[My Aikido Training Days]

I am pleased to announce the completion of the added and revised version of "My Aikido Training Days" written by Igarashi Dojo-cho, which released on the February issue of "Monthly Budo" published by Nippon Budokan. Mr. Louie Valena, a member of Igarashi Dojo, translated this long article into English. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Louie-san for his excellent English translation. Thank you very much.

Igarashi Kazuo

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A Retrospective on My Apprenticeship

64 Years of Martial Arts and 41 Years Since Dojo’s Founding

Upon the recommendation of Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba Sensei, I wrote an article for the February 2024 issue (released on January 26, 2024) of "Monthly Budo" published by the Nippon Budokan Foundation, on the theme of "My Training Days". I am certain that many of you have already subscribed to the magazine, so for that, I thank you.

The English playwright Shakespeare wrote, "what’s past is prologue" and also, "memory, the warder of the brain”. Everything up to the present moment has been but a prologue, and the real story begins now. If memory guards the brain, then I need to record it before it can dissipate. I have been given the best opportunity to reflect on the past.

Since articles contributed to “Monthly Budo” were limited from six to eight pages, there were many sections that I felt were incomplete. With the permission of the editorial department of the magazine, I have taken this opportunity to update the article, with additions and corrections. I would be very pleased if it would be useful to those who visit the Igarashi Dojo website.

I would like to express my gratitude to Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru Sensei for his support. I would also like to thank the editorial staff of "Budo Monthly".

Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei for his direction, both in public and private, up to this day, and for his continued guidance.

Introduction

When I was a student at Tsurumi High School in Kanagawa Prefecture, I was a member of the Judo Club and trained for three years. At the time, I weighed 48 kilograms and was 160 centimeters tall, but I am proud to say that I was quite strong in the under 50-kilogram class in high school Judo tournaments in the prefecture. My signature move was the kouchi-gari, which was to throw the opponent off-balance with a kouchi-gari or ouchi-gari, and then throw with either a seoi nage or a sode tsurikomi goshi. The dopamine rush associated with getting an ippon was something I enjoyed with competitive martial arts. However, I was never able to embody the concept of [柔よく剛を制す] “juu yoku gou wo seisu” : [translator’s note: "suppleness overcomes strength”].

In April 1964, when the first Tokyo Olympics were being held, I entered Meiji University. I saw an Aikido demonstration in the Judo hall, and a fourth-year student of the Aikido Club said, "In Aikido, even a small guy can throw a big opponent!” I had never experienced this in Judo, so I decided to join the Aikido Club immediately.

It has been 61 years since I started practicing Aikido, which I started because I liked it. I would like to look back on the days of my training so far.

Encounter with Martial Arts

Encounters with Judo

I was born in Mikawamura, Higashikanbara County, Niigata Prefecture (now Aga Town). The neighboring town of Tsugawa is the birthplace of Shiro Saigo, a famous Judoka. Since I was a child, I repeatedly changed schools whenever my father had to relocate for work. I moved twice for kindergarten (Sado and Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture), twice for elementary school (Takada and Niitsu, Niigata Prefecture), twice for junior high school (Sapporo, Hokkaido and Tsurumi, Yokohama), and twice for high school (Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama and Nakano, Tokyo). In the shortest case, I had to change schools within six months. Those who know me today can't imagine what I must have been like, but by the time I was in junior high school, I had become a shy, introverted child who tended to stay at home after repeatedly changing schools.

When I entered Tsurumi High School in Kanagawa Prefecture, I took the plunge and joined the Judo Club. At that time, Judo became an official event in the Tokyo Olympics, and Judo was gaining popularity. I also remember the names of Mr. Kaminaga and Mr. Inokuma, two medalists at the Tokyo Olympics.

I started out as a ballplayer and was rather athletically inept. I believed the upperclassmen who told me that martial arts did not require athleticism, and I practiced hard for three years. The Judo Club at our school was quite strong and was in the top ranks every year in the prefecture. Our Sensei was Watase Toshihiko Sensei (Judo 6th dan), who also taught ancient Japanese literature at the school. He was a member of the Takushoku University Judo Club and an officer of the Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama City Judo Associations. He appeared in the Judo dojo in his practice uniform like an "aloof old Samurai" in a Fujisawa Shuhei novel, throwing third-year students, who were among the strongest in the prefecture, with a light hand. By the fall of my freshman year, I was confident in my physical strength.

The Judo Club used to go to the Kodokan in Suidobashi to practice for a month in April every year. During the same period, two or three third-year students stayed behind to provide instruction, since many upperclassmen were not needed as they were only teaching ukemi and basic movements to new members. I also commuted from Tsurumi to the Kodokan in Suidobashi after school during my second and third years. Training at the Kodokan filled me with a sense of tension that was different from the matches in the prefecture. It was a very good experience.

Thanks to my training, I was awarded Shodan in the dan promotion examination at the Yokohama Budokan at the end of my sophomore year. I also read a book by the  American businessman Andrew Carnegie around this time that said, "A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune," which helped me to improve my introverted personality to a slightly more cheerful one. I am grateful for my encounter with Judo.

Encounter with Aikido

Having been exposed to the fun of martial arts in high school, I became strongly interested in doing martial arts in college as well. I wanted to continue Judo after entering Meiji University, but the Athletic Association Judo Club is very prestigious and has produced many university Judo champions and world champions. There was no room for a weakling like me. So, when I heard that the Judo Club was active, I decided to visit the dojo.

The Judo dojo on the Izumi campus in Meidaimae, Keio Line, was a magnificent dojo with a high ceiling and a very spacious 80-tatami mat floor. When I visited, the Judo Club had already finished their session, and the Aikido Club was practicing instead. My first impression of Aikido was, "What is this? " In the late 1950s, the martial art of Aikido was not yet widely known to the world.

Meiji University Aikido Club and the Beginning of my Aikido Career

The Aikido Club had 25 seniors, more than 10 each of juniors and sophomores, and more than 30 of us freshmen who joined the club. The Aikido Club was directed by Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei (currently 8th dan), a Shihan of the Aikido Hombu Dojo, and Asai Katsuaki Sensei (currently 8th dan, German Aikikai Shihan) was the assistant director of the club.

We practiced for two hours every day from Monday to Saturday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The new members would gather on the roof of the gym every day during lunch break to practice loud greetings, the school song and cheering songs under the guidance of the sophomores. We also practiced in the dojo under the guidance of a senior who would say, "You learn by being thrown!”  We did a few laps around the large dojo doing bunny jumps and knee walking (Shikko). In no time, my muscles were sore and my kneecaps were bleeding, and my gi pants were bright red.

The ultimate in training was a barefoot marathon. We ran long distances from the Izumi campus to Shakujii Park and to the west exit of Shinjuku Station. On the way there, we all shouted "Ichi, ni" (one, two) in a loud voice, and on the way back, we competed with a "yo-i-don" [translator note: same as “ready, get set, go!” to start a race] from the spot.

Once or twice a year, we would go to the Surugadai Campus of Meiji University and run the Imperial Palace Marathon. The first lap was run by everyone, shouting "Ichi, ni" (one, two), and the second was a race with "yo-i-don" (yo-i-don). The gravel path in front of the Imperial Palace was clean and free of glass shards. Running the marathon barefoot on the gravel road made the soles of my feet ache at first. However, I learned that the soles of my feet thicken just like the skin on my face.

In addition, if there was any misconduct, severe training awaited us to instill a sense of responsibility. In today's terms, it was truly a black club. After training, my classmates and I often said to each other, "This is more like a training club than an Aikido club. According to a senior student, the idea was to reduce the number of freshmen. When I think back to my active years in the club now, all I remember are those hard times, but for some reason I feel nostalgic about them. As the upperclassmen intended, by the time summer came around, the number of students was reduced to about half.

From late July, when the university summer vacation began, until the end of October, the university judo dojo was rented and unavailable for use as a training site for overseas athletes participating in the Judo events of the Tokyo Olympics. After the summer camp was over and classes for the second semester began in late September, practice was held at the "Aikido Otsuka Dojo" near Otsuka Station on the Yamanote Line. When there was no training at the Otsuka Dojo, the upperclassmen instructed us to go to the Aikido Hombu Dojo in Shinjuku, and we began to practice at the Hombu Dojo as well.

Instructors at the Hombu Dojo at that time were Ueshiba Kisshomaru Wakasensei, Tohei Koichi, head instructor, Osawa Kisaburo Sensei, Yamaguchi Seigo Sensei, and Arikawa Sadateru Sensei, all of whom were Shihan-level. The young instructors were Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei, Saotome Mitsugu Sensei, Chiba Kazuo Sensei, Tohei Akira  Sensei, Kanai Mitsuya Sensei, and other teachers who were uchideshi of Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, the founder. At that time, Tada Hiroshi Sensei in Italy, Noro Masamichi Sensei and Tamura Nobuyoshi Sensei in France, and Yamada Yoshimitsu Sensei in the U.S. were already teaching there and I had no opportunity to receive their teaching.

The Founder Ueshiba Morihei Sensei

Morihei Sensei was still alive at that time, and I had seen his demonstration at the All Japan Demonstration and the Student Demonstration at Hibiya Public Hall. My first impression and only thought was, "He is a god!”  O-Sensei sometimes came to the dojo for training at the Hombu Dojo. When the instructor said, "O-Sensei is coming, please sit on the tatami," everyone sat on tatami to welcome him. In the dojo, O-Sensei showed us the "essence of Aikido" with the instructor as the recipient. And he often told us stories about Kojiki and other gods. I honestly don't remember the stories because the content was difficult, but I remember well that my legs were numb by that time. I now think it was a waste of time.

The first time I saw a demonstration by Ueshiba Morihei Sensei up close was in the Hombu Dojo of 1965, when I was a sophomore in the Aikido Club, when the then Minister of Education, Nakamura Umekichi Sensei, visited the Hombu Dojo. After the demonstration by the instructor of the Hombu Dojo, O-sensei gave a demonstration of the "essence of Aikido" using several uchi-deshi senseis. O-Sensei was only 4 to 5 meters away from our tatami. I vividly remember how impressed I was by the power of the performance.

Early morning “Pusher” part time job at JNR

The nearest station to my home in Nakano-ku is Koenji Station on the Chuo Line. In October of my freshman year, I found a poster in the station looking for a part-time job as a "pusher" for one and a half hours during the morning commute to work or school. The hours were Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The daily wage was 150 yen. I applied and was hired immediately. The next morning, I was standing on the platform of Koenji Station wearing the same uniform as the station staff. As you may know, at that time, the rush hour boarding rate at the Japan National Railways stations in the center of the city was so high that it would have been impossible to keep the trains running on time without our presence. Our job was simple. We simply pushed passengers who could not fit through the doors into the car. It is truly an application of the “Zagi-Kokyuho” method.

This part-time job lasted until March of 1968, when I graduated. I would get up at 6:00 in the morning. I worked very hard. I guess I could call this "Shugyo" (ascetic training) as well.

My salary for a month in which I worked hard without a break amounted to 3,500 yen, which I put toward my living expenses and part of my tuition.

Misogi-Shugyo Practice at Ichikukai Dojo

In May of my junior year, I joined the "Ichikukai" of misogi training. The dojo was located in a field in Higashikurume, Tokyo. It left the most intense impression and painful memory in my life, and it was truly a shugyo. I paid a small membership fee and a rice crib, and underwent four nights and five days of shugyo from Thursday evening to Monday morning. All members except those with bad knees were required to participate in the Shugyo. Upon entering the dojo, we leave all our own belongings, from our shoes, and put on a white practice gi and white hakama. The shugyo began as soon as the sun rose and ended when the sun set. The dojo was led by Hino Sensei and his wife. All participants were 10 active members of the university's aikido club.

Misogi-shugyo involves sitting in seiza for one hour ten times a day. While sitting in seiza, the participants chant "tohokami/emitame" in a loud voice from the bottom of their stomachs in time with the bell waved by the master. If a person breaks posture even slightly, or if the voice is not loud enough, a person who has already completed the shugyo sits on either side or behind us, called "Tsudoi," and gives us a hard blow on the back or thigh to assist us in our shugyo. By the end of the Shugyo on Sunday, our backs and thighs were purple, our throats were crushed, and our voices were hoarse. Without this help, I am convinced that I would never have been able to complete this rigorous shugyo. On Sunday, after the final 10 seiza, the rigorous shugyo came to an end. For the first time, we were allowed to take a bath and wash our sweat-soaked bodies. Then, we were invited to a "Naorai" ceremony, where we were served sake and a meal to celebrate the completion of our shugyo. It was a time to rediscover how wonderful ordinary things could be, and I was filled with gratitude. I am truly grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Hino and the people at the gathering.

On Monday, we only had one sitting, and for the first time in five days, everything outside really looked so beautiful, unlike ever before. I felt as if I were an unsullied boy again. This was the result of my painful shugyo. And the "hoarse voice" that came out of my throat after completing the shugyo was a medal that only those who had accomplished the shugyo could be proud of.

Active training camps

There were training camps during summer and spring vacations. They lasted for one week. In summer, the camps were held at ski resorts in Nagano and Niigata prefectures, and in spring at a slightly warmer campsite by the sea. Of course, there was no drinking or smoking during the camp.

The summer camp for juniors was held at the Iwamizawa Self-Defense Forces Camp in Hokkaido. I remember that it was a little easier to wake up at 6:00 a.m. at the Self-Defense Forces camp than at the usual 5:30 a.m. wake-up time at the camp. However, as soon as we woke up, we had to put our beds in order. Then we rushed to the plaza to assemble and raise the flag. It was a wonderful experience.

The last summer camp for the seniors was held on the outskirts of Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture. The camp was located in a large garden with a 50-meter pool, where the students played water polo and swam as part of their underwater training.

At every training camp, Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei, the supervising Shihan, would come to instruct us for two nights. When Sensei came, there was only aikido practice and not much training. When we were lower class students, we used to wait "long and hard" for Sensei to come. However, when we become upperclassmen, we  would lose our privileges as upperclassmen when Sensei arrived, and we would wonder when Sensei would return.

Later, I became an aikido sensei and became a long-time coach and director of the Aikido club, and I also went to the camps to teach. It was then that I wondered during that period, "When is Sensei going home?" to the active members, and they replied, "We don't think about that! Please teach us for many days!" But I know what the current cadre is thinking. It is the same even though times have changed!

Iwama Aiki Shrine

After the summer camp in the suburbs of Hitachi City, we visited the "Aiki Grand Festival" at Iwama Aiki Shrine led by Kobayashi Sensei. After watching O-sensei's demonstration, a commemorative photo was taken with O-sensei and all the current students. For me, it was a precious moment with the founder. It was the last time I saw the founder, Morihei O-sensei.

Reflecting on the days of practicing

As a university graduate and a working as a “Salary Man”

In the spring of 1968, I graduated from university. On the advice of my brother, I went to work for a publisher of construction equipment technology magazines. The publisher published two monthly magazines. My main job was editing, and since it was a small company, I was also in charge of advertising sales. It was a fulfilling time in my working life as the Japanese economy was on the upswing and everyone was in high spirits. Whenever I had time, I would attend university practice, go to the Kobayashi Dojo, and practice at the Hombu Dojo a few times a year.

In the spring of 1945, my father retired and we moved from Nakano, Tokyo to Minami ku, Yokohama. After moving to Yokohama, I briefly practiced at the Yokohama branch of Aikikai under the tutelage of Nishio Shoji Sensei. Also, my classmates Iimori-kun and Abe-kun from the Meiji University Aikido club practiced at dojos in Sagamihara City and Zama City under the teaching of Sugawara Tetsutaka Sensei. I was also able to practice with them on Sundays.

