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A
New Leader in Iwama…
Reflections on Attending Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai Founding
Celebration.
February 21st, 2004, Iwama, Japan
 Where to begin. I have just returned from a
trip to Japan where I attended Hitohiro Saito Sensei’s Iwama
Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai Founding Celebration. It was an occasion
for celebration, and yet
there were undercurrents of gray that at times shadowed the event.
“About 350 people attended the celebration” Hitohiro Saito
Sensei told me. “I had planned for 325, I guess a few people
changed their minds at the last minute and decided to come”.
He told me this the morning after the celebration while he was
busy helping to prepare breakfast for guests and his students that
stayed at the dojo.
I was amazed at his energy after hosting such a grand event.
Hitohiro Saito Sensei was born in Iwama, a town in Ibaraki Prefecture
that has played a major role in the history of Aikido. When the
Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba was alive and living in Iwama,
Hitohiro was a small child, and used to tug on the Founder’s
hair and beard. Hitohiro was truly an Aikido baby!
He was born to his father, the late Morihiro Saito Shihan Aikikai
Shihan 9th Dan, who practiced directly under the Founder for 23
years and after the Founder’s death, was the keeper of the
Aiki Shrine and Iwama dojo for 33 years. In 2002 he passed away
carrying with him the legacy of being one of the most famous Aikido
instructors in the world. Hitohiro was born into this legacy, and
in a sense had an Aikido pedigree from birth.
People associated with Aikido in Iwama and indeed around the world,
were surprised when Hitohiro Sensei announced that he was going
to leave this legacy to start an organization on his own. It was
a decision that threw many people’s lives into turmoil. Many
were forced to make decisions about their own loyalties and future;
a choice to stay with Aikikai or follow Hitohiro Sensei. A choice
that no one thought they would have to make a few years ago.
Those close to Hitohiro Sensei however, were not surprised by his
decision. Those who know him well, have known that Hitohiro Sensei
has faced inner turmoil that even a thousand pages of text could
not describe. For them, stepping out on his own was the next logical
step.
Iwama being a country town, is built on country town relationships.
Those that have lived there a long time know everyone else, and
everyone else even knows the grandparents and possibly great grandparents
of everyone! This type of community dynamic is not limited only
to Iwama; it is prevalent in small towns and communities around
the world. In this kind of environment, when the news started to
break, I can imagine it became a town secret that everyone knew
but were unwilling to face; knowing the ultimate choices Hitohiro’s
decision might force them to make. As most people of Iwama are
good at heart, no one wanted to face choosing sides or splitting
loyalties. It is like the reality children face when dealing with
divorcing parents.
In human history, there have been great leaders who have been deposed
and cast out or chosen a path of their own. Even as children we
were told stories like these, and as adults they are a great study
in
our human history. For Japanese people, these stories pluck at
the heart strings, and are a reflection of Japanese attitudes.
So as Hitohiro Sensei has made his decisions, they have touched
my heart as well.
Whenever I go back to Japan, if I get the chance, I like to visit
Mount Koya which sits near the city of Tanabe, the birthplace of
the Founder Morihei Ueshiba. Mout Koya is home to a vast number
of temples, sanctuaries and resting places, some which date back
to 819 AD. There is one stone pathway (sando) that I choose to
walk when I visit Mount Koya. It is a pathway made of stone that
has been walked by so many thousands of people over the centuries
that groves have been worn down the center of the stone path. This
pathway leads through ancient graveyards overhung by giant trees
centuries old as are some of the graves. The graves are covered
with moss, and crumble with age. Some have been there for so many
hundreds of years that they have buckled with the shifting of the
earth and the passage of time. When I walk on this pathway through
the graveyard I can hear the cries of the warriors in battle, the
screams of agony and death, and feel the bitterness of arguments
flying overhead like the arrows that fell many of the Samurai buried
here. Many heads were lost among these dead; many heads taken in
the names of intrigue, betrayal, and greed, all of common maladies
that have plagued mankind in every generation. You can still hear
the whispering of the lost there among the graves.
