| Information (2013/3/7written) |
From April, instruction will be carried out by the Doshu as well as Mitsuteru Sensei.
Doshu Every Saturday 19:00-20:00 (except national holidays)
Mitsuteru Sensei Every Wednesday 19:00-20:00 (except national holidays)
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| The 9th Special Seminar by Doshu (2013/9/26written) |
The 9thannual Special Seminar by Doshu was held in the birth place of the founder, at Ibaraki Branch Dojo on 14th and 15th September, 2013.
A total of 130 practitioners were gathered, with 96 practitioners from 40 organizations across the countryand 30 participants from abroad including practitioners from Denmark, Argentina and Russia.
The seminar started at 13:00. Ueshiba Doshuinstructed that the skill of Aikido is established by taking advantage of the power of breathing and basic body handling, such as tenkan,irimi and tenshin, through Irimi-nage, ikkyo and shiho-nage. After the lesson, a get-together was held with Doshu.
Mr. Isoyama and Mr. Inagaki made greetings. Then Doshu talked about the great expansion of Aikido’s circle in the world and said,“I am very pleased that a wa(circle) of aikido is created here and a great number of people get together”.
After the toast, the attendees had a pleasant chat. The event was successfully carried out with introduction of organizations and chorus.
On 15th, the seminar started at 10:00 a.m. for 1.5 hours. All participants attended it as they had the day before, under the typhoon.
At the end of the seminar, Doshu summed up the 2 days. The seminar was concluded without any problems. |
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| “Aiki Shrine Festival” and “the memorial service for Kaiso and Kisshomaru-Doshu” (2013/6/25written) |
AIKI JINJA TAISAI and a memorial service for Kaiso and KisshomaruDoshu were held at the AIKI Shrine in Kasama-shi (Old Iwama-machi), Ibaraki Prefecture at 11:00 a.m. on 29th April.
Approximately 1400 peopleparticipated.
Doshu’s greeting:
I am pleased that a great number of people made time in their busy schedules to attend the Aiki Shrine Festival.Aikido, founded by Kaiso, has been spread byKisshomaruDoshu and other Sensei devoting all of their energy to the dissemination of Aikido. We must cherish their energy and devote ourselves to making a social contribution, taking advantage of the aikido sprit through keiko. I prayed for this at the ceremony. Thank you very much for coming today.
After Doshu’s speech, Mitsuteru Ueshiba, acting Dojo-cho, and Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu showed hono-embu (Aikido demonstration). The festival was closed at 12:30 p.m. |
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The cleanup of the Aiki Shrine, prior to the Aikifestival.
(2013/5/14written) |
Voluntary clean-up work for the Aiki Shrine was conducted on April 14th from 9:00 a.m. as usual. 16 members from Hombu dojo, including acting dojo-choWaka sensei, 36 members from Ibaraki branch dojo and 37 members from some signatory groups of the Ibaraki Prefecture Aikido Federation, such as Kasumigaura-Aikikai and Toride branch, participated in the work. They cleaned the Keidai (sanctuary area of the Aiki shrine), cut grass, and pruned branches around the Aiki Shrine and Ibaraki Branch dojo.
The weather was fine and it was an excellent day for cleaning. The clean-up went smoothly and finished in the afternoon.
We would like to thank everyone who participated in the voluntary cleanup service for the Aiki Shrine.
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| Kagamibiraki Ceremony (2013/3/7written) |
The first Tukinami Sai (monthly festival) in 2013 was held on January 20 at the Aiki Shrine. Doshu prayed at the Aiki Shrine then recited norito (prayers) and prayed with the participants of Kagamibiraki ceremony.
At noon, the Kagamibiraki ceremony started with the greetings of from Mr. Ijima, the chairman of Ibaraki prefecture Aikido Federation, and then Doshu made his speech, “This year, I would like to return to the starting line again and move forward valuing the basics.”
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Following that, Mr. Isoyama, the Mayor of Kasama city, Mr. Yamaguchi, and other VIPs made greetings and complimentary speeches. After the speeches, the Kagamibiraki ceremony was carried out. The ceremony began with a toast by Mr. Fujieda, the chairman, and continued in a friendly, lively atmosphere.
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Basics First, Basics Second |
New Year Statement
Aikido Doshu / Ueshiba Moriteru
(2013/3/7written) |
Happy New Year.
I am very happy that we can start this New Year together with such a pleasant feeling. While Japan and the rest of the world are in rapid flow, both politically and economically, I feel almost left behind. Two years ago we experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, and I wonder if I am alone in realizing how thankful we can be to be able to start New Year so calmly?
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Aikido Doshu, Ueshiba Moriteru |
Aikikai Foundation was able to finish the last year, safely and without incident. As in previous years, last year’s Aikido activities both at home and abroad, centered on the Aikikai Hombu (headquarters), involved a large number of seminars and anniversary events all peacefully and calmly executed, including a succession of major events such as the International Aikido Federation and the Anniversary celebrations of Hombu Dojo. I feel that last year was a year of progress for the Aikikai through the successful completion of those events.
On April 1, 2012, the Aikikai Foundation was able to be registered as a ‘public interest incorporated foundation’ which represented a departure from the ‘pubic-interest foundation’ with which we familiar for 60 years.
Its organization and activities are almost same as before. I decided with a new determination that I must continue to comply with the Aikido created by the founder and spread Aikido properly to society, promoting and maintaining it as a ‘public interest incorporated foundation.’
In November last year, I was awarded a gold medal by the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain, as was Kishomaru 2nd Doshu, for, “honoring the promotion and dissemination of Aikido, wa-no-kokoro (the unity soul), to the world at large, and in line with the educational philosophy of the university”.
In this way, Aikido has spread at home and abroad and is appreciated highly from abroad. I feel now that I must firmly enter into the role of cultural exchange and private diplomacy which aikido plays.
In September, the 11th International Aikido Federation Convention was held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center.
Since the 10th IAF was held in Tanabe city, birthplace of the founder Morihei Ueshiba, it had been eight years since the IAF was held in Tokyo. I was worried about the participants from overseas because of Fukushima nuclear power plant problems. I am pleased that I was able to finish that fulfilling week with so many people gathering from abroad.
The celebration “the 80th Anniversary of Establishment of Aikido Hombu Dojo, and the 70th Anniversary of the Accreditation of the Aikikai Foundation” had been deferred from the previous year. Since it overlapped with the last day of the 11th IAF, there were many overseas attendees and the venue was filled with more than 1,900 people, which was far beyond of my expectations, and the celebration was both peaceful and exciting. I am confident that this is the result of keeping daily keiko, cherishing wago-no-kokoro (the unity of mind), moving forward steadily, and being centered in Hombu Dojo.
I have always talked about the importance of basic movements of Aikido in my seminars. I think that last year was the year of a major leap forward. This year, once again, I want to return to the starting line and practice with the sprit of basics first, and basics second. Because, in order to continue the history, I think that it is very important to move forward steadily valuing the basics.
I would like to push forward cherishing the basics, without being wrapped up in, or pressured by society. I look forward to your continued cooperation.
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