Sugawara Sensei began his Aikido practice at the Hombu Dojo and later became an uchideshi at the Iwama Dojo, where he was trained by Founder Ueshiba Morihei Sensei and Saito Morihiro Sensei. In his day job, he is the president of a publishing company called Minato Research. Through my relationship with Sugawara Sensei, I was invited to attend Iwama Dojo camps at his dojo twice. I had always loved weapons techniques, so training at Iwama Dojo was tough but enjoyable, and I even stayed there for one or two days and nights on my own several times, including when I started living in the Kobayashi Dojo. Later, I helped Sugawara Sensei edit Saito Sensei's five volumes of Aikido Techniques when it was published.

My job and salary were very fulfilling as a salaried worker. However, as I spent my days, sometimes without a day off, I gradually began to lose sight of myself. In October 1972, as this life continued, I received a letter from Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei informing me of the opening of the Aikido Tokorozawa Dojo. This letter changed my life forever.

Become a live-in uchideshi at the Kobayashi Dojo

On November 3, Culture Day, the opening ceremony of Kobayashi Dojo and Tokorozawa Dojo was held with many guests and people involved in aikido in attendance. In his opening speech, Kobayashi Sensei said, “I retired from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo to coincide with the opening of the Tokorozawa Dojo.” Kobayashi Sensei's motto for the Kobayashi Dojo is “Aikido for as many people as possible!” I will continue to teach and develop Aikido under the motto of Kobayashi Dojo, “Aikido for as many people as possible!” After the ceremony, I asked Kobayashi Sensei, in a drunken mood, “I'm resigning from the company, so please make me your uchi-deshi.” He immediately responded, "Yes! When will you start?”

Then I hurriedly prepared my resignation letter. I wrote that the reason for my resignation was "for personal reasons," but the president had been very kind to me, so I honestly told him that I wanted to quit because I wanted to pursue aikido in earnest, which I had been doing since my university days. However, the president kindly said, “Whenever you have time during the daytime, I would like you to come and help me as much as you can.”

In early January 1973, I moved into a room on the second floor of the Kodaira Aikido Dojo, where Kobayashi Sensei lives. The first floor of Sensei's home is his living space and dojo, and the second floor is an apartment with three rooms separate from his family's rooms. One of the rooms (6 tatami mats) is my home. Each room is equipped with a kitchenette and a gas range.

Although I was an uchideshi, I was living as a house guest, paying Kobayashi Sensei  for room and instruction fee. Since I had been living as an office worker with no holidays until then, I had enough saved up to be able to live without working for about two years.

At that time, there were only two Kobayashi Dojos: Kodaira Dojo in Tokyo and  Tokorozawa Dojo in Saitama Prefecture. The two dojos had children's classes three times a week, classes for students twice a week, general classes on Sundays and weekday evenings, and morning practice twice a week, so that there would be no overlapping sessions. The dojos were closed on Monday.

The day after I moved in, I began a life of "Only Aikido" under the teaching of Kobayashi Sensei. I could not ride a bicycle at that time. I had to get up at 5:00 a.m. to go to the Tokorozawa dojo for morning practice. It was a 15 min. walk to Kodaira Station, and a 5 min. ride on a bicycle. Kobayashi Sensei gave me strict orders to "get on the bike right away! After about a week, I was finally able to ride a bicycle. However, by that time, his wife's bicycle was falling apart. This was my first shugyo as an uchideshi.

At that time, Kodaira Dojo had already been established for four years. There were many members in the children's, student, and general classes. Although there were not many dan holders yet, there were many members who were aiming for dan promotion, and the dojo was very active. Tokorozawa Dojo had been in operation for only two months, and there were very few members in the children's and general classes. No one came to practice, so there were days when it was just Kobayashi Sensei, Shikanai-kun, and myself. For us two uchi-deshi, it was the best time to have Kobayashi Sensei to ourselves.

After night practice at Kodaira Dojo, we would take a bath with Sensei. Meals were homemade by Mrs. Yasuko. Of course, we toasted with beer before the meal. It is the best drink after training and bathing. Kobayashi Sensei once said, “Kobayashi Dojo's uchideshi are served with evening drinks!”

Around the previous year, Bruce Lee's kung fu movie became a hit and a martial arts boom began to take off in Japan. This was a good chance to spread aikido and the luck of the hour, as Kobayashi Sensei often says, “the luck of the people, the luck of the earth, and the luck of the hour.” By the time spring came, both Kodaira Dojo and Tokorozawa Dojo had an increasing number of new members, and training became more active. My life was full of fun, even though I had to practice at both dojos and work part-time during the day at the publishing company where I had worked before, and there were no breaks.

In October 1973, Kawasaki Motosumiyoshi Dojo opened as the third dojo of Kobayashi Dojo. In September, just before the dojo opening, Sensei said to me, “Igarashi, from now on Kobayashi Dojo will be very busy. Why don't you become a professional Aikido teacher?” I immediately responded, “Yes, please.” At the same time, Sensei also told me to take the dan test for Sandan at the Hombu Dojo dan promotion examination in November.

I started as a professional instructor at Kobayashi Dojo in October. At the same time, Sensei told me that I did not need to pay for my apartment. In addition, I was also able to receive an instruction fee. From that moment on, I became a professional instructor.

Becoming an Aikido professional instructor

In mid-November, Shikanai-kun, myself, and Ishigaki Haruo-san, a member of the Saitama University Aikido Club who teaches in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, took the test for Sandan promotion at the Hombu Dojo. There were some accidents, but we passed the test.

After my promotion to Sandan, Kobayashi Sensei gave me two tips on how to become a professional instructor: first, “In the future, it will be difficult to live on aikido teaching fees alone, so you should study acupuncture and moxibustion as a side job,” and second, “To become a professional instructor, you need to practice at the Aikido Hombu Dojo, so go there.”

Aikido Hombu Dojo

At the recommendation of Kobayashi Sensei, I began attending morning practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Hombu Dojo in Shinjuku at the end of 1973. The first practice was led by Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei. Tuesday's second practice was with Yamaguchi Seigo Sensei and Thursday's second practice was with Osawa Kisaburo Sensei. There is a big difference between watching and taking ukemi from the Senseis. After about a month, Senseis started to use it for taking uke. Watching and taking uke are very different. The tension and the sensations conveyed by each sensei were so moving and shocking that I can't put it into words. In particular, the tension I felt when I was approached by Kisshomaru Sensei was 'heart-pounding'.

On the way home from morning practice at the Hombu Dojo, Kisshomaru Sensei said, “Igarashi-kun, come in here. There are delicious pickled plums. I was told from inside the office to go ahead and eat them. They are famous Nanko-ume plums from Kishu, and each one is very large and delicious.” He also said, “Igarashi-kun, you are working very hard! You won't understand the fun of Aikido until you are over 60 years old!” I think it was around that time that I received these words.

Morning training at the Hombu Dojo continued for seven years until my father passed away in the summer of 1980 and I moved from Tokorozawa to my parents' home in Yokohama. I look back fondly on Osawa Sensei and Yamaguchi Sensei who taught me during that time.

Osawa Kisaburo Sensei (1910-1991)

During Osawa Sensei's instruction, there are times when he asks us to take the uke of a technique. At such times, he would say, “Relax. What are you doing putting so much effort into such an old man?” He instructed us in the manner of a gentle grandfather. The slow, flowing movements and the indescribably friendly and warm atmosphere were indescribable. When his son, Hayato Sensei, had just become an uchideshi at the Hombu Dojo, Sensei told him, “This is Igarashi-san, he is the Grand Banto (Manager) of the Kobayashi Dojo, so you should practice with him.” I was his training partner. Osawa Sensei supported Kisshomaru Sensei as the Oho-Banto (Grand Manager) of the Hombu Dojo. When he passed away, he was ranked 10th dan. Now, Hayato Sensei is supporting the third Doshu Moriteru Sensei as a Oho-Banto (Grand Manager). Osawa Sensei attended the opening ceremony of Hashimoto Dojo in February 1983 as a representative of Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Thank you Osawa Sensei.

I, too, have now reached the age when Osawa Sensei said to me, "What are you doing putting so much effort into such an old man!" I would like to say the same thing to everyone in Igarashi Dojo.

Yamaguchi Seigo Sensei (1924-1996)

Yamaguchi Sensei stood out in his training and teaching with his soft techniques. After a while, when I started attending his instructional training, he began to use me as an uke. There is a big difference between watching and taking uke! There were many times when I was surprised to see him use his whole body like a flexible spring and throw me off-center. After practice, I began to take care of Sensei's hakama, and we had a lot to talk about when I brought his hakama to the high dan changing room. Sensei also had coffee at a coffee shop near the Hombu Dojo after practice, and I sometimes joined.  He would tell even a young one like me with hand gestures, “Lately, I've been thinking that when I hold down with Ikkyo, it would be better if I point the little finger upwards.” Of course, the cost of each coffee was his treat.

One morning, Ikeda Teru Sensei of the Hombu Dojo told me that Yamaguchi Sensei had passed away. Unfortunately, I could not attend Sensei's funeral because I was scheduled to teach in Scandinavia from the next day.

Yamaguchi Sensei told me to "relax" until the end! I have already reached the age at which he passed away, but I am still practicing with force. I am still inexperienced. Thank you, Yamaguchi Sensei for all your instruction over the years.

Aikido Hombu Dojo Live-In Practice

In the spring of 1976, I lived for about two months in a small room on the fourth floor behind the keiko-gi storage area, with Miyamoto Tsuruzo Sensei living on the first floor and Shibata Ichiro Sensei in a small room on the fourth floor of Hombu Dojo. The purpose of this program was not only to practice, but also to get acquainted with Doshu Sensei, and the instructors of the Hombu Dojo, and to cultivate a mindset of being a future instructor. This system was also Kobayashi Sensei's idea, as was the dispatch of uchi-deshi overseas. Looking back on it now, I can only express my gratitude for this wonderful idea.

During the past two months, I had the opportunity to practice twice with the current Doshu Moriteru Sensei, at the first practice under the teaching of Doshu Kisshomaru  Sensei.

Acupuncture and moxibustion at Toyo Acupuncture College

In February of 1974, I took the entrance examination for the "Oriental Acupuncture and Moxibustion College. Due to my lack of study, I failed the exam, and rightly so. The following February, I studied hard and passed the exam with success in February of 1975.  At the end of March, I officially left the publishing company where I had worked part-time for many years.

Toyo Acupuncture College is located near Kio Shrine, a 10-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station and from the Hombu Dojo. Classes are held Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. After morning practice at the Kodaira Dojo, Tokorozawa Dojo, and Hombu Dojo, I headed for the school as if I were flying out of the house. Students attend the school for three years; at the end of the second year, there is a national certification exam for anma, massage, and shiatsu practitioners, and at the end of the third year, there is a national certification exam for acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners. I was nervous in the practical classes for acupuncture, moxibustion, anma, massage, and shiatsu, but I couldn't stand studying at my desk and often fell asleep with my face down on the desk, and the teachers and class committee members often warned me, “Igarashi, you keep falling asleep!” When class ended at 3:00, I would rush to the dojo for teaching and practice.

Oshiyama Azuma Shihan of Aikido Toko-Juku in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, with whom I practiced at the Tokorozawa Dojo at the time, wrote the following in the Igarashi Dojo 20th Anniversary booklet about that time. “At that time, I was surprised at the harsh environment of being an uchideshi of a martial artist. Igarashi Sensei was young at the time and had plenty of physical strength, but he had a hard time fighting sleep. Yet, I never heard a single word from Igarashi Sensei about how hard or tough it was. To be honest, I thought I could never do it.”

In March 1978, I successfully graduated from "Toyo Acupuncture and Moxibustion College" and passed the national qualification examination for Anma, Massage, Shiatsu, Acupuncture, and Moxibustion practitioners. However, I started studying acupuncture and moxibustion as a side job in case I could not make a living from aikido, but I have been able to spend my life without using it until now. The knowledge of meridians and acupuncture points that I learned was very useful for my aikido practice, and it was a very meaningful three years of study.

Kobayashi Dojo Uchi-deshi Life

In September 1974, the fourth Kobayashi Dojo, Hachioji Dojo, was opened and I was made the instructor.

In the fall of the same year, the famous "saury incident" happened at Kobayashi Dojo. Kobayashi Sensei loves saury, which is a favorite autumn delicacy. Sensei is also not a big fan of milk. However, he is a big fan of ice cream with lots of milk, which is funny.

At dinner after practice at Kodaira Dojo, Sensei's wife Yasuko-san prepared his favorite dish, saury. I also love freshly grilled saury. Sensei, myself, and a short-term resident, Y-kun, were sitting around the table together, and Y-kun left out the guts of the saury, as he did not like them.  Sensei said, "That bitterness is what makes saury so tasty! Hearing this, his wife Yasuko-san immediately got some milk out of the refrigerator and poured a big dollop of it into his bowl of rice. Then she said, "You don't like milk either, do you?  Can you eat this?"  She supported Y-kun. It was a moment when we were touched by the kindness of Sensei's wife, who is truly the “Goddess of Kobayashi Dojo.” However, the two of us could not look at Sensei's face, and without looking up, we quickly finished our meal and returned upstairs to our room at once.

In early 1975, Kobayashi Sensei said, "I received a letter from Nakatani Shihan in Brazil asking me to send an instructor from Kobayashi Dojo for five years. I would like to send either Igarashi or Shikanai, so please think about it." At that time, I had already decided to get married. Shikanai-kun knew that I was planning to get married, so he immediately replied, “I'll go.” In the summer of 1975, he left for Brazil.

His contract was for five years, but until now he is still teaching and spreading Aikido as the Brazilian Aikikai Shihan.

When he left, I moved from Kodaira Dojo to Tokorozawa Dojo. After a while, I received

a letter from him. In the letter, he wrote that as soon as he arrived in Brazil, he was told by Nakatani Shihan, "You don't have to win, but never lose!" Nakaya Shihan is a famous martial arts master in Brazil who caught an attacker with a gun with his bare hands. I was immediately struck by the deep meaning of his words.

In February 1976, I married Machiko, a member of the Hachioji Dojo, with Kobayashi Sensei and Mrs. Kobayashi as godparents. I spent two and a half years at Kodaira Dojo and seven months at Tokorozawa Dojo as an uchideshi at the dojo for a total of three years and one month.

When I got married, we moved into a new apartment about a 10 min. walk from the Tokorozawa Dojo, but with daily practice, instruction, and attending acupuncture and moxibustion school, my time at home was really just sleeping.

In the midst of all this, it was decided that I would be sent to Scandinavia for one year, starting in the spring of 1978, at the request of the Swedish and Finnish Aikikai. I was already married, so I was sent to Scandinavia by myself.

By the mid-1970s, Kobayashi Dojo was becoming larger. The number of uchi-deshi had also increased, including Hatayama Kengo, Tada Kazuki, Horikoshi Haruyoshi, Tamura Tsuneo, Hasegawa Hiroyuki, and students Toda Yuji from Meiji University and Okada Osamu from Budo University.

The Teachings of Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei

In the more than 60 years of my life in Aikido, my foremost teacher has been Kobayashi Sensei. Without Kobayashi Sensei, I would not be where I am today.

A senior member of the Hombu Dojo told me that Kobayashi Sensei's training and teaching at the Hombu Dojo in his 20s was quite rough and energetic, and that he was known as the "Arahoshi (Rough Master) of the Hombu Dojo".

Kobayashi Sensei was sent by the Hombu Dojo to teach at the dojo, and his rough teaching resulted in injuries and several times an ambulance had to be called. The head of the dojo to which he was sent, could not accept such rough teaching, and often called Kisshomaru Hombu Dojo-cho, asking him to replace Kobayashi Sensei with a gentler instructor. This is unimaginable from the current Sensei.

Sensei started Judo in elementary school at Kodokan, and upon entering Meiji University, he started Aikido practice at the Aikido Hombu Dojo under the teachings of the Founder Ueshiba Morihei Sensei and the 2nd Doshu Kisshomaru Sensei. The young uchi-deshi at that time were later sent overseas and contribted to the spread of Aikido throughout the world.