What strikes me as I have walked there is that ultimately, enemies,
warriors, the loyal and the wicked, the strong and the weak, leaders
that were loved and their loyal followers all finally lay side
by side together, literally feet from one another in this sacred
place. 1200 years of history lay calm and silent as I walk there.
The cycles of history have forever gone on, and to feel the history
of this place gives me chills and goose bumps, and I am sure I
am not the only one who passes through this place that feels this
way.
Thinking of Mount Koya seems to put our lives in a greater perspective.
Returning my thoughts to Iwama, I think about the significance
of Hitohiro Sensei’s independence in a grander view. If you
look through the eye of the span of history, this event is as small
as the movement of an ant from an airplane in flight. In this light,
making negative judgments about this small turn in history holds
no merit.
Hitohiro Sensei’s decisions are part of his life and the
lives of those to choose to travel with him. I see no reason why
even those who choose not to follow cannot raise a glass to toast
his life and his future.
Hitohiro Sensei has taken much criticism for his decisions by those
that stand in judgments and has taken it in stride. Together with
his own “samurai” he has moved forward. I believe there
are many who wished to follow but could not for a variety of reasons.
For these people, this change in the road has been the hardest.
I hope that someday Hitohiro Sensei will understand the hearts
of the long time supporters who chose to stay behind. I hope he
will be able to understand the pain in the hearts of those who
could only stand on the sidelines and wave good bye.
Hitohiro Sensei’s life is his own. Other people cannot really
live it for him, or do anything about what is his to experience.
Picking apart someone else’s life choices does not make tasty
peanuts with a glass of beer or sake, nor will it bring happiness
to those who have nothing better to concentrate their time on than
someone else’s life. Celebration and forgiveness are a better
way to happiness, and make much more delicious peanuts with a glass
of beer or sake. Sake always tastes better with a happy heart.
Hitohito Sensei’s father, the late Morihiro Saito Shihan
was a hurricane of a man. There have been many Aikido shihan, but
there has been no other single individual who has had such an influence
on Aikido students through out the world. Morihiro Saito spoke
his opinions openly and directly, even with Aikikai headquarters,
no one else has had the power to do this. He had the power to still
the complaints of lesser shihan in one stroke. There were many
that feared him, which of course meant that there were many who
disliked him; that just comes with the territory. No one that I
know of was able to stand up to Morihiro Saito Shihan and confront
or challenge him on an issue face to face. His death left an empty
throne that sat many riches and much power. After his death, Hitohiro
Sensei received the title of Iwama Dojo Cho Daiko (Interim Dojo
leader) from Doshu at Hombu and set about the task of running Iwama
dojo as his father had done before him. There were vultures in
the air and hyenas on the ground however; those who dared not to
speak out loud while his father was alive. With his passing they
finally found a voice that spoke with unpleasantness and malice.
Hitohiro Sensei endured those who spoke with malice, but had little
patience for those who spoke poorly of his father. His actions
were that of a son. With shoulders held high and with a slow deliberate
walk, Hitohiro Sensei stepped off this path, bid farewell to Aikikia
and founded Iwama Shin shin Aiki Shurenkai.
Introducing students
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At the celebration party there were many that
should have been there but found reasons not to come. Even with
a 56 year relationship
between Aikikai, the Ueshiba Family and the Saito family, not one
official representative was sent. One person did come from Aikikai,
but made it clear that he came privately, not officially. This
lone person from Aikikai was at least one small light shining on
the future of possibilities.
