Help for Restoring O-Sensei's Iwama Dojo

Posted 2011-04-17 09:46:13 by Ethan Weisgard


Dear fellow Aikidoka, I am submitting the following text on behalf of Ulf Evenas Shihan from Gothenburg, Sweden. I hope as many as possible will contribute to help in this important cause. In aiki, Ethan Weisgard.

Please Contribute to the Restoration of the Iwama Dojo.

As you know, the Founder's Dojo in Iwama was severely damaged in the Japan earthquake that occurred in March of this year. Aikido Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba, has decided to restore the Dojo. This is important, since the Dojo must be preserved for the future. Together with the Aiki Jinja, it is unique in the Aikido and Budo world. This is where O'Sensei completed Aikido, and we always have had a close relation to Iwama.

The restoration will take 4--6 months and is, of course, very expensive. This initiative of accepting donations is taken to appeal to the Aikido world for financial support, and is supported by Doshu.

Everyone is welcome to contribute a donation of any amount. Please send your donations to the following bank account:

Account name: Aikikai Foundation;
Account No: 1015007 (Current Account);
Bank name: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Shinjuku-Dori Branch (code 661);
Bank Address: 3-14-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 160-0022
BIC/Swift Code: SMBCJPJT.

Doshu will receive your goodwill with gratitude. Hombu would like to be informed of the name of the donor and amount given, the same procedure followed in collecting donations for the bronze statue of the Founder at the Aiki Jinja.

Please forward this message to as many as possible.

Yours in Aiki,
Ulf Evenas


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Those who prefer to donate via paypal can use www.dojoearthquakerelief.org to make a contribution through June 1. This would be a tax deductible donation for U. S. taxpayers.

Arigato.

Doesn't humbu makes enough money from seminars and their huge students that practice everyday?! what do they need our 1$ for?!

Shany Golan wrote: Doesn't humbu makes enough money from seminars and their huge students that practice everyday?

Come on Shany. If you have any knowledge of false profiteering by the Hombu you should contact the relevant authorities and have their NPO status revoked. It beats just claiming stuff on the internet.

As far as I can tell, the Aikikai have asked for nothing. On their website, you will only find a link to donate to the Japanese Red Cross. The initiative on this thread was started as a charitable effort by those who value the founder's dojo in Iwama as an important historical site and as the original post clearly shows, it is being lead by Ulf Evenas Shihan - not Hombu.

Shany Golan wrote: what do they need our 1$ for?!

Well, the dojo in which Osensei created aikido is now unusable, with its roof caving in and leaning walls. If you are among those who think it should be saved, then make a donation. If not, no one is twisting your arm.　



Carl

Thanks to everyone who donated!

We raised funds to support the Iwama Dojo roof reconstruction, the Sendai Dojo rejuvination, and the Christchurch, NZ relocation.

Earthquake Donors to Iwama:
Kim Peuser, Steve Kilmer, Takemusu Aikido Association
Aikido Nord Du Lac, Aikido Institute Oakland, River of Life Dojo, Aikido in Fredericksburg
TAA Memorial Day Gasshuku Participants, Ida Ansell, Bernice Tom, James Goedkoop, Bill Witt
David Yoshinaga, Stanislav Malyshev, Andrea Lembo, Jacob Clapsdale, Carsten Mielke, Dwight Peterson
Lisa Jensen, Dat Nguyen, Susan Liu, Lexter Ilog, Ian Phillips, Judy Phillips, Tom Rennie
Tim Haffner, Gys Bruins, Lucy Li, Janet Grove, Craig O'Connor, Scott Roberts, Charles McCarty
Kent Standley, Rob Kamisky, Craig Naylor, Cathy Garrett, Robert Gomberg, Peggy Truett, Suren Baghdasaryan, John Gaynor, Aviv Goldsmith, Ian Hedges, Nga Pham, Feras Alhlou, Brandon Williams

Earthquake Donors to Sendai:
Aikido in Fredericksburg (Virginia), Round Rock Dojo (Texas)
River of Life Dojo (Pennsylvania), Arthur Steve Hardyman, Lucy Li, Paul Nguyen, Andrew Gould, Bruce Williams, Michael Madia
Hanafi Tanojo, Alison Longley, Robert Gunst, Paolo Guinaraes

Earthquake Donors to Christchurch:
Takemusu Aikido Association, Martin Hartmann, Aikido in Fredericksburg, Chuck McCarty