In the spring of 1969, after Morihei Sensei passed away, Kobayashi Sensei opened the Kobayashi Dojo in Kodaira City, Tokyo, and in the fall of 1972, he opened the Tokorozawa Kobayashi Dojo in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. At the same time, he retired from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo to devote himself to teaching at the Kobayashi Dojo. Kobayashi Sensei has great respect for the founder, Morihei Sensei, and the 2nd Doshu Kisshomaru Sensei, and the techniques he teaches are mainly basic techniques. Kobayashi Sensei's style of teaching was once introduced as "classic" in the "Foreign Aiki Journal". It is a wonderful introduction. His parents live in front of Yasukuni Shrine in Kudan-ue, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. When he was a university student, he used to run the Imperial Palace marathon every morning and rabbit jump from Takebashi to Kudan-ue. His legs are as big as those of a bicycle racer.

Sensei has naturally been a quiet person and is not a conversationalist. But he is a very studious and well-read person. When I lived in Kodaira Dojo, I used to clean Sensei's room. There were many books stacked on the bookshelf in Sensei's room. When I took a book and flipped through it, I found many places where red lines had been drawn or sticky notes had been pasted. Words of interest were also written and saved on cards to be further organized.

As the organization has grown, Kobayashi Sensei has had to write more and more, and to greet people more often. For such occasions, I wonder if he wrote down words that would be helpful to him.

Sensei's instruction is a practice of repeating a single technique in Suwariwaza, HanmiHandachi, and Tachiwaza. He never taught us the brilliant techniques that we have seen in recent years at demonstration. He taught us, “You don't need to practice demonstrations for the sake of demonstrations!” He also told us that, “O-sensei never lifted his heels during the demonstration and his Zanshin was very beautiful,” and he also asked us to be careful of our poor posture and Zanshin.

There were many techniques performed from Sensei's well-trained lower body that we could not imitate. However, as the saying goes, “To learn is to imitate!”  And when I practiced at the Hombu dojo and other sensei's dojos. I was more than happy to hear the instructor say, “Your movements are just like Kobayashi Sensei's!”

Sensei also encouraged me to go to Hombu dojo when I had time, to visit other sensei's dojos, and to practice other martial arts. Generally, many budo sensei do not like their students to go to other martial arts or other sensei's dojos, but Kobayashi Sensei is generous in that way.

When I learned sword and jo techniques at Iwama Dojo and practiced at Tokorozawa Dojo, Sensei would watch and say, "Saito Sensei's sword and jo techniques are wonderful, and I’m going to incorporate them into practice at Kobayashi Dojo." Soon after, weapons were included in Kobayashi Dojo's examination techniques.

In the summer of 1975, Sensei accompanied Mr. Shikanai Ichitami, the first uchi deshi, to Brazil. On his way back to the U.S., he stopped by and taught at the dojo of Yamada Yoshimitsu Sensei and Saotome Mitsugu Sensei, who were already teaching and spreading Aikido in the U.S.  At that time, he strongly felt that “Aikido should be spread overseas from now on!”  The following year, in 1976, Kobayashi Sensei went to Asia, and in 1977 to Europe to teach Aikido. This connection led to the decision to send me to Northern Europe in 1978. Looking at how the Kobayashi Dojo has developed since then, both in Japan and abroad, it can be said that Sensei's foresight came true.

Around 1977, Sensei gave a special private uchideshi keiko every Friday after morning practice for about three months. I believe that Sensei must have had some special feelings about sending his uchi-deshi overseas. He taught us the techniques he had built up over many years of experience teaching in Japan and abroad. During the Q&A sessions, he taught us the theory and key points of techniques that we could not do or that were difficult to do. Thinking back on it now, it was a valuable and meaningful time. The detailed theories and physical manipulations of the techniques he taught us at that time are still of great use to me today, not to mention later when I teach overseas.

The great thing about Kobayashi Sensei is that he taught all of his uchi-deshi until they were able to have their own castle (dojo). Hatayama Kengo (8-dan), who was an uchi-deshi at the same time as me, is now teaching in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, Horikoshi Haruyoshi (8-dan) in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, and Hasegawa Hiroyuki (7-dan) in Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture, all with their own castles.

I started as an uchideshi for two years, but I felt so comfortable that I became an instructor without any hesitation. I lived and practiced at Sensei's Kodaira Dojo for two and a half years and at the Tokorozawa Dojo for seven months. I can only express my gratitude to Kobayashi Sensei and his wife for their love and warm guidance.

Whenever I see Sensei, I ask him how he is feeling, and he always replies, “I am fine, I am fine, there is nothing wrong with me!”   I also feel energized when I hear Sensei say, “I'm fine, I'm fine, there is nothing wrong with me!”

Sensei still teaches aikido mainly at Kodaira Dojo, saying "Aikido without ukemi is not aikido" and taking ukemi for his students. It is not easy for me to follow in the footsteps of the energetic Kobayashi Sensei now. For me, he will always be a great goal and a very important teacher for my future Aikido life.

In September 2024, a celebration will be held to commemorate the 70th year of Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei's Aikido practice, his 88th birthday, and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Kobayashi Dojo, and in October, a commemorative camp will be held.

Tada Hiroshi Sensei, now 94 years old, and Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei are the only two remaining Aikikikai instructors who were active as instructors under the teaching of Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, the founder, and Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei, the 2nd Doshu, at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

Memories of the teachers who guided me

I was taught by many teachers over the 61 years from April 1964, when I started training at the Meiji University Aikido Club, to March 2024. I would like to write about some of the Sensei who have left a strong impression on me.

Aikikai Hombu Dojo

Aikido instructors at the time of the Aikido Hombu Dojo were Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei, Tohei Koichi Sensei, Osawa Kisaburo Sensei, Yamaguchi Seigo Sensei, and Arikawa Sadateru Sensei, who were the oldest instructors in the Hombu Dojo. The young instructors, Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei, Saotome Mitsugu Sensei, Chiba Kazuo Sensei, Kanai Mitsuya Sensei, Tohei Akira Sensei, and others, were all unique and charismatic teachers who made the postwar Hombu Dojo thrive. Most of the younger teachers at that time were sent to teach overseas in the first half of 1965. When I was a student, I practiced at the Hombu Dojo when I did not have training at the university or on Kobayashi Sensei's instruction days. The way we practiced at the Hombu Dojo was, and still is, to practice for an hour without changing partners. If we got a good person, we are "lucky" for an hour. If we got a strong or violent person, it was an hour of "unlucky" or "hellish" training. But both were good practice. However, from that time on, Kobayashi Sensei's method of teaching was to change training partners every time there was a change of techniques. I think this was one of the reasons why Kobayashi Sensei was so popular among the younger instructors at the Hombu Dojo.

The 2nd Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei (1921-1999)

At the time I was a student, the Hombu dojo-cho, Ueshiba Kisshomaru  Sensei, was exceptional in the way he performed gracefully and powerfully despite his slender body. At that time, we called Morihei Sensei "O-Sensei" and Kisshomaru Sensei "Waka Sensei. For the dan examinations of the Meiji University Aikido Club, Kisshomaru Sensei was the head examiner at the Hombu dojo, and Kobayashi Sensei was the examiner who gave the questions. After the examination, Kisshomaru Sensei said to us, “Kiai is not necessary. Do it a little more quietly!” I still vividly remember that after the examination. In my university training, we were told, “Your voice is too quiet! Your ki is not coming out! Your kiai is small!” So, we naturally (or at times unnaturally) used our loud voices and put our kiai into our attacks, techniques, throws, and so on.

At that time, there were universities that presented brilliant demonstrations at the National Student Demonstration, as if they were in a samurai movie. In Sensei's general comment after the demonstration, he said, “Aikido is not a show.” I still vividly remember his words of warning, “Please make sure to demonstrate the results of your daily training.”

I visited Kisshomaru Sensei at Hombu dojo at every anniversary event when I was in charge of the office of Kobayashi dojo, when I was a coach and director of the Meiji University Aikido Club, and of course when I am the Igarashi Dojo-cho. He always met me in his room on the second floor of the dojo or at his home. When I was still a young aikido instructor, I visited Kisshomaru Sensei on the occasion of an anniversary event to ask him to write a letter of greeting for the opening pages of the commemorative magazine and to invite him to attend the celebration party. As usual, he was looking at the invitation card with kind eyes. Then he said, “Igarashi-kun, this letter does not allow me to attend as a Doshu.” At that moment, I felt my back straighten and my whole body break out in a cold sweat. Sensei continued to gently instruct me, without changing his gentle eyes and tone of voice, “Igarashi-kun, rewrite this part here and bring it back to me.” Instead of reprimanding me for my poor letter-writing skills, I was filled with heartfelt gratitude for the kind and gentle advice that he gave me. At the same time, my respect for Kisshomaru Sensei grew even greater. I learned the difference between “leading by severely blaming and leading by gently advising.” However, it has been several decades since then, and I still have not reached such a state; I am acutely aware of this deficiency.

Kisshomaru Sensei's instruction, as the headmaster and soke of Aikido, is centered on basic techniques. When I was under his instruction at the first morning practice in the Hombu dojo and when I watched his demonstration, I experienced a warm feeling of "peace and happiness".

I had the pleasure of accompanying Kisshomaru Sensei to the commemorative event of "Aikido Promotion Association" organized by Wu Jin Long Sensei in Taiwan in 1989. There were nearly 80 participants from Kobayashi Dojo, and I was in charge of the secretariat, so I had many opportunities to serve Sensei closely, and although it was only for a short period of three nights, it was a good experience as well as a tense one.

After that, I participated in the Kisshomaru Doshu training seminars in Iwai, Chiba Prefecture and Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture hosted by the Hombu Dojo, where I received instruction from Sensei.

Tohei Koichi Sensei (1920-2011)

   Tohei Sensei was a small man with a thick wrist that passed through the elbow and suddenly felt like a shoulder, and his hands were so thick that they felt short and could not turn when he held them. The explanation was easy to understand and focused on ki, the guiding principle being that "ki moves the body," but even though I thought I understood it, it was actually very difficult. He taught the strength of the unified body with ki, demonstrating with "the arm that does not bend" and "the body that cannot be lifted." The "unbending arm" was the one I remember the most. Sensei explained, “A fire hose, when not discharging water, would be stretched out and curled up and put away! However, when a fire breaks out and water is released from the hose all at once, the hose will harden and will not collapse even if you step on it! The force of that water is Ki!” We used to experiment with each other. Sensei's arms were thick and short, and his arms were so stiff and full of ki that they would not even move when two people tried to bend them.

　When I visited  Asai Katsuaki Sensei in Germany, he told me the following interesting episode about this "unbendable arm.”

[Asai Sensei: Tohei Sensei's "unbending arm" was of great help when I first introduced Aikido. Almost everyone was interested in it, and when I let them try it out further, they showed interest in the difference between when "ki" was in and when it was not, which helped them to understand Aikido. However, at one point, "Let me bend sensei's arm too!” and a big man like a bear appeared and challenged the "unbending arm". Sensei, of course, confidently said, “Yes, please.” However, the power of the big man was unimaginable, and the sensei's elbow began to scream, but his elbow somehow managed to hold on. However, when Sensei looked at his elbow afterward, he found that the bone had shifted and protruded a little. When Sensei asked an acquaintance about the man, he told Sensei that he was a strong man who could bend and stretch a five-sided nail or a thin iron bar with ease. I asked to see Sensei's elbow. Indeed, the bone was protruding a little outside of the elbow. And then Asai Sensei said something that left a deep impression on me. “Igarashi, next time you do it, you should say "hard-to-bend arm" instead of "unbendable arm!”]

　The way of using ki and placing ki that I learned from Tohei Sensei has become a great help to me now. He was such a strong sensei that he had fought professional wrestlers and judo champions in the U.S., and at one time there was even talk of having him fight professional wrestler Rikidozan. A short time after O-sensei passed away, he founded the Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido (Society for the Study of Ki) and became independent. He is one of the Senseis who had a large influence on my aikido.

 While I was writing about "Unbending Arms," I found an article by Ushiro Kenji Sensei in the April 2018 spring issue of "Do (formerly known as Aiki News)," a quarterly magazine published by Do Shuppan, entitled "It’s possible! You can do it! – The Potential in Humans Who Don’t Give Up –” In his article, "The Arm that Does Not Bend," Tohei Sensei taught the "unbending arm" method, and he introduced it below. Many books on "ki" written by Ushiro Sensei have been published by Do Shuppan. Please read them if you are interested.

[Ushiro Sensei: What if I pull out a water hose and turn on the faucet? It takes a considerable amount of time for the water to come out from the other side of the faucet. However, if this water hose is already filled with water, water will come out instantly. The state in which the hose is not filled with water is called "the state in which the body has stopped breathing. Conversely, the state in which the hose is filled with water is called "the state in which the body is breathing," or in other words, the state in which the body is filled with ki. The vitality and speed of a person are different when the body is in a state of breathing compared to a state in which the body is not breathing. If a water hose is filled with water, that is, if it is full of ki, the "now" is immediately transmitted to the outlet. However, if the hose is not filled with water, it will take time and the "now" will not change. ]

   Tohei Sensei has expressed that a strong state in which water is released from the hose all at once is "ki" being manifested. Ushiro Sensei expresses the time difference between when water is not in the hose, when it is full, and when it is going out. It is very interesting. The Senseis who preceded us felt very big standing up. Also, when we tried to hold the sensei's hands, at the moment we were about to attack the teachers with a Shomen or Yokomen strike, the sensei was already in a state of unity and the attacker was already in a state of control.

Saito Morihiro Sensei (1928-2002), Iwama Dojo

I did not know Saito Sensei, who is famous for "Iwama Style, Saito-ryu," when I was a university student. Saito Sensei taught Sunday practice at the Hombu Dojo in the 1930s. I heard that Kobayashi Sensei was instructed by Saito Sensei at the Hombu Dojo and when he accompanied Founder Morihei Sensei on his visits to Iwama. During my active years at the university, Kobayashi Sensei also taught me a few sword and jo techniques.

After 1970, I started receiving teaching from Sugawara Tetsutaka Sensei. At that time, Sugawara Sensei was just in the process of preparing a five-volume book on "Riai of Aikido Ken, Jo, and Taijutsu" by Saito Sensei in Iwama, and I assisted him a little in editing the book. Accompanied by Sugawara Sensei, I visited Iwama dojo to assist Saito Sensei in taking photos and conducting interviews. It was a very important time for me to be able to experience Saito Sensei's techniques and listen to his speeches. After that, I continued to participate and practice at the Sugawara Dojo Iwama Camp, which was a two day and one night dojo. I also stayed at the Iwama dojo for two or three nights on many times, receiving teaching from Saito Sensei.

Saito Sensei was still in his mid-40s, and I was impressed by his vigorous basic bodywork, Ken and Jo techniques, Kumi-Tachi and Kumi-Jo. Sensei began his instruction with Katate-dori Tenkan and Morote-dori Kokyu-ho exercises. During the instruction of these two techniques, Sensei always took the hands of each participant and taught them one by one. At Iwama Dojo, the techniques are done firmly and with full strength. The main focus is on "Hard Keiko" such that striking techniques are performed accurately and forcefully. The techniques were practiced slowly, and the focus was on teaching the basic techniques that beginners learn to throw and control their opponents. Saito Sensei's teaching was true to his words, “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

Kobayashi Sensei said, “Morihei Sensei taught Ken and Jo as he felt like it, and at the next practice class, the kata were completely different.” Saito Sensei's skill and effort in organizing and integrating these kata into a form that is easy to understand by those who practice class is a credit to him. He also said, “Nowadays, participants in overseas training seminars always bring their own Ken and Jo with them.” I believe this is a great achievement of Saito Sensei.

During my first overseas instruction in Scandinavia, which was of course Kobayashi Sensei's teaching, I benefited greatly from Saito Sensei's teaching methods.