As I sat silently at the celebration, I noticed (with others),
who was not in attendance and I thought about the saying “Aikido
is Love”. Where was that concept now? Having sent someone
officially representing Aikikai to this celebration would have
showed wisdom on the part of Aikikai and kept the door to the future
open if just a crack. Many wondered why this diplomatic door was
not left open. The message that was sent instead was that Aikikai
had totally cut ties with the Saito family. I have trouble believing
that this idea would come from Doshu; he and Hitohiro played together
as children. Giving the situation the benefit of the doubt, possibly
Doshu’s position and duties kept him from acting on his personal
feelings. Perhaps he was discouraged from sending someone by an
Aikikai staff member, an action I submit requires closer examination
of the one who suggested it. To some, the absence of any official
Aikikai representation was proof enough that someone with sinister
motives was working behind the scenes. That conclusion seemed to
be unavoidable.
After Morihiro Saito Shihan’s passing, a problem arose with
Aikikai concerning Iwama ranking and certification systems. This
I believe was a “front face” on a larger, deeper problem;
a problem that had plagued the relationship since well before the
late Morihiro Saito Shihan’s death. The ultimate goal for
actions dealing with this problem was the control of Iwama, and
Hitohiro Sensei’s departure fell right into the plan. I know
some of this first-hand as I was a witness.
There is a term in Japanese that translates loosely as “a
warrior’s compassion”, it is called “bushi no
nasake”. In our sometimes callous world of today and yesterday,
the concept of bushi no nasake is a reflection on the goodness
in the spirit of man.
In the days of the samurai, even the executioner followed this
code, and when he took a head, it was done with such precision
as to leave enough skin so that the head would not roll away from
the body. It was a last dignity for the one who was to die. The
act of hara kiri (seppuku or suicide by stabbing oneself in the
abdomen) also has an application of bushi no nasake for the samurai.
Hara kiri could only be performed by a samurai as a show of honor.
Hence they were given the chance to make the first cut themselves.
An able second would perform his duty with bushi no nasake by not
allowing the head of the samurai to roll away. When a samurai fought
to the death, it was his duty to care for the body of the looser
of the battle by making sure it was returned carefully to the family
or to a temple. Even in this basest form of human activity, the
samurai conducted themselves with bushi no nasake.
Through Zen Buddhism and Jukyo (Confucianism), bushi no nasake
was taught to all of the samurai. This teaching accounted for much
of their spiritual growth and development of character. The samurai
were in the business of death, and they lived knowing that they
could die at any moment. The opponents they faced were much like
themselves; they all had families and trained in the same arts
and principles. The one that won today could easily lose the next.
In this context the spirit of bushi no nasake was forged.
The Founder, Morihei Ueshiba was a master of the sword and his
movements also reflected this kind of spirit. His movements were
not like those portrayed in the movies with large swinging strokes.
The cuts he made with a sword were small, usually to the top or
underside of the wrist, armpit or neck; cuts that served to control
rather than to kill. The only time his movements were large was
when he demonstrated “ki musubi” or “ken no awase” techniques.
Using his sword to control with a minimum of damage coincides with
the teaching of Zen Buddhism.
In Zen Buddhism,to kill or harm anything alive is considered a
taboo, and yet a samurai’s job was to kill before being killed.
What a conflict of ideas to have to resolve within ones self; especially
when your life is on the line. What developed from this conflict
of ideals was the sword techniques used by the Founder; that of
controlling not killing. This style of swordsmanship is called
Katsujinken and was taught by the Yagyu School to the reigning
Shogun of the time. Supported by the Shogun, this style and philosophy
was taught to all of samurai of the day. Today this philosophy
is more commonly termed the spirit of bushido, of which Aikido
has its origin.
Even today this spirit is important especially for those in a position
to teach Aikido. Any one that is regarded as a shihan must hold
this concept of bushi no nasake dear and teach a way of harmony,
not personal ambition. They must teach a way to avoid problems
and conflict and find a way towards smoother resolution.
