Aikido Nippon Kan General Headquarters

founding place of Engaged Budoism

Aikikai Aikido Hombu Dojo Shihan Masatake Fujita Sensei visits Nippon Kan.

Aikikai Aikido Hombu Dojo Shihan Masatake Fujita Sensei, 8th Dan, visited Denver this past August 5th through 11th. This visit was arranged initially by Aikikai Akita Branch Director Shigeru Kawabe Sensei before his passing in February of this year.

Fujita Shihan was greeted in style at the Denver International Airport and transported to his hotel in mint-condition 1960 classic tail-fin Cadillac. Fujita Shihan made this trip to Denver from Japan after returning from a fifty day instructing tour of Eastern Europe only a week before. For all of his travels, he showed no signs of fatigue. An avid fan of classic automobiles, he seemed to enjoy his ride in the Cadillac immensely.

Without so much as an evening off, Fujita Shihan joined in Nippon Kan activities with enthusiasm. He was especially interested in Nippon Kan’s community service projects and participated in Nippon Kan’s monthly meal service for the homeless at the Denver Rescue Mission. After Sunday morning practice at Nippon Kan, Fujita Shihan joined Nippon Kan volunteers in the garden to peel, chop and prepare potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage to be used in the evenings meals.

Later that evening he joined Nippon Kan volunteers at the Denver Rescue Mission to serve over 350 meals to homeless guests. He prepared deserts to be served, delivered meals and served water to the hundreds of homeless guests who joined us for the evening meal.

The week was also a time of exchanging ideas and making new acquaintances. At one meal hosted by Nippon Kan there were Aikidoists, students and guests from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Mongolia, Japan and of course the United States! Fujita Shihan fielded many questions as each country represented shared experiences of Aikido practice in their home countries. Fujita Shihan was patient with his answers as he stated the positions taken by Hombu dojo and Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba clearly.

The primary purpose of Fujita Shihan’s visit was not to teach a major seminar in Denver. He did however teach two evenings of regular classes attended by over 120 Nippon Kan students and guest Aikidoka from other dojos around Colorado. Fujita Shihan focused his teaching on direct Hombu kihon waza, and was well received by all of those in attendance.

At the conclusion of the second evening of classes, Fuhita Shihan presided over mid-year Nippon Kan Aikikai shodan through sandan promotions, awarding twenty-eight dan promotions from Aikikai Hombu, and thirty-five new Aikikai memberships.
Currently Fujita Shihan’s Aikido mission is similar in ways to Nippon Kan’s Aikido Humanitarian Active Network (AHAN). He has been concentrating his teaching in developing areas such as Eastern Europe, Mexico and Brazil. It was a reflection of his over thirty five years of service as the Hombu dojo office director, instructor and advisor. Fujita Shihan offers a unique perspective and wisdom gleaned from serving three generations of Hombu leadership including the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, his son Kissomaru Ueshiba, and his grandson Moriteru Ueshiba. With his vast experience at Hombu dojo, his advice and council are very valuable to us at Nippon Kan. When asked if we could continue to seek his council in the future, he willingly agreed.

Nippon Kan’s Founder Gaku Homma first met Fujita Shihan when he, (Homma Kancho) was otomo to the Founder. At that young age, Homma Kancho accompanied the Founder on his many trips from Iwama dojo to Hombu dojo in Tokyo. It was Fujita Shihan who took care of the Founder and the young Homma Kancho during these visits. For the last days of Fujita Shihan’s visit to Denver, Homma Kancho took his turn as host, as Fujita Shihan was shown many highlights of the Rocky Mountains surrounding Denver.

We are all very appreciative of the time Fujita Shihan spent in Denver, and the valuable lessons he taught us. Lessons that he taught not only on the mat, but by his demeanor, enthusiasm and sense of purpose.

Profile of Fujita Masatake Shihan
Date of Birth: April 21, 1937
Nationality: Japanese
Education: Graduated from the Department of Politics and Economics fro Takushoku University, Tokyo 1956-1960.
Budo Career: Aikikai Aikido Hombu Shihan (8th Dan)
Director of General Affairs of Aikikai
Standing Director of All Japan Aikido Federation
Director of Japan Budo Council
Technical Advisor of Japan Overseas Cooperation
Volunteers/ Japan International Cooperation Agency
Auditor of Japan World Games Association
Aikido Technical Supervisor to British Aikido Federation, Bulgarian Aikido Federation, Hungarian Aikido Cultural Federation and Aikikai of Romania.

Fujita Shihan visit to Nippon Kan Photo Album
A Positive Exchange