[Recently, I have been notified by the Aikido Hombu Dojo to refrain from using swords and jo in Aikido demonstrations at the All Japan Aikido Demonstration. In the past, Kisshomaru Sensei demonstrated the first kumitachi (sword) at the All Japan Aikido Demonstration, with Moriteru Sensei. It is noted that Kisshomaru Sensei learned kendo when he was still in elementary school, and that Morihei Sensei invited Yoshikawa Soke of the Kashima Shinto Ryu for a special practice. It is written that O-sensei introduced Aiki into the kumitachi of the Kashima Shinto Ryu. It is also introduced as " kumitachi" in Kisshomaru Sensei's Aikido instructional book. In his book, Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei, who has made great efforts to spread Aikido in France, writes that "body techniques and weapon techniques are the two wheels of Aikido. I have often heard that "Aikido's movements are derived from swordsmanship!” It is a great sadness that there are not many sensei who teach sword and jo techniques these days!]

Tada Hiroshi Sensei (1929-)

Sensei is a graduate of the Waseda University Karate Club and was already sent to Italy during when I was university student, so I never received any direct teaching. However, during my time as an uchideshi at Kobayashi Dojo, I had the opportunity to instruct at the newly opened Gessouji Dojo in Kichijoji for a month while Tada Sensei was away teaching in Italy. At that time, I received special training from Tada Sensei twice in advance at Gessouji Dojo on teaching methods and breathing techniques. I then spent a day under the instruction of Tada Sensei at the Hombu Dojo during his teaching time. He was a sensei who emphasized the importance of breathing.

The breathing techniques he taught me at this time helped me later when I was sent to Scandinavia, and still helps me today. Anyway, he was a strong teacher. Kobayashi Sensei came from a judo background. Kobayashi Sensei's techniques are characterized by large moves performed from his lower body, which he trained through bunny jumps and marathons. Tada Sensei's techniques, on the other hand, are performed with tremendous power from the upper body. Kobayashi Sensei also said that Tada Sensei was the only one who could swing the thick, heavy wooden sword in the Hombu Dojo as he wished, both vertically and horizontally, and stop it exactly. Also, Asai Katsuaki Sensei from Germany said, “Tada Sensei was the only one who dropped me on my head with the Shomen-uchi Dai-Ikkyo Omote.”

When I asked Sensei, "Please let me fold your hakama," he said, "I'll do it.” When I said, “Let me carry your bag,” he would reply, "I will carry this.” He was a very neat sensei. I was surprised and impressed by his thoroughness in carrying his bag away from his body as if he was also training. When Tada Sensei returned from Italy, he invited me and my wife Machiko to a high-class restaurant in Kichijoji and treated us to a meal.

He is now 94 years old. He is still an active teacher. The current Doshu Moriteru Sensei also said, “Tada Sensei is exceptional. He is a monster!”

I hope I can continue to enjoy aikido in good health even after I pass the age of 94 like Tada Sensei.

Shirata Rinjiro Sensei (1912-1993)

Shirata Sensei was one of Founder Morihei Sensei's pre-war disciples, and I had only seen him at All Japan Aikido Demonstration. However, about 30 years ago, Oiwake Takuya-kun, a junior member of the Meiji University Aikido Club (7th dan), contacted me and said, "Igarashi-senpai, would you like to attend a weekend seminar in Fukushima with Shirata-Sensei? I know you’ve wanted to train with him for a long time.” I was delighted to participate. It was a two-day seminar on Saturday and Sunday. Oiwake-kun introduced me to the Sensei as " this is Kobayashi Sensei's student". Even for someone as young as me, Sensei said, “Kobayashi Sensei is a great Sensei. Please train hard under him.” I remember that I was even more grateful to him for his polite greeting.

He showed us powerful and flowing techniques that made us think, “This is O-Sensei's technique?” I was also impressed by his age-insensitive movements and standing posture. After training, we took an outdoor bath together at the hot spring hotel where we stayed, and I was surprised to see that he had a muscular physique, especially his thighs, which were so firm that it was hard to believe that he was almost 80 years old. We had a very pleasant time over drinks.

Oiwake-kun told me that it was because of the presence and personality of Shirata Rinjiro-Sensei that aikido in the northeastern part of Japan was united and developed. I was also greatly impressed by that. Shirata Sensei passed away a few years later. I am still grateful to Oiwake-kun for giving me a wonderful opportunity. The following are some episodes from Shirata Sensei.

[ When he was young, he was very strong with a thick neck and stocky shoulders. It is said that he could hold a bale of rice (one bale = 60 kg) in each hand and strike it like a clapper. Whenever a dojo-breaker of unknown background came to the dojo, Shirata would always take him up on it and beat him to a pulp. He followed Kaiso's instructions in various parts of the country. He was known as the 'Kirinji of the Kobukan'.]

Asai Katsuaki Sensei (1942-)

Asai Sensei's house is right in front of the Hombu Dojo, and from the time he was a small child, he sometimes saw Morihei Sensei teaching from the window of the dojo. According to Asai Sensei, "The old man used to throw blue and red devils around the dojo!”  I asked Sensei, "Who are blue and red devils?" Sensei answered, "When I started Aikido, I found out that the red devil was Tada Sensei and the blue devil was Yamaguchi Sensei!”  I am very apologetic to the two Senseis, but I thought the naming made sense. Asai Sensei was 13 years old when he entered the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. At that time, of course, there were no children's classes and no elementary or junior high school students practicing. The younger instructors called him "Katsu-chan, Katsu-chan!  and was loved by them in both good and bad ways. Sensei was said to have taken pleasure in bullying the students of the university Aikido Club who came to practice with him when he was in high school. I heard that Kobayashi Sensei joined just after Asai Sensei. Sensei was a little older than Kobayashi Sensei in Aikido. He was a Shodan in high school and a Nidan when he entered Meiji University. In Hombu Dojo, he was always being thrown by Kobayashi Sensei during his junior and senior high school years. The university he entered was Meiji University. He was disappointed because he did not know that Kobayashi Sensei was the founder and Sensei of the Aikido Club. He was promoted to Sandan while he was still a student, and to 4th dan shortly after graduation. The speed of his promotion was remarkable. He had graduated when I entered Meiji University. A senior student at the time told me, "Asai-senpai was a student champion!" was the expression. Kobayashi Sensei was the Aikido Club's director and shihan, and Asai Sensei was the assistant director, guiding the students in their training. He was a muscular, young, and energetic senpai. In October 1965, at the age of 23, he was sent to West Germany by the Aikido Hombu Dojo.

In June 1979, after I finished teaching in Scandinavia, I visited Asai Sensei in Germany and stayed at his home for four nights to practice under his instruction. The dojo was located in the city of Dusseldorf, and was a large and very nice dojo specially for aikido. The dojo had several iron bars weighing about 8 kilograms, and we swung them as part of our training. Sensei held two bars and I held one, but he swung faster and twice as many times. I was surprised at his great power.

Sensei likes to drink, and when we returned home after training, we first toasted with a glass of whiskey. I accompanied him for a drink or two, but like the swinging of the iron bar, I was completely knocked out. During that break, I was able to hear about the difficulties he faced when he first started promoting aikido in Germany. He told me that when he first arrived in Germany, he was offered membership in the Judo Federation, but he refused because Aikido is not Judo and he did not like the idea of becoming a subordinate organization of the Judo Federation. According to Sensei's story, not a few martial arts sensei from Japan who went abroad at first could not make a living from martial arts and earned their living by working as a bouncer in a restaurant or bar. Asai Sensei said, "Only I!” Sensei said with pride, he felt strongly that he never wanted to do that. Sensei told us that there was a period of time when he was eating only potatoes because his income was so low. Sensei's words moved me to think that it was through the perseverance and efforts of these senseis that the circle of aikido (harmony) has spread abroad as it has today.

When I returned to Japan, I invited Asai Sensei to teach at Hashimoto Dojo on two occasions. I asked Asai Sensei, who is always young, about the secret of his teaching. Sensei said, "I don't think Igarashi can do it! You must get a young wife!" Sensei said. Asai Sensei is still teaching in Germany and other European countries.

Sugawara Tetsutaka Sensei (1941-)

After graduating from Meiji University, Iimori-kun, a fellow Aikido Club member and Kanagawa Prefecture resident, continued his Aikido training at "Aikido-Shinryukai Aioijuku" in Sobudai, Atsugi City. Abe-kun, another fellow Aikido Club member, at "Sagamihara Budo Gakuen" in Higashirinkan, Sagamihara City. The instructor at both dojos was Sugawara Sensei, who was sent from the Aikikai Hombu as the Shihan in charge. Sensei began his Aikido at the Hombu Dojo and later became an uchi-deshi at the Iwama Dojo in Ibaraki Prefecture, under the teaching of Morihei Sensei and Saito Morihiro Sensei. At the dojo, he taught Saito Sensei's body and weapon techniques, known as "Iwama-ryu Aikido. I like body techniques, but I was very impressed by the sword and jo techniques Sensei showed me. And every chance I got, I went to his dojo. At the time, Sensei was also the president of a publishing company called "Minato Research. Before I became an uchi-deshi at Kobayashi Dojo, I was an editor at the publishing company. At the time, Sensei was working on a five-volume book entitled "Riai of Aikido Sword, Jo, and Body Techniques" by Saito Morihiro Sensei of Iwama, and I helped him a little with the editing. Because of this, I accompanied Sensei to Iwama for a photo shoot and interview with Saito Sensei. It was a very precious moment for me to be able to experience Saito Sensei's techniques and hear his stories. After that, I continued to participate in the Iwama training camp at Sugawara Sensei's dojo every year. I also stayed and practiced at Iwama dojo several times on my own. The sword, jo, and body techniques that I learned from Saito Sensei and Sugawara Sensei during these times still live on in my aikido.

Sugawara Sensei has also published "Budo Practice, Reprinted Edition" by Ueshiba　Morihei Sensei, three volumes of "Intangible Cultural Property Katori Shinto Ryu" by Otake Risuke Sensei, and four volumes of "Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do" by  Higaonna Morio Sensei. He has also published many other books related to Chinese martial arts and his own "Aikido Teaching Book".

Whenever Sugawara Sensei started Iwama Dojo or any other martial art, he always invited me, " Igarashi-san, it's a good one, why don't you join us!” and he invited me to join him. This is how I learned Katori Shinto Ryu, Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, and a little bit of Chinese martial arts. Also, about 20 years ago, I was invited to a seminar by Robert Koga Sensei of "Koga Jujitsu" in the U.S., and was given special time to practice individually at Sugawara Sensei's dojo. Koga Sensei, who studied Yoshinkan Aikido, is an active martial artist who served as a police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department for a long time and is now teaching jujutsu and arresting techniques in the U.S. called "Koga-jutsu" that he founded after retiring from the police force. At that time, I heard the shocking story that “60% of the deaths of LAPD officers while on duty are the result of being robbed and shot with their own handguns!” This was shocking. Such techniques backed up by actual combat were convincing to all who saw and experienced them. Some of the techniques taught at that time remain firmly in my body.

My experience in other martial arts is now a great legacy for my Aikido. If Kobayashi Sensei was the teacher who made me aware of the Budo, Sugawara Sensei is the teacher who made me aware of the Bujutsu. What is amazing about Sugawara Sensei is that he has the vitality to practice, research, and explore what he thinks is good, not only in martial arts, until he is completely satisfied with it. He also has the effort and talent to incorporate what he learns into his own martial arts. He has changed the name of his company to "Sugawara Budo Research Institute," and is devoted not only to the study of martial arts, but also to the study of swords and iron, and has published research papers on these subjects. From the time he was a young man, experts in the martial arts told him, “Sugawara Sensei is a builder of a martial art!”  Now, he is also recognized overseas as "Sugawara-ryu Aikido". He continues to teach in Japan and more than 40 countries overseas.

 I have recently given up trying to follow him just by staring at his back.

Ichimura Toshikazu Sensei (1942-)

Ichimura Sensei studied under Nishio Shoji Sensei (Aikikai Shihan, 8th dan) from his high school days. He entered Toyo University in 1961, and with the help of both Nishio Sensei and Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei, he founded the university's Aikido Club and became its first captain. After graduation, he was sent by the Aikido Hombu Dojo to teach in the Nordic area (Sweden, Finland, and Denmark). When Kobayashi Sensei went to Scandinavia to teach in July 1977, Ichimura Sensei requested Kobayashi Sensei to send an instructor for Sweden and Finland. In the spring of the following year, I was dispatched from Hombu Dojo to go there. However, it was difficult to obtain a work visa, and I did not depart until late September of the following year. The night I arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, I met Ichimura Sensei for the first time. I was relieved to be greeted with a smile and appreciation that I had arrived safely. Sensei had already been teaching in Scandinavia for more than 10 years and was fluent in English, Swedish, and Finnish.

Ichimura Sensei has a deep knowledge of various martial arts, Shintoism, and Buddhism, and in addition to Aikido, he also taught Iaido. He also carved Buddhist statues in his spare time. He was also a follower of Sakurazawa Jyoichi Sensei's dietary philosophy, adhering to the correct diet and not eating meat. Sensei's diet was also spread among aikido practitioners in Scandinavia, and many of them stopped eating meat. When I saw Sensei's Aikido for the first time, I was impressed by the way he used the Irimi and conversion techniques to break a large Scandinavian student's body up and down and throw the student down with great skill. Sensei had long hair, and he looked dashing as he demonstrated with his big, flowing hair, reminding me of a seeker and an ancient samurai. He also wore three black suits and sunglasses, giving him an unapproachable presence.  Sensei kindly told me, "You are Kobayashi Sensei's student, so please practice with as many people as you can.”  Sensei also told me simple Finnish and Swedish words that are often used in the dojo and in daily life, "Speak in the local language, everyone will be happy!” Sensei said and wrote down the words as he pronounced them. Then, "Good luck!” Sensei's final words were, "Drinking alcohol is never allowed during your stay in Scandinavia!”  Asai Sensei in Germany told Ichimura Sensei that he had received a strict order from Asai Sensei, "Igarashi has a bad drinking habit.”

Although I spent only nine months in Scandinavia (three months in Finland and six months in Sweden), I learned a lot from Ichimura Sensei; not only how to train and teach, but also how to interact with foreign members as a Japanese instructor.

I am deeply grateful to Sensei for the many things he taught me at that time, and for the fact that I am now able to communicate with people from other countries on friendly terms. More than ten years after my stay in Scandinavia, Ichimura Sensei returned to Christianity and is now active in Japan as a missionary.

Robert Kubo Sensei (Hawaii) and Inaba Yasuhisa Sensei (Canada)

Both Senseis were always present at every commemorative event at Igarashi Dojo. Unfortunately, Inaba Sensei passed away in 2009 at the age of 56, and Kubo Sensei passed away in 2016 at the age of 82.

I first met Kubo Sensei in 1981 when the Meiji University Aikido Club held a training camp in Hawaii. He was a third generation Japanese American and could speak a little Japanese. My first impression of Sensei was “Hawaiian at first sight.” His personality was cheerful and caring, and the Hawaiian Aikido members respected him very much. He was 11 years older than me, and through practice and the welcome party, we quickly got to know each other. Sensei began practicing Judo in high school and Aikido in college, and in 1963 he founded the Kailua Aikido Club to teach and promote Aikido while teaching high school math. After his retirement, he became an active member of the Hawaii Aikikai. In 1961, Founder Morihei Sensei visited Honolulu to commemorate the completion of the Hawaii Aikikai Hombu Dojo and built a "silver bridge" between Japan and Hawaii. The 2nd Doshu, Kisshomaru Sensei, also visited Honolulu in 1963. Kubo Sensei is one of the few teachers to have witnessed both of these historic events for the Hawaii Aikikai. In 2007, Sensei celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hawaii Aikikai by inviting 3rd Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru Sensei and Hombu Dojo-cho Ueshiba Mitsuteru Sensei as one of the responsible persons to the grand celebration.

In June 2013, Kubo Sensei's Kailua Aikido Club celebrated its 50th anniversary. That year also marked the 30th anniversary of Igarashi Dojo. After consulting with Kubo Sensei, we decided to hold a joint event in Honolulu, Hawaii. We had 60 participants from Japan, 100 from outside the U.S., and 150 from the U.S., including Hawaii, for a total of 310 people. The demonstration was held at the Miramar Hotel and the celebration was held at the Surfrider Hotel.