In the days of the samurai in Japan, when a group of samurai attacked
a castle, they always left one entrance to the castle watched,
but not defended. In this way the women and children had a way
to escape without harm from battle. This served not only to insure
the future of the people; it went a long way politically for the
victor. A king (daimyo) might be deposed and killed but by sparing
the women and children, the men folk in the surrounding territory
were more likely to accept a new ruler. This type of benevolent
battle plan is famous in stories of the samurai. Bushi no nasake
can also be part of a successful political strategy. A ruler that
did not understand this concept of compassion was doomed ultimately
to fail.
As I looked around at this Founding Celebration, I felt a lack
of the spirit of bushi no nasake in the actions of Aikikai. I do
not condemn Aikikai, I just worry that for this important institution,
a strategy without bushi no nasake will not fare well for its future.
I personally saw the signed and stamped agreement between Aikikai
and the Saito family which governs the future use of the Iwama
dojo and Aikishrine. The ink has dried on those papers and the
stamps are in place. Everything is clear. Disregarding any personal
bitterness wouldn’t an official gesture of support for this
celebration been the wiser action to take? I find it disheartening
that no one at Aikikai Hombu offered the wisdom of this council
to Doshu.Some say that Hitohiro Senseis’ leaving was unwarranted
and that he left of his own accord. Other that say it was a bloodless
take over and he was forced to leave. I say, he is already on his
own path, there is no reason to throw stones. This should be a
celebration of life and courage if nothing else. It looks bad for
those whose hearts were not clear enough to realize this and come
to give their best wishes. Time to lighten up a bit! The Celebration
itself!
The 350 people in attendance began the evening introducing themselves
to those seated around them at their tables. The celebration was
kicked off with the Kagami Wari ceremony (breaking of the sake
tub) and an official toast. Spirits were high and everyone was
getting into a happy party mood. The “Master of Ceremonies” called
for the attention of the crowd, and all eyes turned to the stage.
There stood a man, small in stature, but with a presence that soon
made the room grow quiet. It took a few seconds for someone to
clap, but soon the applause became quite vigorous and loud. The
gentleman who commanded the stage was Yoshinkan’s Kyoichi
Inoue Kancho. He bowed to everyone present with a deep dignified
bow and began talking in a calm deliberate voice. He spoke of his
relationship with Iwama and the Saito family. “My teacher,
Gozo Shioda Sensei, the Founder of Yoshinkan Aikido was close friends
with Morihei Ueshiba. After WWII, the Shioda family returned to
Japan from China and lived for a while at the Iwama dojo. He was
also close friends with Hitohiro’s father the late Morihiro
Saito Shihan. I have also known the Saito family through visits
to Iwama with my students from the Metropolitan Police Department.
As part of special seminars, I accompanied my students on a trip
to Iwama to visit the Aiki Shrine to pray. Every time we visited,
Saito Shihan welcomed us in grand fashion and offered us every
hospitality. I will always have fond memories of those times.” Inoue
Kancho went on to give his well wishes to Hitohiro Sensei with
humor and wisdom. I don’t know why it sometimes seems that
the Japanese people have lost the sense of dignity, honor, loyalty
and purity that is evident in Inoue Kancho. I can’t quite
define his wisdom but it was very evident in his calm voice and
quiet presence.
Before the celebration officially began, I had a chance to speak
with Inoue Kancho privately. He told me frankly, “When I
told my staff I was coming to this party, they were concern about
the effect my attendance might have on our relationship with Aikikai.
I told them they were wrong to worry, that I was going to give
my best wishes to the son of someone with whom I had had a long
relationship. If we worry about what others are going to think,
and what effect that might have on us, we are missing something
very important... and with that, I came.”
I first met Inoue Kancho in September of 2003 at the Aiki Expo
in Las Vegas. After living such a long time in the United States,
I wasn’t quite sure how to greet a man of his stature. Should
I bow? Shake hands? He answered the question for me as he bowed
in a very dignified and humble manner for a man of his position.
