View Single Post
Old 09-04-2007, 11:14 PM   #4
wildaikido
Dojo: Hans de Jong Self Defence School
Location: Perth
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 239
Australia
Offline
Re: AIkibudo/Yoseikan Techniques

Quote:
Don J. Modesto wrote: View Post
Personally I have doubts about this canonical view of the founder. Dower (Embracing Defeat) writes compellingly of many flip-flops of convenience where militaristic fascists became democracy loving America cheer-leaders overnight. Given Ueshiba's known terror of capture and incarceration (his own cousing revilied him for abandoning Deguchi during the second suppression), it's not hard to imagine a position of convenience.

As you mentioned, spirituality was no brake on war-mongering. Deguchi and Ueshiba were ardent supporters of the most vile of terrorists and assassins. See Amdur's Dueling with Osensei ("Head in the Clouds, Feet in the Muck") as well as Thomas Peter Nadolski, "The Socio-Political Background of the 1921 and 1935 Omoto Suppressions in Japan" (a dissertation) where he notes that Deguchi offered a Colonel Hashimoto (IIRC) the services of one Ueshiba Kenshi as personal bodyguard. This colonel would be executed by GHQ for Class A war crimes.
All I have as evidence is the change in language and teachings from before and after the war. O'Sensei's text from before the war, Budo and Budo Rneshu, talk about the spirit of Japan, making a better country, and excluding gaijin. Then after the war O'Sensei talk about spreading Aikido to the world and building a golden bridge to unite all man kind. The thing in between was the war, ergo, the war is the result of the change.

Quod Erat Demonstrandum.

Quote:
Don J. Modesto wrote: View Post
CAVEAT EMPTOR.
I don't buy that

Graham Wild
  Reply With Quote