Kubo Sensei was promoted to 8th dan in 2015 (Heisei 27) and showed us a healthy appearance at the Aikikai Kagamibiraki Ceremony. However, we heard that he suddenly became ill after returning from Japan. In June of that year, the party for his promotion to 8th dan was held in Honolulu. From Japan, Mr. and Mrs. Kobayashi Sensei, myself, and my wife Machiko attended the celebration. By then, he had lost weight and was in a wheelchair, as if he was a different person from the one I had met at the Kagamibiraki ceremony.

During his lifetime, we were very fortunate to have him as a “brother” in Hawaii and Canada. I also had a great time at the seminar in Scandinavia, Poland, Taiwan, and Korea. Thank you very much.

Inaba Yasuhisa Sensei, an engineer working for a chemical company in Yokohama, joined and began Aikido at the Kawasaki Motosumiyoshi Kobayashi Dojo, where I taught, in 1974. With his natural cheerfulness and caring personality, he quickly became a popular member of the dojo. After a while, he began to practice on Sundays at the Hachioji Dojo as well. My wife Machiko was also a member of Hachioji Dojo at that time, so we practiced together. At Motosumiyoshi Dojo, he was promoted to Nidan. During our enthusiastic practicing, I heard from him that he was going to emigrate to Canada. It had been his dream since he was young. His decision was firm even though he had just gotten married, and he decided to emigrate in the summer of 1980. Since there was some time left before his departure, I recommended that he take a residency training program at the Kobayashi Dojo, as I thought it would be useful in Canada. In August, he left for Calgary, Canada with his wife Keiko and their newborn son Yuya. He had a hard time finding a job for a while, but he was able to find a job at Canadian Oil because of his experience at a company in Japan. At the same time, he founded the "Calgary Aikikai" at a local community center and started training there. While working at the company, he also studied acupuncture and moxibustion and successfully obtained his certification. Eventually, he left the company, rented a corner of a large warehouse, and opened a magnificent clinic on the front side and a large dojo on the back.

Kubo Sensei and Inaba Sensei attended the Igarashi Dojo 20th Anniversary Celebration and Yamanakako Training Camp in 2003. Since that time, the relationship between the three of us has grown closer. In September of the same year, Inaba Sensei, Machiko and I were invited to Kubo Sensei's "Kailua Aikido Club 40th Anniversary" and went to Hawaii. At the party, the three of us exchanged a "sake cup of brotherhood". We began a closer relationship with each other. Since then, we have deepened our relationship at every anniversary event of Igarashi Dojo, Kailua Aikido Club, and Calgary Aikikai.

In the summer of 2008, the Calgary Aikikai Summer Camp was held in Kenmore, near the city of Calgary. Kubo Sensei and I were in charge of teaching as invited instructors. At that time, Inaba Sensei spoke of his grand vision for the Calgary Aikikai's 30th anniversary, which was scheduled to take place in 2010. From Japan, Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru Sensei, Kobayashi Sensei, Arai Toshiyuki Sensei, and myself. From overseas, Kubo Sensei from Hawaii, Asai Sensei from Germany, and others. He invited many teachers and held a grand seminar, demonstration, and celebration. However, he collapsed at the end of August, less than a month after the seminar. He passed away in January of the following year. I attended his funeral, and noticed that his big body and face had shrunk.

In his will, he said that he wanted to sleep on a hilltop with a clear view of the Canadian Rockies after his death, and that part of his remains be scattered in the ocean in his beloved Hawaii. He is now resting on a hilltop outside of Calgary with a view of the Canadian Rockies, just as he wished.

As mentioned above, the 30th anniversary of Igarashi Dojo and the 50th anniversary of Kubo Sensei's Kailua Aikido Club were jointly held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2013. Another of Inaba Sensei's wishes was fulfilled at this time. A total of 30 people including Inaba Sensei's family, Kobayashi Sensei and his wife, Kubo Sensei and his wife, my wife and I, and members of Calgary Aikikai and Kailua Dojo boarded a chartered boat from Waikiki Beach to say a final farewell to Inaba Sensei off Waikiki.

Now I am saddened by the passing of my eldest brother, Kubo Sensei, and my youngest brother, Inaba Sensei.

Yokoyama Shigeru Sensei

　When I was an uchi-deshi student at Kobayashi Dojo, Yokoyama Sensei would come to the Hombu dojo for morning practice between the first and second practice times and throw the rest of the dojo members by hand. He would lead us around with his fingers and throw us at angles we never imagined, so it was hard to get used to it. It was very good practice of ukemi. Yokoyama Sensei (8th dan) is the president of Yokoyama Motors in Shibuya, and he opened the Aikido Shibuya Dojo on the second floor of his company, where he also teaches Aikido. Apart from this, Yokoyama Sensei was also very famous for climbing Mt. Fuji nearly 1,000 times. Kobayashi Sensei knew him well, and Kobayashi Dojo used to hold a regular summer event in which participants were requested to climb Mt. Fuji I joined the event as a matter of course from the year I became an uchi-deshi in 1973. I think I have climbed the mountain six or seven times. The climbing was scheduled for the first week of August. We would meet at Yokoyama Dojo in Shibuya a little after noon and take Yokoyama Sensei's company bus to the fixed lodging at the 5th station of Mt. Fuji. We would arrive at around 8:00 p.m., are treated to delicious soba noodles, and take a nap until midnight. When we wake up, it is time to climb. Each of us, with a flashlight illuminating our footsteps, proceeded slowly, step by step, to the sound of Yokoyama Sensei's voice echoing from his stomach, " Ich, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi.” On the way up the mountain, people who were climbing quickly said to us, "What's going on?”  They look at us like we're crazy and say, "What's with this group of people going slowly while calling out numbers?” But, on the other hand, they are not!　An hour or two later, the group of people who had been making fun of us were sitting on the side of the trail. At the same time, I was amazed at the strength of the breathing of Yokoyama Sensei. Whenever anyone showed even the slightest sign of fatigue, Sensei would have them rest on the side of the path and give them a cup of tea leaves that he had brought with him to put in their mouths. After a short rest, we began climbing again to the sound of Sensei's voice, " Ich, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi," as we slowly went step by step up the mountain. When you reach the eighth or ninth station, it is time for sunrise. This is the moment when the surrounding scenery changes beautifully all around. Once you see the sunrise, the summit is near. The ascent took 7 to 8 hours, but it took less than 2 hours to return to the lodge at the fifth station. From the fifth station to the summit, Yokoyama Sensei kept repeating the numbers " Ich, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi" without pausing for breath or rest. When I asked Yokoyama Sensei about this, he replied, "This is the breathing method of Aikido!”  I thought at the time that this was something I could not imitate, even though he had climbed a thousand times before.

However, it is amazing how adaptable the body is, because the altitude sickness felt on the first and second climbs is gone by the third climb.

On the fifth climb, one of the dozen or so participants became very sick and could not climb the mountain. Yokoyama Sensei suddenly said, "I'll take care of him, and you, Igarashi-kun, you are already experienced, take the others to the top." I was not really confident, but Sensei said, "I'm going to take care of this person.” I had no confidence in myself, but I was able to lead the participants to the top and climb up to the top, step by step, slowly, with the numbers " Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi,". I was able to understand one aspect of what Yokoyama Sensei calls "breathing power and breathing techniques.” This experience of climbing Mt. Fuji became one of my greatest treasures.

About Overseas Instruction 

　For me, my first overseas experience in Taiwan, which I will describe later, and my long-term overseas instructing in Scandinavia were very valuable experiences. I have great memories of my time as an uchi-deshi at Kobayashi Dojo, and they are important experiences that have formed the base and foundation of my present Aikido practice and teaching.

My first time abroad in Taiwan

In February 1978, Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei, Director and Shihan of the Meiji University Aikido Club, had the idea to have members “experience foreign countries through Aikido”. The first overseas camp was held for one week in Taipei, Taiwan, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the club.　

Kobayashi Sensei was the chief instructor and I was an assistant instructor, with a total of 25 members, including students, at the Taipei City Aikido Club dojo in the  Elementary School in Datong District, Taipei City. The instructor for Taiwan was Lee Ching-Nan Sensei, the father of Aikido in Taiwan.

Kobayashi Sensei was staying at a nearby hotel. The students and I stayed at the underground dojo in the school yard of the elementary school with our sleeping bags. At the banquet, I experienced a Taiwanese toast for the first time. At that time, "toasting and drinking in one shot" was a common practice at student banquets, and the Taiwanese toast was no different from "drinking in one shot". However, the Taiwanese toast continues without stopping until the word " Suui" is said. For someone like me, who loves to drink and have a good time, this was a great experience.　

Sensei Wu Jin-lung and Sensei Chen Pi-ching, who were very kind to me during this camp, were like brothers to me for many years before they passed away. Because of this relationship, I am still friends with everyone in the Taiwanese Aikikai.

First overseas instruction in Sweden and Finland

As my first overseas instruction, I stayed in Sweden and Finland from September 1978 to May 1979. The person responsible for teaching in both countries was Ichimura Toshikazu Sensei. Sensei studied under Nishio Shoji Sensei (Aikikai Shihan 8th dan) from his high school days. He entered Toyo University in 1961, and with the help of Nishio Sensei and Kobayashi Sensei, he founded the university's Aikido Club and became its first captain. After graduation, he was sent by the Aikido Hombu Dojo to teach in the Nordic region (Sweden, Finland, and Denmark).

When Kobayashi Sensei visited Scandinavia to teach in July 1977, Ichimura Sensei requested Kobayashi Sensei to send an instructor to Sweden and Finland. In the spring of the following year, I was to go there, but I could not easily receive a work visa and was not able to depart until September 25. Before my departure, I visited Doshu Kisshomaru Sensei and received a dispatch permit.

The round-trip travel expenses paid to me by both Scandinavian countries was 100,000 yen. At that time, air travel was still very expensive. At that time, a young person's trip to Europe consisted of a ship from Yokohama to Nakhodka, Russia, and then a one-week to 10-day train ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway. I chose to add my own expenses and fly a little more luxuriously, using French Airlines to enter Sweden with a transfer to Paris. The round-trip airfare at the time was 250,000 yen.

Stockholm, Sweden

On the plane from Narita, I remembered the words of Nakatani Sensei that I had read in a letter from  Shikanai-kun : "You don't have to win, but don't ever lose!” I was anxious and nervous about my first overseas instruction. After flying to Anchorage, America, and Paris, France, I arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, on the evening of the 27th. I was warmly welcomed by Ichimura Sensei, and it was a moment of relief that I had safely completed my first long trip.

The next day, I had my first practice in the city of Uppsala. Then, on the evening of the 29th, Sensei, a dozen Swedish members, and I took a large cruise ship to Turku, Finland, where my introductory training seminar was to be held. On board the ship, Sensei ordered me to undergo a rigorous training.

Sauna Contest: A sauna competition was held on board the ship by order of Sensei. Finland is the birthplace of sauna. When Finns build a house, they start with a sauna. Sauna competitions are very common in Finland, where people compete to see who can stay in the sauna the longest. The winner is the strongest and the most respected. Sensei told me, "An Aikido Sensei has to be strong in everything that they do. If you leave the sauna before the rest of us, you will be sent home immediately. In Finland, the sauna is heated by a heater, on top of which many special stones are placed, and water is poured over them with great force. The hot steam spreads throughout the sauna room with a loud "shoowaa" sound, and the entire body is overcome by the heat. In no time at all, sweat begins to pour out from the entire body. Breathing becomes difficult. How long could I keep it up?　I was relieved when Mouliko-san (now a Norwegian 7th dan Shihan), who had fought to the end, left the sauna.

After a short pause, I also exited the sauna and entered the shower room, and to my surprise, everyone who had competed in the sauna competition was waiting for me. And they applauded. From this moment on, I fell in love with the Nordic Aikido people. At the same time, I became more determined to practice hard for the sake of the Nordic Aikido members.

Turku, Finland

The two-day weekend seminar started on Saturday, September 30. Nearly a hundred tatami mats were arranged in the junior high school gymnasium, where about 60 participants from all over Finland were sitting on the floor, waiting. I had a silent meditation and then greeted the picture of Morihei Sensei in front of us. It was my first time to teach abroad. As I stood up for warm-up exercises, I was amazed at how tall and big the Finnish people were. I couldn't see the wall behind them. It was a tense moment. Then I remembered the great advice Kobayashi Sensei had given me when he sent me to Scandinavia. He taught me to start with sitting techniques (Zagi).

From a seated position, there is not much difference between me and them, who have a higher sitting height. And next, Ushirowaza techniques. I don't have to watch them from the front. It was excellent advice.

Ichimura Sensei and I took turns teaching four times during the two day seminar. On Sunday evening, "my introduction and seminar" was successfully completed. Sensei returned to Stockholm by night boat. I went to Helsinki in a member's car. The accommodation for the month was a two-bedroom apartment in a small town outside of Helsinki, offered to me by a young couple, Pertti-san and Marja-san. I have continued to have a close relationship with the two of them.

Finland is known in Japan as the “Country of Forests and Lakes.” The population is about 6 million. The capital city of Helsinki has a population of just under 600,000. Helsinki is a beautiful old city with many historical buildings and, as popular rumor has it, many forests and lakes. Finland has a long history of being occupied by Sweden and Russia, and has great respect for Japan and the Japanese, who once won a war against Russia. In Finland, there was a beer called "Togo".

My stay in Finland was four weeks in Helsinki, one week in Kuopio, and two weeks in Turku.  On the 2nd of October, I finally started my life of teaching abroad by myself.

Helsinki, Finland

It takes about 30 minutes by city bus from my apartment to the Olympic Stadium where the Dojo is located. Both buses and trains are larger and longer than those in Japan, and as in a social welfare country, getting on and off the buses is very easy. They are also very well equipped to accommodate baby carriages and wheelchairs. What I also found wonderful was that when a person with a baby carriage or wheelchair arrived, all the passengers helped each other to get on and off the bus. I felt the difference in education for welfare.

The Finnish Aikikai is now on its 10th year of establishment, and two Nidan and about 10 Shodan students have grown up. There are only a few dojos and organizations in a few cities in Finland. In Helsinki, I instructed at the oldest martial arts club in Finland, Meidokan, located in the Olympic Stadium. The dojo offers Judo, Karate, and Aikido training. The dojo is decorated with pictures of Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, Kano Jigoro Sensei (Judo), and Funakoshi Gichin Sensei (Karate).

The stadium is equipped with a dojo, large and small gymnasiums, sauna rooms, and a heated swimming pool. I was very impressed with Finland, which is indeed a social welfare country. There are two classes in the evenings from Tuesday to Friday, and a training seminar on the weekends during my stay. Mondays are off, but I would go to a dojo outside of the city if they wanted me to teach.

There was only one Japanese restaurant, Yokohama, in Helsinki. Japanese tea alone costs 300 yen and miso soup 500 yen. But whenever I missed Japanese food, I visited there once every 10 days. Of course, I usually buy food at the supermarket and cook for myself. I found some Japanese soy sauce at a supermarket near where I live and immediately bought it. Miso (soybean paste) was not sold there.

The main instructor at Meidokan then was Juhani Laisi Nidan (currently 7th dan Shihan), a large, experienced Judo instructor with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of the martial arts. There were more than 60 other members, including Börje Linden shodan (currently 7th dan Shihan) and Harri Rautila shodan (currently 7th dan Shihan), as well as other dan members. Jukka Helminen (currently 7th dan Shihan), with whom I am still in close contact, was still a white belt. When I ended my month-long teaching in Helsinki without any problems, Juhani Nidan, the main instructor, said to me, "One month went by too fast!"

I was very happy to hear his heartfelt words.

Kuopio, Finland.

