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Old 02-01-2008, 08:17 AM   #10
oisin bourke
 
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Dojo: Muden Juku, Ireland
Location: Kilkenny
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Re: Aikido Tour of Japan ideas please

Another option is the Shiritaki Dojo in Hokkaido. This is where Ueshiba Sensei first learned Daito Ryu from Takeda Sokaku. There is still an Aikikai dojo there and is regularly used by both Aikido and Daito Ryu groups of all persuasions in Japan.

The village has barely changed since the Ueshiba/Takeda days and there is a pretty phenomenal feeling that one can tap into if they train there for a few days. There is also a small museum with some of Ueshiba's memorabilia plus the sites of the Ueshiba and Takeda houses are still marked, but the atmosphere of the place is what really makes it special (at least it was for me.)

It's not an easy place to get to (though there's a new highway linking the village to Asahikawa city: a two hour drive) but that's part of understanding Ueshiba Sensei's journey, no?
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