DH

Wouldn't it have been interesting to be in the room when someone asked, someone said...
Can you get rid of the Daito ryu Calligraphy? Remove it?
Who would have been motivated to do so?
Who would benefit?
My guess is myth making.
In an era when no one knew and no one cared about Daito ryu-then a small school, why did it even matter?
I think it is the reason they obliterated the Deguchi painting as well.
1. Destroy the source of his aiki-in a picture taken just after his being issued a teaching license for God sake!! What marvelous, uncaring arrogance! The shear balls of not caring what anyone would say! As Ueshiba posed and bragged to his nephew that he was going to FINALLY be a budo teacher in 1922, they erase it, years later. Breathtaking!
2. Remove his omoto underpinning
3. Don't translate his quoting of Chinese internal power axioms (probably well known in certain circles)
Trala...make him an original genius who thought it all up in his own head while talking to the kami.

This was an effort, a conscious choice by more than one man. The decision created marching orders given to a then photo expert who must have had some interesting thoughts going through his own head as he obliterated the signs. But then, there were four versions weren't there? Spanning almost thirty years? Wouldn't that be an interesting interview?

Doshu when did you decide to fabricate a legacy?
Who did you involve?
Was it your idea or you and your dad?

Such effort to erase tracks... Not done in one photo but in countless interviews and the written word by men entrusted around the world.
Until Stan arrives.
Budo...such an interesting place with interesting people and motives. I can't help it, it is just so Japanese. Just imagine if a guy from Chicago tried this...today...what you would all say? The server would crash again.
Dan