April 27-May 2nd, 2009
At the memorial ceremony of the late Morihiro Saito Shihan. front: Morihiro Saito Shihan’s widow, behind from left: Hitohiro Saito Sensei’s wife, Amino Sensei, Homma Kancho.
I went for a quick trip to Japan this past April to attend the annual AHAN Nippon Kan Japan Branch Association meeting scheduled in Tokyo. While in Japan, I traveled to Iwama to visit Dento Iwama Ryu no Hitohiro Saito Jukucho to pay my respects at the memorial commemoration for his father, the late Morihiro Saito Shihan, Aikido 9th Dan.
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- During Aiki Tai Sai, Kobayashi Dojo no Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan always pays his respects to the late Morihiro Saito Shihan, here with his son Hiroaki Kobayashi Fukudojocho.
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- Carving a mask: Aiki Shuren Kai, Hitohiro Saito Jukucho.
Aiki Shuren Kai uchidesh
That same day, the Iwama Aiki Jinja Tai Sai Grand Ceremony was being held in Iwama and many people came to attend this annual event commemorating the passing of the Founder Morihei Ueshiba. I have my own personal reservations about this ceremony. It seems to me that this very religious ceremony today is held to validate a belief that the Founder is some kind of god. In my view, this perpetuates an illusion and a myth that is confusing, misunderstood and misused in the world. I sat just across the road from the ongoing Tai Sai ceremony at the Dento Iwama Ryu dojo and reflected on my personal experiences of living with the Founder at that very same location. My memories of the Founder and the image that is projected of him in many places in the world are not the same. I will always believe that the Founder was a great human being, but he was a man, not a god.
LINK HERE to Homma Kancho’s article The Founder Morihei Ueshiba, a God?
Not clearly defined, this ceremony sends a confusing message to the world.
The Tai Sai Ceremony today seemed more of a way to try to hang onto power through bloodlines than innovation and I wondered how long this will be able to continue. The ceremony was conducted from beginning to end by Shinto priests so it is fairly apparent that this was a religious ceremony. Is Aikikai a religious organization? As I looked on I thought, “Aikikai is no longer the only Aikido organization in Japan or the world. There are many viable organizations today that are not related to Aikikai and are thriving. For Aikikai this seemed to be a desperate attempt; holding onto an image of a god-like founder; their founder, as a way to hang on to power. We will see where this path leads.
I have taught many Aikidoka that are not part of Aikikai and have always told them, “Your affiliation or ties to a large organization do not matter. It is your practice that is important and can be an important communication tool with other Aikidoka around you. Learn from each other, practice together. This is what is important.”
Shudo Maruyama Sensei and Homma Kancho in front of Shushinkan Dojo in Nagoya.
After leaving Iwama I traveled to Nagoya for one day to pay my respects to my old teacher, Kokikai Aikido Founder, Shudo Maruyama Sensei. He was one of the original Aikikai Aikido pioneers in the USA, and listening to his stories is for me a very valuable lesson in history.
Written by
Nippon Kan General Headquarters
Gaku Homma
Nippon Kan Kancho