo Head of Ibaraki
Branch Dojo), Honbu Instructors & organizers, members of Ibaraki
Branch Dojo, Toride branch, Aikido ShizenKan dojo, SDF Iruma base
and Camp Zama, etc. participated in the work on both days. The thorough
cleaning was executed, such as side ditch dredging in front of the
Shrine for the first time in four years.
Even though it was a hard work in sweaty weather, everybody remarked
that “our sprits were also cleansed away.”
Thank you very much for all members’cooperation for the voluntary
cleanup service for Aiki Shrine |
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| Kagami
Biraki Ceremony at the Ibaraki Shibu Dojo(2010/2/3written) |
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The first
Tsukinamisai (monthly festival) of 2010 was held on the morning of
the 17th January from half past eleven at the Aiki Shrine. The Doshu
read Shinto prayers in the main hall of the Shrine with many members
in attendance. |
Continuing
from noon, the “Kagami-Biraki” ceremony was carried out in the Ibaraki
Branch Dojo with General Affairs Manager Shigemi Inagaki as master
of ceremonies. First, in his speech the Doshu said “I am very pleased
to be able to have this Kagami Biraki with everyone in Ibaraki.
The circle of Aikido is spreading here and overseas. This year,
once more, we must cherish our daily practice and diligently strive
with everyone to widen that circle, which was spread by the Founder
and Doshu Kisshomaru.”
Continuing, Acting Dojo Head Hiroshi Isoyama said “Although last
year was a bleak one for the world, it was a bright year for Aikido.
Let’s make this year even brighter.” Then there were congratulatory
speeches from Deputy Mayor of Kasama, Chiaki Watanabe, Kasama City
Councillor Hirohisa Ichimura, Ibaraki Prefectural Councillor Yoji
Tokoi and the ceremonial breaking of the sake barrel was then carried
out on the cask donated by Ibaraki Prefecture Aikido Federation.
This was followed with home cooked cuisine from members’ wives,
taruzake (fresh cask sake) and oshiruko (sweet red bean soup) which
was served to everyone and the Kagami Biraki Ceremony came to a
close with enjoyable conversation. |
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| To
endure is power(New Year Greetings From Doshu)(2010/2/3written) |
Happy New
Year!
The financial crisis and the influenza epidemic have caused great
trouble in the world. As I welcome
the new year I am deeply grateful that neither of these problems has
caused me great trouble.
In the last year there were no special anniversaries to speak of,
but in connection with the Hombu Dojo there were many annual seminars
held to help spread Aikido, both domestically and internationally
by students and regional associations. All of the events were very
successful. I am confident that the reason theywere so successful
may be attributed to the true strength of Aikido. I appreciate all
of you who have made this possible by putting your hearts and souls
into these events.
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合気道道主 植芝守央 |
Due to
the determination of The Second Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru, the Aikido
program for
university students began increasing in popularity just over 50
years ago. Some schools now have a 50 year history of these Aikido
programs. Students who have continued to practice Aikido after graduating
from these schools have played an important role in the development
and dissemination of Aikido. I expect the number of these university
programs to increase, and thus an increase in the number of practitioners
who will be spreading the spirit of Aikido.
Last year marked the 50th year since the
Aikikai Foundation's newspaper was first printed in 1959.The purpose
of starting this newspaper was to help instill a deeper understanding
in the hearts of Aikido practitioners. Aikido spread very quickly
at that time and there was a desire to preserve the true spirit
of Aikido. There have been four chief editors since the newspaper's
first printing 50 years ago: Mr. Maeda Hitoshi, Mr. Yoshimasa Miyazaki,
who wrote “Kokyunage”, Mr. Yutaka Ichi,who wrote “Nyushin Issoku”,
and the current editor in chief Mr. Kani Susumu, who has been writing
“Nushin Tenkan”.
These days people do not usually write using a paper media nor do
they usually read from one. In Aikikai's monthly newspaper we print
reports from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Shibu Dojo, associated organizations,
and international seminars. Unfortunately the English newspaper
that was also being printed is no longer available, but may be viewed
on the Hombu Dojo's website. The information available on the website
is good for viewing the schedule of events, but for a better understanding
of the history and progress that has been made I believe the newspaper
is a better resource. Perhaps it is only my personal opinion that
having the paper in my hands allows me to better consider the events
of the past year. When comparing a picture on a computer screen
to one that has been printed, I feel more connection to the later.
The paper has recorded the passing of the founder Ueshiba Morihei
40 years ago, the passing of The Second Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru
10 years ago and my succession to the position of Doshu. The information
in the paper is not breaking news, but I think it is important to
continue this using this media as a record.
The founder Ueshiba Morihei enjoyed the newspaper. A statue of the
founder was erected in front of
the Aiki Shrine in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture where he trained.
On November 8, 2009, with
approximately 500 people in attendance the statue was unveiled.
The statue's gallant and yet serene
appearance is quite suited to the Aiki Shrine. The founder appears
to be watching over the land, where
he felt that martial arts and agriculture were one. I appreciate
the cooperation of everyone who made it possible for the statue
to be placed there. When standing in front of the statue I vowed
to myself that I would follow the Founder's ideology to train hard
everyday and develop my respect for others through the training.
Last year marked 10 years since I became the Doshu. The last 10
years have been the building of a
foundation for me. This year I would like to go forth with a fresh
mind.
I wish all of you the very best this year. |
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