This first meeting left a deep impression on me. Meeting him again
in Iwama as part of this celebration was an honor, and I was humbled
by his friendly and familiar manner. The undercurrents I had been
feeling at this celebration seemed to melt away in Inoue Kancho’s
presence. He seemed very big and bright with a true spirit of wisdom
and celebration in his heart. He greeted those around him with
true sincerity, and as I watched him, he made a special visit to
the Saito family table to pay his respects to the widow of Morihiro
Saito Shihan. He was especially kind and gentle with her; an image
that will stay with me long after this celebration has ended. Judging
by the way his attending otomo stood at attention and jumped into
action every time Inoue Kancho moved, I gathered that during practice
Inoue Kancho was a strict and dominating instructor. Seeing him
by the side of Mrs. Saito I appreciated the change to learn from
a leader such as him, this was indeed a special opportunity.
Inoue Kancho takes the stage. |
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Inoue Kancho greeting Mrs Saito, the widow of the late Morihiro Saito Shihan. |
One other very notable person attending this celebration was Kokikai
Aikido Kaicho (President) Shuji (Shudo) Maruyama Sensei. Maruyama
Sensei was one of the first waves of pioneer Aikido instructors
sent officially to the United States in 1966 by Aikikai Hombu.
(For more information on the life and times of Maruyama Sensei
link here to my article “The
Silent Pioneer”.)
Maruyama Sensei came to the United States in the same era as Yamada
Shihan from New York, Kanai Shihan and others to begin their teaching
of Aikido. Later Maruyama Sensei parted ways with Aikikai and joined
Mr. Koichi Tohei in the early developmental stages of Ki Aikido.
Maruyama Sensei broke once again from Mr. Tohei Sensei to form
his own organization Kokikai that has now become a worldwide organization.
Maruyama Sensei knows very well the struggles of the pioneer days
and the harsh realities of stepping out onto ones own path. He
has been nicknamed the “Silent Pioneer”, a title that
amuses him in many ways. Maruyama Sensei was my first Aikido instructor
when I began my practice at the age of 14. Our relationship has
lasted over many years and remains a strong one. Earlier this year,
during a phone conversation with Maruyama Sensei the subject of
Hitohiro Sensei’s upcoming Founding Celebration came up.
I asked him in passing really, if he would like to attend. “I
don’t know the son” he replied, “but I did know
his father and believed him to be a good person. Let me think about
it”.
His answer surprised me, knowing that Maruyama Sensei rarely attends
events outside of his own organization. I found myself even more
surprised standing in Ueno train station in Tokyo on the eve of
the celebration event, waiting for his train to arrive. Finally,
I could see him hurrying toward me with his bag hung over his shoulder.
I did not plan it, but I was delighted he had taken the time to
come.
If you really think about it, Yoshinkan Aikido, Tomiki Aikido and
Ki no Kenkyukai (Ki Aikido) all became independent from the Founder
in much the same way Hitohiro Saito Sensei has now declared his
independence from Aikikai. Throughout the history of Aikido these
independent starts have taken place and people have stepped out
to follow their own path.
It is difficult part of our human experience to find yourself parting
ways from people that you have practiced with, worked with towards
common goals, even people that you have pledged your loyalty and
allegiance to. I think only someone who has experienced this can
truly understand it in depth. It is a time to say good bye not
only to one’s teacher, but to all of one’s friends
and companions that have traveled with you. I think that this Founding
Celebration brought back memories for Maruyama Sensei, memories
of the hard times when he walked a path alone. I think it touched
his heart, and it was with a real understanding that he joined
this celebration. He had a marvelous time by the way, and was well
received by Hitohiro Sensei and others. On the way back to our
hotel after the celebration he said to me “People have this
opinion and that opinion, they say this and that but at least there
were 350 people there. When I became independent there was no one.
I was alone, and it was a very difficult time”.