At the end of October, with the first snow falling in Helsinki, I took my first train trip from the central station to Kuopio City, my next place of instruction. As we headed north, I could see from the train window that there was already snow on the ground. Kuopio City is a beautiful small city surrounded by lakes in central Finland, about 600 km north of Helsinki. I stayed at the home of Marja-san, the head of Kuopio Aikikai. In Kuopio, I enjoyed Marja-san's homemade cooking with her husband and their adorable 5-year-old boy.

Training began the next morning. The dojo was located in the suburbs about 20 minutes by car from the center of the city, in a large rocky hill that had been hollowed out like a tunnel to serve as a nuclear shelter. I thought this was indeed Finland, which is located on the border with Russia. The entrance door is large and thick, and there are several layers of heavy doors leading to the inside. The inside is very wide, and during normal times, it is a community facility, complete with a meeting hall, a coffee shop, a judo hall, and various other sports activities facilities. The practice class schedule for about a week consisted of two morning classes, two evening classes, and a day off on Fridays. On weekends, training seminars and demonstration events were organized. There are about 40 members. There were two 1st kyu, three 2nd kyu, a few 3rd and 4th kyu, and the rest were beginners. The city of Kuopio is known for its winter sports, with ski slopes and ski jumps in the suburbs.

Turku, Finland

I stayed in Turku for two weeks. Turku is the second largest city in Finland and has a beautiful historic cityscape, a large church along the Aura River that runs through the center of the city, and a great old city with many sailing boats and yachts moored along the river, making it a great place to explore. Large boats with restaurants and hotels are also moored along the river. The Turku Castle near the harbor gives the impression of medieval times.

The dojo is in the same school gymnasium as when I first visited. Practice is on Thursday, Monday and Wednesday: once in the morning and once in the evening. Tuesday and Friday are twice a night. On weekends, training seminars are held all day long. It is quite a hard schedule. As I thought, there were no dan-level practitioners, and Pertti-san and Maiju-san, who are in charge, are 1st kyu, and there are about 50 members.

I met with Pertti-san and Maiju-san for the first time in five weeks. In a conversation with them, they said, "A month ago, when we first met, we thought Igarashi Sensei did not speak English. But sensei speaks very good English now!” and the three of us burst into laughter.

When I first came to Scandinavia, I could only speak a little English. After graduating from university, I had not spoken English for 10 years. However, after 5 weeks in Helsinki and Kuopio, my English skills seemed to have improved and I was able to converse a little.

Petteri-san (presently a Shihan 7th dan), with whom I am still in close contact, was a 14 years old junior high school student at the time.

On November 19, the weekend seminar was successfully completed, and the teaching schedule in Finland was over with no problems. In the evening, I met up with Ichimura Sensei, who had finished his teaching seminar in Helsinki, at the port of Turku, and we headed for Stockholm, Sweden, on a cruise ship.

Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden is famous in Japan as the country of the Vikings. With a population of just under 10 million, the capital city of Stockholm, with a population of 1 million, is the largest metropolis in Scandinavia. Many historic buildings remain in and around the city, including the Royal Palace of King Carl XVI Gustaf. Gamla Stan (old town), where the royal palace is located, is a sightseeing spot with many buildings from the Middle Ages, including churches. The Nobel Museum is also located in this town.

In the early morning of the 20th, we arrived safely at the port of Stockholm and were welcomed by Mr. Sven, the president of the Swedish Aikikai. At the apartment of Mr. Bertil, a member of Södra Aikikai, in the suburbs of Stockholm, where I would stay until the end of April next year. I was first given a personal number card by Mr. Sven. In Sweden, every citizen is given a number upon birth. Since I am also in the country on a work visa, I will naturally be given a personal number. And I have to carry that card with me at all times. It is like the My Number Card in Japan.

Bertil-san's apartment, where I lived, was located in Orminge Central, about 30 minutes from the bus terminal in Slussen, which is in the center of the city. There is a large supermarket in the center of town, and a shopping mall with many stores on the second floor. Surrounding the large shopping center are dozens of five-story apartment buildings.　

During my stay in Stockholm, I was cooking for myself. Supermarkets sell rice and soy sauce. Japanese foods were also available at Seiko-en near Stockholm Central Station, and I thought my dining menu was beginning to expand.

I stayed in Stockholm until the end of April 1979. I was teaching at two organizations, Stockholm Aikikai and Södra Aikikai, both of which belong to the Swedish Aikikai. I would teach at Stockholm Aikikai on Mondays and Wednesdays, at Södra Aikikai on Tuesdays and Fridays, and on Thursdays I would have a day off. In addition, joint seminars with Ichimura Sensei or my own seminar were arranged on weekends.

The Stockholm Aikikai is the oldest Aikido organization in Sweden, celebrating its 15th anniversary, and has a large number of members, including many Dan students, such as Sahlen Nidan and Roland Nidan, who are responsible for the organization.  Södra Aikikai is the 2nd oldest organization and has many Dan, kyu students, and beginner members, including Lennart Larsson Shodan, who is responsible for the organization. I am still in close contact with members Bertil-san and Magnus-san.

The Södra Aikikai dojo is located in the Farsta Sports Hall in the suburb of Stockholm. The Stockholm Aikikai Dojo is also located in a community facility and specializes in Aikido. Sweden is also a social welfare country, and I was amazed at the excellence of the community facilities in each area. Large and small gymnasiums, judo halls, swimming pools, weight training facilities, saunas, and more. They are truly magnificent. After my first training at both dojos, I was impressed by the members' openness to practice and their willingness to learn from me.

It started to get dark at 3 p.m., and by 5 p.m. it was pitch-dark. The long winter, which is unique to Scandinavia, has arrived. Young Lennart Nidan, Urban-san, and Ulf-san, with whom I am still in close contact today, used to attend my teaching. At the time, I think Urban-san and Ulf-san were 4th kyu.

Shortly after December, Ichimura Sensei introduced me to Tomita Seiji Sensei (6th dan), who was opening a dojo for Aikido in Stockholm. Tomita Sensei is a graduate of Kanagawa University in the Aikido club, and is one year older than I was. After graduating from university, he practiced as a live-in uchideshi at Iwama Dojo. Sensei's dojo was located in the center of the city, in a corner of a district lined with luxury houses. The dojo was spacious and magnificent, more than 50 tatami mats in size, complete with a watching area and a coffee room. During my stay, I visited Tomita Sensei's dojo several times. Each time, I was treated to a meal at the Samurai, a fine Japanese restaurant near the dojo. Of course, it was due to Tomita Sensei's efforts, but I learned that it is possible to become rich in Aikido. I was also introduced to Shimizu Sensei and Suzuki Sensei, who taught Karate in Sweden, and Komaki Sensei, who taught Kendo and Iaido, and they were a great help to me during my stay in Stockholm.

From December 30, after the Christmas vacations in December, to January 1, 1979, an over-the-year practice class was held in the city of Uppsala.

The temperature in Stockholm was -18°C , but when I arrived in Uppsala it was -28°C. On the 30th, there were four one-hour practice classes. The first practice was held on the river in front of the dojo, where the temperature was -28°C and the river was completely covered with thick ice. We formed a circle on the ice and practiced basic jo while walking. We practiced class wearing warm winter clothes under our keiko-gi, as well as a hat and gloves. At first I did not wear gloves or a hat. In no time at all, my hand became stuck to the stick. On the 31st, we practiced class three times for two hours each. It was -26°C during the day and -30°C at night. At midnight, we stopped practice class and celebrated the new year with Ichimura sensei's call. This event was reported in the Uppsala Newspaper on the following day.

On January 1, I returned home after the New Year's practice class. Unlike in Japan, there is no New Year's holiday here in this country. Practice classes begin on the following day, January 2. As I was getting used to life in Stockholm, I decided to start studying English in my free time during the day, so I enrolled in an English conversation school in the center of the city, the British Institute, and took lessons twice a week. I continued to attend the English school until the arrival of my wife Machiko in late March.

Accompanied by Ichimura Sensei, I attended a training seminar in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, from February 17 to 18. Two practice classes a day, 4 practice classes in 2 days. I also had the opportunity to teach twice. Each training seminar was attended by 20 to 30 people, who practiced with great enthusiasm. Copenhagen was a beautiful old city with a long history.

From March 31 to April 1, a weekend training seminar was held in a town outside of Stockholm. The 31st  was the day my wife Machiko arrived from Japan. I requested that the training seminar be finished in the early afternoon, so I could pick her up at the airport in a member's car.

Even in April, there were many snowy days and temperatures below zero. However, the sun began to rise earlier and earlier each day, and I began to feel the brightness and warmth of the sun on my body, which I had never felt in Japan. The long, dark winter that is unique to Scandinavia is over, and spring has arrived. The snow began to melt little by little in sunny areas, the ground began to show its face, and flowers and grasses began to bloom.

From April 13 to 16, I went to Helsinki on a cruise ship on April 12 with 10 members from Stockholm, including Ichimura Sensei, Machiko and myself, to lead an Easter camp in Helsinki, Finland. We arrived at the port of Helsinki early in the morning of the 13th and immediately went to the training hall in the Olympic Stadium, the dojo of the seminar. We practiced 3 times a day, 12 times in 4 days. I took turns teaching with the Ichimura Sensei. After the Easter Camp, we took a cruise ship to Stockholm on the evening of the 16th, arriving in Stockholm early in the morning of the 17th and returning home. I started practicing in the evening without any time to rest.

On April 28-29, the last training and seminar in Sweden was held with Ichimura Sensei at the Farsta Sports Hall dojo.

Teaching Again in Finland

This time we stayed in Kuopio for a week, Turku for another week, and Helsinki for two weeks. By the time mid-May rolls around, the sun rises early and the sun is shining brightly after 4:00 in the morning.

While we were in Turku, during the weekend of 12th-13th, Swedish Aikikai held a "Seminar by Asai Katsuaki Shihan (Germany), Ichimura Toshikazu Shihan (Sweden), Tomita Seiji Shihan (Sweden), and Igarashi Shidoin" in Stockholm. The seminar was held four times a day, and the above four instructors took turns teaching.

I was reunited with Asai-Senpai after a long time and was allowed to take Asai-Sensei's uke at the demonstration on Saturday. At the party that night, I drank beer with alcohol for the first time in a long time with the permission of Asai Sensei and Ichimura Sensei. I promised Asai Sensei that I would visit Germany in June, and took an early morning flight back to Turku City on the 14th.

After training and teaching at the Turku Aikikai until the 18th, the members drove to Helsinki in the early morning of the 19th. After arriving in Helsinki, I had a weekend seminar until the 20th without a break. As this was my last teaching session in Scandinavia, there were many participants from all over Finland and even from Sweden.

In late May, the sun rises around 3:00 in the morning, the morning sun shining through the window reminds us of the midsummer sun, and daylight hours gradually lengthen. On the 31st, the last practice class in Finland. After the practice class, they held a grand farewell party. The nine months of teaching in Finland and Sweden since last year have come to a peaceful ending. The toast at the farewell party was exceptional.

Traveling in Europe

After all the teaching in Scandinavia was over, I traveled with my wife Machiko to Denmark, West Germany, Holland, England, and France from June 1 to June 16, when we returned to Japan. Here, I would like to write down some of my memories of West Germany and France.

1. Dusseldorf, West Germany

Asai Katsuaki Sensei, who had a dojo in Dusseldorf, had graduated when I entered Meiji University. In the fall of 1965, at the age of 23, he was sent to West Germany by the Aikido Hombu Dojo.

I stayed at Asai Sensei's home for four nights and was asked to practice at Sensei's Dojo. Hatayama Kengo-san, a Kobayashi Sensei dojo dispatched teaching instructor, had also been practicing at Asai Sensei's Dojo for the previous six months.

In Dusseldorf, there is a Japanese trading company and many Japanese restaurants. Asai Sensei said, "There are not many Japanese restaurants in Northern Europe, so Igarashi must want to eat Japanese food," and Machiko and I were treated to a delicious Japanese meal.

Asai Sensei advised me, "If you go to Paris, practice at Noro Masamichi Sensei's Dojo.”

Sensei also told me, "Right now, Igarashi is better than Hatayama-kun in Aikido, but by the time he returns to Japan, I will train him up and make him stronger than Igarashi.  Igarashi should practice as hard as you can so that you don't lose to him!”

Asai Sensei is still teaching in Germany and other European countries.

2. Paris, France

In Paris, we took a half-day city tour by bus. We also visited the famous Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre Museum. On the last day in Paris, we visited Noro Masamichi Sensei's Dojo near Paris North Station and asked him to give us a practice.

The dojo is about 60 tatami mats in size, and we had two practice times. The first practice was mainly for beginners, and the second practice times were divided into four corners: 1: beginners, 2: intermediate (3 kyu and above), 3: advanced ("yudansha"), and 4: special yudansha, all of whom practiced the same techniques under Noro Sensei's instruction. However, the Yudansha in the fourth corner are a special class where participants practice hard and master the techniques and joints completely without "clapping their hands!”  I am in the 4th corner. By that time, my joints had been trained to the point that they did not hurt, but the only thing that made me clap my hands was when I was twisted down to the tatami mat while deciding on my elbows in Shiho-nage.

Asai Sensei's dojo practice class is the same as Noro Sensei's teaching, thoroughly exercising my joints as part of the warm-up exercise. The Yudansha who are allowed into the fourth corner are almost always those for whom joint techniques do not work. The reason is that joint techniques tend to make uke hard out of fear if we think they are painful.

During the teaching of Zagi Shomen-uchi Dai-Ikyo, Noro sensei came up to me and said, "Your movements are just like Kobayashi Sensei's!” He continued, "Since Kobayashi-san has a strong lower body, he is able to do that movement, and Igarashi-kun, you should do it like this as the basic way!” Sensei directly showed me how to do it. Thank you very much.

I've learned a lot from teaching abroad

During my nine months of teaching overseas, most of the practice class members were serious and sincere in their approach to Aikido, but of course, since it is a martial art, there were some who took a challenging attitude or were overly competitive, and I had my difficulties and some frustrations. I felt my inexperience very keenly, but I somehow managed to get through it by making full use of the "basic techniques and body manipulation" taught to me by Kobayashi Sensei and other sensei. I am grateful to my sensei and my practice class partners for this experience, which has been very useful for me. I am grateful to my teachers and also grateful to my training partners.

Even now, the first time I visit a country or a dojo for the first time, I feel anxious and nervous about the first practice class. Now, I sometimes like this feeling of nervousness. This time abroad has given me great strength and hope for my new life in Aikido.

On June 16, early in the morning on my last day abroad, I took a France Airlines flight from Paris-Orly airport to Tokyo via Anchorage. On the afternoon of June 17, we arrived at Narita Airport without any problems.

It was a time when I again felt a strong appreciation for Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei, who sent me to study abroad for a long period of time while the Kobayashi Dojo was developing widely.

Restarting as an instructor at Kobayashi Dojo

Immediately after returning to Japan, I visited Aikikai Hombu Dojo Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei to report on my return to Japan and the current situation there. He gave me warm words of encouragement.

The following week, after greeting Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei and his wife, I went looking for an apartment near the Tokorozawa Dojo. I found an apartment near Shin-Tokorozawa Station and moved in late June. At the same time, I returned to the same life as before.

During my stay abroad, Kobayashi Dojo had been getting bigger and bigger, and more dojos were added to Higashimurayama city, Hino city, Chofu city, Higashikurume city, Kasukabe city in Saitama prefecture, and in Kawagoe city. In addition to the Motosumiyoshi and Hachioji dojos, I would be teaching at the Tokorozawa, Kasukabe, Higashimurayama Renshinkan, and Hon Kawagoe dojos.

After I returned from Scandinavia in the fall of 1979, Kobayashi Dojo began to receive applicants for uchi-deshi from overseas. The first was Mr. Ove from Sweden, and the second was Mr. Bento from Brazil, a student of Shikanai Shihan. They each lived in Tokorozawa Dojo for three months and practiced diligently. Next were Lennart-san (2nd dan), Urban-san, and Ulf-san from Sweden. They were so impressed by my Aikido teaching during my stay in Scandinavia that they decided to train in Japan. I was very happy to hear this from them.