I have known Maruyama Sensei for more than 40 years, and this was
the first time I have ever heard him speak of the hard times in
his life. He continued, ‘To work hard together with people,
endure tough experiences together and then say goodbye is a very
difficult thing to do. There was no choice for me. It is difficult
to explain, my life cannot be so easily summarized in a paragraph
for Aikido Journal (sorry to the Journal from the author). When
the time came for me to become independent from Yamada-san, Kanai-san
and Shiohira-san, I think it was hard for everyone, but none the
less, it was inevitable”.
Enjoying each others company Maruyama Sensei, Hitohiro Sensei, and the
author.
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Hitohiro Saito Sensei, you are still young.
There are hard times ahead for you. You said this yourself, and
you are correct. There
are problems ahead because you are young, and it is also because
you are young that you can overcome these obstacles. Everyone has
gathered here in Iwama for your celebration for their own reasons,
brought about by their own thoughts and experiences. Don’t
forget as you go forward the importance of Iwama and its place
in the history of Aikido. Look past the petty ambitions and shortsightedness
of a few and remember the over all pride you must have for your
birthplace. Go forward and show a beautiful samurai spirit to the
world and keep the name of Iwama with a larger sense of pride.
Aikidoka from all over the world came to Iwama for your celebration.
Remember that Aikido is no longer only a Japanese martial art,
but is owned by the world. If you let the small town opinions of
others govern your actions, you cannot be global in your reach.
Walk straight and proud down the center of your path. There will
be many there to support you in your future.
In closing, I would like to speak to former Iwama uchideshi world
wide. If you have chosen not to follow Hitohiro Sensei, there is
no need to feel guilty; that would be an undue pressure on yourself.
Everyone needs to make their own choices, but make your choices
with the spirit of bushi no nasake. I have heard stories that have
saddened me recently about long time students and instructors of
Morihiro Saito Shihans that said to Hitohiro Sensei “Your
father taught me more than he ever taught you”. I heard another
story of an Aikido Instructor and long time student of Saito Shihan
who used the Aikido media to publicly announce that he would not
follow the son Morihiro Saito Shihan. I do not see the need for
these kinds of actions. They speak badly of the ones who take them.
Morihiro Saito Shihan’s teachings and influence helped make
a life for many students who became instructors under him. Many
have gone on to achieve notoriety on their own. I think it is always
important to remember where one came from; who gave you a beginning.
No one teaches themselves, or grow completely on their own. The
shugyo practiced at Iwama for uchideshi is a tremendous experience
that teaches more than just technique; it teaches about the martial
art spirit.
Soon it will be the second memorial remembrance for Morihiro Saito
Shihan (In Japan, a first memorial ceremony is held one week after
someone dies. Therefore if this ceremony is counted, the April
27, 2004 memorial is actually the third). This year the memorial
will be held on April 27th. This is a good time to send a gift
of flowers to lay at his memorial altar. Sending flowers is a gesture
of humanity, not politics or affiliation. Sometimes a flower can
reach across many miles and confirm the connection with memories
held dear. The one who would be most touched would be his son,
Hitohiro Sensei.
Best known at Iwama dojo;
dojo cooking pots
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Read carefully again the gifts that Inoue Kancho
shared that evening of celebration and study what is truly bushi
no nasake in a modern
world. If you need help sending flowers, I would be happy to help
you. Contact me at info@nippon-kan.org. The next morning as Hitohiro
Sensei was busy preparing breakfast at his new dojo Tanren Kan,
I noticed the cooking pots and rice cooker in the kitchen. They
were very old, and had been used for a very long time. Looking
at them, I could hear Morihiro Saito Shihan’s voice echo
through the room “Have you eaten? Go ahead and have something
to eat”. How many people have those pots fed I wondered…
I spoke directly, “Hitohiro Sensei, lets get the rice cooking,
and start that nabe (Japanese pot dish), if you are hungry you
cannot go into battle”.
March 8th, 2004
Written by
Gaku Homma, Nippon Kan Kancho
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