They rented an apartment near the Tokorozawa Dojo and practiced diligently for a year. Before returning to Sweden, Urban-san and Ulf-san took a shodan test and passed.

After returning to Sweden, they opened "Iyasaka Dojo" in Stockholm, Sweden, where they continue to practice and teach diligently. Urban-san, in particular, is presently teaching and spreading Aikido in Sweden and other parts of Europe as a 7th dan Shihan.

Memorable Demonstrations

1. Demonstration with a real sword

During my university student days, I did two real sword fighting demonstrations with my club friend Iimori-kun, the first was at the university festival in the fall of my junior year, and the second was at the martial arts club introduction demonstration at the enrollment ceremony held at the Nippon Budokan when I was a senior. I was a real sword fighter, but Iimori-kun was also very good. I cut my finger a little when I retracted the sword, but we were both able to do it without serious injury.

I am in a cold sweat when I think back on it now. Now, I am too scared to perform with real swords. However, I think there is nothing to be afraid of when being young.

2. 3rd Dan Promotion Examination

In mid-November 1973, Kobayashi Dojo's uchideshi Shikanai-kun, myself, and Ishigaki Haruo-san, an OB of Saitama University Aikido Club who teaches in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, took an examination for 3rd dan promotion at the Hombu dojo. On the day of the examination, each of us was accompanied by two or three students who would be our Uke. However, Yamaguchi Seigo Sensei, the chairman of the examination committee on the day, told us, “The three of you should take turns as Uke!” Of course, all three of us were young and full of energy, as well as being instructors. I don't remember exactly what happened during the examination, but by the time it was over, Shikanai-kun had a bloody nose, Ishigaki-san had a stubbed finger, and I had dislocated my right pinky toe. These facts show just how hard the examination was. All three of us passed the examination. I can still talk about this topic when the three of us get together. 60 years of practice and many demonstration later, I can say that the dan promotion examination was, to this day, the best and strongest performance of my life in Aikido.

3. Demonstration with a knife

In Stockholm, Sweden, a Japanese exhibition was held at a Toyota dealership in the city, and Aikido was to be demonstrated. I was asked to do Tanto-dori and brought an imitation sword with me for the demonstration. However, I was told by the person in charge that he had a knife and that I should use it for the demonstration. During the demonstration, I cut my hand a little due to my carelessness. Japanese knives are single-edged, so if performed in a normal situation, there is no chance of cutting one's hand. However, the knife was a double-edged survival knife. The slight bleeding made the demonstration somewhat more exciting for the audience, but for me it was a moment of inexperience. Since then, I have had several opportunities to perform Tanto-dori with a knife, but I have learned to check the shape of the knife first.

4. All Japan Aikido Demonstration 2019

Around the time I received my 6th dan, I began to participate in the All Japan Demonstration held at the Nippon Budokan as an individual performer. The May 2019 demonstration was the first time I participated in such a big event after receiving my 8th dan rank. One month before the event, I felt a little handicapped due to a black curtain over half of my right eye, which limited my vision. I was relieved to be able to finish the performance peacefully, even though I was anxious about the Suwariwaza, Hanmi-handachi-waza, and Tachi-waza. However, this was my last demonstration with both eyes. The next day, I lost sight in my right eye.

Founding of Igarashi Dojo (Hashimoto)

In the summer of 1980, my father passed away suddenly at our hometown in Niigata while on a return trip. I was worried about asking my mother to live alone, so we moved from Tokorozawa to my parents' house in Yokohama. I commuted from my parents' house, although it was a little far to go to the teaching dojo.

My parents' house is located on top of a small hill, a 10 min. walk from Idogaya Station, which is 10 min. from Yokohama on the Keihin Kyuko Line. As my mother was getting older, she began to feel inconvenienced by shopping at the supermarket in front of the station and going up and down the hill every time she went out.

After two years of living like this, I boldly told my mother, "I want to sell this house and build a house with Aikido Dojo in a convenient location!” However, my mother had lived in this house for many years. She immediately replied, "If that's what you want to do, then go ahead!”

At that time, I was using the Yokohama Line for teaching at the Hachioji Dojo. There were also four Hashimoto-based members at the Hachioji Dojo. And my wife Machiko's parents lived in Hashimoto. They said, "If you are going to open a dojo, please come to Hashimoto!" I accepted their offer. And the search for a house proceeded at a rapid pace. I was introduced to a few properties and chose the present house from among them.

At that time, Hashimoto was still a small town in the countryside, with a one-story station building and only one exit, the north exit, and trains running only three or four times an hour in the morning and evening during commuting and once an hour during the day. The Keio Sagamihara Line was scheduled to be extended to Hashimoto in the near future, however, it still stopped at Keio Tama Center. The house is a 10 min. walk from the station, surrounded by fields, rice paddies, and chestnut trees, where dragonflies dance, cicadas sing, and frogs croak in the summer. Nearby is the Sakai River, which flows along the border between Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures, and is full of nature, with large carp, crucian carp, and other small fish swimming in groups.

Construction began in September and was completed in late December. I moved from Yokohama on the day the end of the year was approaching, with the help of a member who lives in Hashimoto and an active member of the Meiji University Aikido Club.

I asked Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei to write "Aikido" on the front of the dojo. The signboard of the dojo was written "Aikido Hashimoto Dojo" by Kobayashi Sensei. The following year, on January 9, 1983, I started practice class. It was a lively first practice class with the participation of the Motosumiyoshi Dojo, the Hachioji Dojo, and the current members of the Meiji University Aikido Club.

On February 11 (National Foundation Day), the "Aikido Hashimoto Dojo Opening Ceremony" was held under clear, cloudless skies. From the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Osawa Kisaburo Sensei, the Dojo-cho, attended the ceremony as a representative of the Hombu Dojo. Kobayashi Sensei and his wife, Kobayashi Dojo’s uchi-deshi, Kobayashi dojo members, Meiji University Aikido Club OB members and current club members, and a total of about 150 people attended the celebration in the small 35-tatami mat dojo. It was amazing that the 40 bottles of sake that Oiwake Takuya-san, a junior member of the Meiji University Aikido Club, gave me to celebrate the event and the 10 bottles of sake I prepared were emptied in less than two hours. For me, it was the best event in my Aikido life.

With the opening of the dojo, I was also busy with teaching at the Kobayashi Dojo and Hashimoto Dojo, but I had my own dojo and felt as if I was running around from morning till late at night without a break. For me, it was a rewarding and enjoyable life, but on the other hand, it is a well-known fact that I was not a good family man. Kobayashi Sensei's wife Yasuko-san famously said, "A man's romance is proportional to a woman's perseverance!” This is exactly true, and I am grateful for and reflect upon the patience of my wife Machiko and the cooperation of my family.

In 1993, as if to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the establishment, the Manga "Aikido Hashimoto Dojo" was serialized in Manga Action Weekly, written by Hayashi Norio-san, a Hashimoto Dojo member and Manga author, and drawn by Hikino Shinji-san. The story is fictional, but the main theme is based on my interviews. It was serialized for about six months. The Manga was well received and was later published as a book in two volumes as a collector's edition. Recently, I found out that the Manga "Aikido Hashimoto Dojo" is available as an e-book. Please check it out.

Around 1998, Kobayashi Yasuo Sensei's son, Hiroaki-Sensei, the current dojo head, and other second-term instructors had grown up to a large extent, and with Kobayashi Sensei's permission, I became independent from the Kobayashi Dojo. At the same time, Kobayashi Sensei also gave me permission to conduct examinations for Dan and Kyu promotion at the Igarashi Dojo.

In October 2007, the Aikikai Advisory Council was established as an advisory committee to the Doshu. The Shihan in charge of the Hombu Dojo requested me to be appointed as a counselor by Doshu. At the time, Aikikai was in the process of transitioning from a foundation to a public interest incorporated foundation, and the establishment of each prefectural federation was an urgent task. I think it was once a month, on a Saturday afternoon, about 10 counselors gathered in a meeting room on the third floor next to the dojo and spent two to three hours discussing issues assigned by Doshu Ueshiba Sensei. Through the efforts of Doshu and the president of the All Japan Aikido Federation, Ozaki Sho Sensei, federations have been organized in all 47 prefectures. I think I was able to be of some help.

In 2012, when the 11th International Aikido Seminar and Demonstration was held, I was recommended by Doshu to teach the training seminar and participate in the demonstration event. The experience of the 11th International Aikido Seminar and the 11th International Aikido Demonstration, where I was called upon by Doshu, further enlarged my heart for Aikido.

However, I heard that Doshu also recommended me to contribute to this monthly martial arts magazine, "My Training Days". Thank you very much.

Revisiting Overseas Guidance

In February 1985, I was asked to accompany the Meiji University Aikido Club to West Germany for a training camp. The camp was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Asai Sensei's visit to Germany. After the camp, I went around Sweden and Finland in Northern Europe for the first time in a long time. This visit led to requests from the Aikikai of both countries for teaching, and my teaching in Scandinavia again began, with Kobayashi Sensei teaching once a year and me teaching twice a year.

As noted above, Inaba Yasuhisa Sensei, a member of the third Aikido Kobayashi Dojo, Kawasaki Motosumiyoshi Dojo, fulfilled a longtime dream and moved his family to Calgary, Canada in 1980. While working, he established the Calgary Aikikai and began teaching. In the summer of 1990, Kobayashi Sensei and I attended the Calgary Aikikai's 10th anniversary celebration. This was the beginning of a regular teaching schedule, and I began visiting Calgary once a year. In 2009, due to the sudden passing of Inaba Shihan, I became responsible for teaching, and began teaching twice a year; once in the winter and once in the summer.

When I was in my mid-50s, the number of participants from all over Europe in training seminars and training camps in Scandinavia increased year by year, and requests for teaching from Aikikai, organizations, and groups in several European countries began to increase. When I was thinking about cutting back a bit on my overseas teaching, Asai Sensei in Germany said to me, "You are a great teacher only when you are asked to come to teach " and "If they think they have nothing to learn from you, no one will call you!” However, he was both strict and warm in his words. Following this advice, I began to accept teaching requests from abroad as much as possible, sometimes four or five times a year, for a total of about 100 days. The following is a list of countries I have visited:

(Asia) Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand

(Europe) Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, England, France, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Russia.

(Americas) U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina

(Australia) Australia

(Africa) Egypt

That makes 29 countries on 5 continents. I am very thankful for that. It is Kobayashi Sensei who created this opportunity for a private Dojo’s dojo-cho like myself to interact with so many countries. I have nothing but words of gratitude. I think it is my mission to spread the teachings from Kobayashi Sensei and those who came before me to my friends in Japan and abroad.

My overseas teaching, which was stopped due to my physical condition and the Corona pandemic, was restarted last year in Taiwan in February 2023 and in Korea in September 2023. This year, I visited Taiwan in February, and in July, I will go to Scandinavia (Finland and Sweden), which I have not been able to visit since 2020 due to the Corona pandemic. In September, I will visit South Korea.

I am still receiving teaching requests from many countries, but I am still concerned about my physical condition. I am determined to keep my physical condition under control and to enjoy practicing class with my overseas Aikido friends as I have done before. Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author of children's stories, said, “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float; To gain all while you give; To roam the roads of lands remote; To travel is to live.” I think, however, that traveling abroad for Aikido is truly “gaining all while giving”.

Residential Training Program from Abroad

As my overseas teaching increased, I began to receive more and more requests from students who were eager to live and practice class intensively at Hashimoto Dojo. The requirements for acceptance are that the applicant must not be a tourist, have a letter of recommendation and a letter of guarantee from the head of his/her organization, and live in the dojo for at least one month. I have accepted a total of about 30 students from Europe, the U.S., Asia, and Australia. I believe that the students have been able to experience Japanese life and traditional culture through the practice class as well as living and eating together with us. Although there were some cultural differences that caused some misunderstandings when they first came to live with us, they seemed to have enjoyed their stay at the dojo.

After returning to their home country, they are now active as one of the instructors of Aikikai, groups, and dojos in their own country. Many of them have also become Aikido professionals. Several have received "Aikido Cultural Visas" with me as their guarantor and have lived as uchi-deshi for a long period of time.

My Martial Arts Experience　

As I think I mentioned before, I practiced Judo for three years while in high school. However, upon entering Meiji University, I began to practice in the Aikido Club and have continued to enjoy it up to the present.

However, I have tried to be exposed to various martial arts whenever I have had the opportunity. However, I would like to look back on some of the martial arts that I have practiced and experienced, even if only a little, as I remember them.

IAIDO

I was in the third year of the Aikido club at Meiji University when I started practicing Iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) and Jodo (Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo) at the Shodokan Dojo of Okada Morihiro Sensei at Shimotakaido Station, the next station to Meidaimae on the Keio Line, where he practices, through the introduction of a first-year student, Oiwake Takuya (current Fukushima Budokan Dojo-cho 7th dan).

We both attended after finishing our Aikido practice class at the university. Okada Sensei was a leading figure in the All Japan and Tokyo Kendo Federation and the Iaido Federation, and his sword techniques were elegant and graceful.

During a tea break after practice, he told us, “When I was young, I practiced Kurama-ryu swordsmanship and often won Kendo competitions by using the technique of ‘rolling up the sword and dropping it’ that is a part of the school. However, after a competition, I was told by a famous Kendo Sensei, ‘That technique is not elegant and vulgar.’”

I thought, “There is no elegant or respectable technique in a competition! That is the language of losers! The purpose of budo and bujutsu is to do your best to win first!” I also thought, “How can we negate the techniques that have been built up by the founder of Kurama Ryu?” However, I remember thinking many things, such as, “If the tradition is negated, the techniques will not be handed down to the next generation. Is it still required to ‘win beautifully and elegantly’ in modern martial arts?” The question still remains.

Six months after I started practicing Iaido, toward the end of my third year, I went to the Nippon Budokan with Oiwake-kun for the examination for the Shodan of Iaido. The author Mishima Yukio-san was also there to take the shodan examination. A red carpet was laid out in the small dojo, and many members of the press and beautiful women surrounded Mishima-san. However, when we lined up for the examination, it was a coincidence that Mishima-san's examination number was just one ahead of mine. When I looked at Mishima-san's sword, it looked very expensive, so I asked him, "Your sword must be a great sword, right?"  He kindly answered, "No, it is not that expensive.”

Oiwake-san and I passed shodan with honors, and Mishima-san also passed.

After graduating from university, I continued to practice at Okada Sensei's dojo and was awarded Sandan in Iaido and Shodan in Jodo.

[Okada Sensei's episode : Okada Morihiro was a specialist in the shinai-no-Makiotoshi, a technique he practiced in Kurama-ryu swordsmanship called "Henka-waza". He never once struck a shinai, and Matsumoto Shigehira, a teacher in the Toyama Prefectural Police Department, struck him nine times, while Sato Chuzo, a professor at Budo Professional School, had his shinai rolled off six times. Oshima Jikita also frequently dropped his shinai, but Oshima said, "You will never be a great swordsman if you practice such a technique," and forbade makiotoshi, and Saimura Goro agreed with him, so Okada stopped using makiotoshi.]

 Also, when I was an uchi-deshi at Kobayashi Sensei's dojo, Kobayashi Sensei, myself, and Shikanai-kun (now a shihan living in Brazil) went for a while to the "Yushin Dojo" of Omura Yuiji Sensei, a well-known Kendo and Iaido master located in Suginami ku along the Seibu Line. I thought Omura Sensei's Iaido, unlike Okada Sensei's, was fast and powerful. The following are some of Omura Sensei's episodes.

[Omura Sensei's episode: Sensei was one of the direct students of Nakayama Hiromichi, a well-known Kendo and Iaido master who had been in contact with Ueshiba Morihei Sensei. Through Iaido, Omura Sensei was related to the author Mishima Yukio, and the night before he committed suicide at the Ministry of Defense, he received a phone call from Mishima asking him, “Omura Sensei, please teach me how to make a kaishaku (an assistant in Seppuku).” Omura Sensei, realizing that Mishima's voice sounded unusual, responded, “Mr. Mishima, what do you think you are doing by asking me that?” Mishima remained absolutely silent, and after a few moments, he apologized and hung up the phone.]

JODO

As mentioned above, I began practicing Jodo as well as Iaido at the Shodokan dojo of Okada Sensei during my university days, and received Shodan. Also, when I was an uchideshi at Kobayashi Dojo, Kobayashi Sensei's friend Okumura Genta Sensei, who had a dojo called "Aikido Koganei Dojo" in Higashi Koganei, introduced me to Shimizu Takaji Sensei's Shindo Muso-ryu Jodo dojo "Rembukan Dojo" in Shibuya, and I had several opportunities to practice Jodo there. Okumura Sensei had practiced Jodo for many years under Shimizu Sensei's teaching, and taught Aikido and Jodo at the his Dojo.

From my very first practice class at the Rembukan Dojo, I enjoyed the wonderful opportunity to be taught the basics by Shimizu Sensei. However, at every practice class, I was warned by Shimizu Sensei about footwork. After practice class, we would sit in a circle in the dojo and have a drinking party, and on the way home, we would have an after-party in front of Shibuya station.

At the Rembukan Dojo, I met Matsumura Shigehiro Sensei, who has a dojo called "Jodo Koubukan" in Yoyogi, and we are still close friends today. He attended the "Igarashi Dojo 10th Anniversary Demonstration and Celebration Party" and gave a demonstration.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu

More than 40 years ago, at the suggestion of Sugawara Tetsutaka Sensei, I went to the "Shinbukan Dojo" of Otake Risuke Sensei in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, once a month on a Saturday. I went to practice class one day when it was snowing heavily. On that day, no one came to practice class except for me. When I was practicing alone, Otake Sensei came to the dojo wearing his keikogi, and for the next hour he taught me one-on-one with my partner. After practice class, the water was cold and it was hard for one person to clean the large dojo. On the way back to Narita Station, the bus did not come, so I walked along the road for a while, shivering in the cold. Even my shoes were wet. But I was very lucky to have received one-on-one teaching from Otake Sensei, and my whole body was warm with happiness. He silently taught me how to be an instructor. I continued to attend the Shinbukan Dojo for seven years.

Later, when Sugawara Sensei received his "teaching license" from Otake Sensei, he began teaching at Hashimoto Dojo. I now practice class on Sundays at the Hashimoto Dojo after receiving my teaching license from Sensei. There are many things that are useful in my aikido practice class, such as how to stand, timing, eye contact, kiai, and so on.

Karatedo

Sugawara Tetsutaka Sensei published all four volumes of Higaonna Morio Sensei's "Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do". Taking advantage of this opportunity, I went to Higaonna Sensei's senior student, Kato Tomoyuki Sensei's "Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate Dojo" near Higashirinkan Station on the Odakyu Line for six years from my late 30s to mid 40s, when I was still full of energy, and practiced class six to eight times a month. I believe now that I was able to do 100 tsukis and 100 kicks. After practice class in the summer, I drank 500cc of Sports Drink at a convenience store on my way home. I thought I was not a good karate practitioner as I did not improve. Finally, Kato Sensei was kind enough to give me a third-degree brown belt. However, I am proud to say that I think it is wonderful that my Tsuki and Kicks have become reasonably good.

Chinese martial arts

Sugawara Sensei taught us a bit of Chinese martial arts during our Katori Shinto Ryu practice class at the Hashimoto Dojo. Sensei invited leading Chinese martial arts experts from China to hold training seminars every year. Each time, I attended a special training seminar. I was impressed by the fact that there are still many master and expert Chinese martial arts practitioners in China! However, each time I was amazed at the greatness of China's history. After that, I had the opportunity to learn taijiquan, but unfortunately, I did not stay long.

Daito-ryu

Kobayashi dojo uchideshi friend Hasegawa Hiroyuki-san and Hashimoto dojo morning practice member Sato Norio-san were studying Daito-ryu under Kimura Tatsuo Sensei, a student of Daito-ryu Sagawa Yukiyoshi Sensei.

Kimura Sensei had practiced class for many years under Yamaguchi Seigo Sensei at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, and became a student of Sagawa Sensei in Daito-ryu about 40-odd years ago. He is one of the head students under Sensei.

Kimura Sensei wrote a book about Sensei, published by Kodansha, which I also subscribed to. More than ten years ago, at the suggestion of Hasegawa-san, I visited Kimura Sensei at the University of Tsukuba. I practiced class for nearly two hours in the university's Judo hall. Kimura Sensei's members would cry, "Ugh!” or “Agh!" when Sensei threw them or pinned them down.

When I was thrown or pinned down by Sensei, I felt a large, strong resonating sensation in the center of my abdomen, and I could not even cry out.

After practice class, I was invited to Kimura Sensei's home, where he spoke very openly about his memories of Yamaguchi Sensei, his experiences abroad, and Sagawa Sensei. It was only a one-time experience, but it gave me a great hint for my future Aikido. The next morning, when I woke up at home, my abdominal muscles were very painful. Kimura Sensei's words, "Aiki is a technique," may seem simple, but it is a very tricky subject to understand.

Both Ueshiba Morihei Sensei and Sagawa Sensei learned Daito-ryu from Takeda Sokaku Sensei. Ueshiba Sensei is the founder of " Aikido," and Sagawa Sensei is the creator of his own Daito-ryu style. Kimura Sensei wrote in his book, "Sagawa Sensei was evolving day by day, and the best and strongest was the one he threw a few days before he passed away."

Ueshiba Sensei wrote in his book, "The training continues until the time of death!” And also O-Sensei said, “The best and the strongest is when we draw our last breath.” Kobayashi Sensei said that when he was thrown and pinned down by Ueshiba O-Sensei, he felt a heavy weight on his back and stomach. I learned the importance of attacking and controlling the center.

My Aikido

The center of my practice is Aikido, as I was given the opportunity to practice and experience Aikido. However, all the martial arts that I have had the opportunity to practice and experience have become part of my blood and muscle and have given me great strength in Aikido. I believe that it is wonderful to pursue one thing. However, it is also true that if given the chance, experience in various martial arts and sports will definitely help you.

My beliefs

What I Learned from the Sickness

When I was over 70 years old, I was found to have stenosis of the right and left carotid arteries during a city medical checkup. This was also caused by my heavy drinking and eating that had continued since my university days. Until then, I had lived a healthy life "without medicine and without a doctor. In January 31, 2019, the last year of the Heisei era, I was promoted to the rank of 8th dan at the Kagamibiraki ceremony at the Hombu Dojo. When I think of 8th dan, I think of Kobayashi Sensei and those who came before me, whose achievements had reached maturity and nobility. For me, it is still a long way from the state of perfection. However, I will continue to challenge myself and continue to practice.

Since the change of the year to 2022, I have been feeling a change in my physical condition along with my age. The ultimate sign was the loss of sight in my right eye that occurred in late May. However, I was surprisingly cool-headed. This was because I knew that Futabayama, the famous Sumo grand champion, had lost sight in his left eye, and Sasaki Masando Sensei, an Aikido Sensei, had lost sight in his right eye but was still very active in his life. However, it took me two to three years to get used to daily life and Aikido practice classes with one eye.

In December of the same year, I felt severe pain in my right shoulder and visited the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Kitazato University Hospital. The results showed that my right shoulder rotator cuff was ruptured and three tendons were torn. In early January 2020, I was hospitalized and underwent surgery. It took 20 days until I was released from the hospital. In early March, after being discharged from the hospital and continuing to go to the same hospital for rehabilitation, I was finally able to move little by little.

However, in late March, when I believed it was time to start practice class, the dojo was closed for two months from the end of March to the end of May at the request of the government due to the spread of the new type of coronavirus. I was sorry for the inconvenience to the dojo members, however, I thought it was a good rehabilitation and rest period for me.

In 2022, I developed angina pectoris and was hospitalized and operated on three times. In late October 2023, while I was preparing the article "My Practice Days" requested by this Monthly Martial Arts Magazine, I developed intestinal inflammation and was hospitalized for two weeks for an emergency operation.

However, it is said, "There are no coincidences in life." However, I accept these ailments as a heaven-sent ordeal. Whenever I am discharged from the hospital, I realize that “we are not alive, we are being kept alive!”  Health and happiness are the most valuable part of life.

In May 2023, we celebrated 60 years of my Aikido history and 40 years of Dojo establishment with a grand event attended by Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru Sensei and his wife, Kobayashi Sensei, as well as other Senseis, dojo friends, Dojo members, and overseas visitors, for a total of 220 people. The commemorative camp was also attended by 130 people from Japan and abroad.

I am now enjoying my practice and teaching under the guidance of four generations of Ueshiba Senseis: Founder Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, 2nd Doshu Kisshomaru Sensei, 3rd Doshu Moriteru Sensei, and Hombu dojo-cho Mitsuteru Sensei, and the great pleasure of having Kobayashi Sensei as my supervisor for more than 60 years.

I think my next goal is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment and 70 years of my Aikido history in 2033. I think that having a goal before me is the best medicine and the secret to a long life.

However, it has always been said that there is no end to one's training. The founder, Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, also said, “As long as we live, we must continue our ascetic practice.” However, I think that I can practice class as long as I wake up in the morning, clean the dojo, and do my best to protect the shrine in the Dojo. I believe it is my mission to continue to share what O-Sensei and Kobayashi Sensei, and those who came before me taught, with the members of the dojo.

The past and present of Igarashi Dojo

It has been 41 years since we opened the dojo in Hashimoto, Sagamihara City. During this time, I have kept Kobayashi Sensei's motto "Aikido for as many people as possible!” as my motto, and I have increased the number of dojos to Tachikawa, Hachimanyama, Hino-Minamidaira, Sagamihara Chiyoda, Sagamihara Ai World, Sagamihara Dojo, Hon Atsugi, and Umegaoka Dojos. However, as noted above, I began to feel a decline in my physical condition when I was over 70 years old. In addition, due to the Corona pandemic that began in 2020, all Igarashi dojos discontinued children's classes, and the number of dojos was reduced. Presently, there are three Igarashi Dojos: Hashimoto Dojo, Hachioji Dojo, and Shinjuku Yuwakai Dojo.

Hashimoto Dojo Now

The latest Sunday practice class had an unusually low number of participants: 13. However, an unthinking look reveals that there are indeed very few young people. 1 person is in their teens, zero are in their 20s to 40s, 4 are in their 50s, 4 are in their late 60s, and 4 are in their 70s. Today's practice class is truly a dojo for the elderly. But why are the seniors so energetic?

I checked the age group of Hashimoto Dojo. There are 37 active members present: 2 in their teens, zero in their 20s, 4 in their 30s, 6 in their 40s, 10 in their 50s, 6 in their 60s, and 9 in their 70s. Since this is the 40th anniversary of the establishment, there are of course many high dan members, and nearly half of the members are 4th dan or above. There is one member with 3 kyu, two with 7 kyu, and zero beginners.

Hashimoto Haruo-san, the 72-year-old chairman of the friendship association, said, “As an old man in retirement, I don't have many places to go, and the dojo is the best and most suitable place for me! And a drink after practice class is very satisfying!”

In the words of the famous aging researcher Kobayashi Takehiko Sensei, "We grow old and become human beings.” According to Sensei, wild animals do not age. Aging is a special privilege that humans as an organism have acquired in the process of evolution, and not everyone can continue to be active and healthy. There are illnesses, and if you overdo it, you will be hated as an old man. However, there is no need to rush into retirement. However, I believe that how we live our lives depends on how we spend our retirement years.

　Funai Yukio Sensei, a management consultant, said, "The most important thing for a human being is to learn and remember, and you must continue to learn and remember throughout your life. As soon as you stop learning, you start getting old. However, as long as you are learning, you are young." He also mentioned the three requirements of "interest, liking, and conviction" as the keys to living well.　These words are based on the Chinese philosopher Confucius' words, "Those who know this are no better than those who like it. Those who like it are no better than those who enjoy it. We like it because we are interested in it, and because we like it, we will make efforts until we are sure of it.”

There is nothing more enjoyable than practicing and talking with friends who know and love Aikido and enjoy practicing, and having a drink after practice class.

　I am 78 years old and no longer able to practice and instruct at full throttle, but I will continue to think "happily and strictly", placing importance on the basics, body manipulation, and the principles of the art, and with the cooperation and help of my dojo members, I will continue to perform my practice classes and teaching for another 10 years.

　The middle-aged and late-aged people over 70 years old in the dojo are more energetic than I think they are. Let us all, the "Mere Old Men", continue to pull the young people (including those in their 50's) along without any power harassment.

Afterword

One of the six famous words of Maxim Gorky, a famous Russian writer, is “When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is slavery.” I think I love Aikido and enjoy my practice class so much that I have been able to continue it until now. I have only a few times thought of Aikido practice class and dojo management as practices or work. Such times were either when I was in poor physical condition or when I felt a slump in my practice class.

There is a saying, "Continuation is power," and it is really difficult to continue anything. However, we used to be taught that we should not easily stop what we started. People who tried their hands at many different things were called "poor in dexterity,"

and it was said, "He who runs after two rabbits will not catch a single rabbit. Today, the sports world encourages people to practice various sports in the name of cross-training.

And recent education says, "If you don't like it or don't enjoy it, stop immediately, and find something you can enjoy throughout your life.

I have practiced and experienced many different martial arts. Each one has its own unique interest, and no one martial art detracts from the other, and each one has something new to offer that I find useful in my Aikido.

I can say that there is no other martial art as wonderful as Aikido. There is a term called mindfulness. It means "the state of mind in which one concentrates on the present moment," and it is a way of "cherishing this moment. This method was programmed in the Western world based on the examination and study of the effects of meditation in Zen in Japan. In the Western world, Aikido is recognized as "Zen in motion. That is exactly where the practice of Aikido comes in. Let us continue to enjoy practicing together as long as we live.

Before, I introduced Shakespeare's words, "The past is the preface to life". This writing is based on my memories and records of my past. From now on, this is the main chapter of my life. And the time will finally come when the final chapter will be reached.

I think I still have many interests and many things I want to do. I also have many techniques that Sensei has taught me that I have not been able to do well. I am grateful to be able to continue practicing the Aikido I love and will continue to do so. I am still developing. I have a lot of fun future.

I will continue to send out what I need to remember and record in the "Dojo-cho Essay" section of the Igarashi Dojo website. I look forward to receiving valuable feedback from you, the viewers. I would like to thank you kindly, as ever, for your continued support and kindness.

Lastly, I would like to introduce one of Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei's poems.

"Aiki is the power of universal harmony,

which must be continually refined by all who practice it."

Tsurumi High School Judo Club, Summer Camp (August 1963)

Spring Camp in 1967 (Iwai Coast, Chiba Prefecture)

In the courtyard of Meidai Izumi Campus in 1967

At Iwama Aiki Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture with Founder Ueshiba Morihei Sensei (September 1967)

Greeting from Osawa Kisaburo Sensei, Hombu Dojo-cho

Dojo-cho’s Embu

Dojo-cho’s address at the Opening Party

First overseas instruction (Sept.1978,Finland)

Certificate of Dispatch of Aikikai to Northern Europe (1978)

with 2nd Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei and Kobayashi Sensei (Taipei,Taiwan,1990)

with Kobayashi Sensei at Yamanakako,2013

Kagamibiraki Ceremony at Hombu Dojo, Promotion to 8th dan (Junuary,2019)

All Japan Demonstration (May,2019)

with Ueshiba Moriteru Sensei and his wife (40th Anniversary Party, May 2023)

40th Anniversary Yamanakako Camp (June 3-4,2023)

Exterior view of the present Hashimoto Dojo (May 2024)

The Celebration of Igarashi Dojo 40th Anniversary and Dojo-cho 60 years Aikido History 28th May 2023, at Rembrandt Hotel Tokyo Machida