Hikitsuchi Sensei and White Hakama

I was watching an older National Geographic special on Aikido and saw Hikitsuchi Sensei teaching. I was wondering if there was a special significance to him wearing a white hakama? Was it because of his 10th Dan rank? I have never seen a white one before.

On a side note, I like the way it looks.

Here is a link chock full of hakama info.
http://www.apparelsearch.com/definit...definition.htm

Several years ago, I participated in a koryu demonstration in St. Louis with many of the major non-Japanese high ranking individuals in koryu
[IMG]file:///Users/ellisamdur/Pictures/BudoFriends/Group.JPG[/IMG]. A member of the audience asked Phil Relnick the significance of the hakama colors and he, unwisely, turned the question over to me. I replied, "As you see, I am wearing all white. That is because I have embraced the way of goodness and truth. Those around me, wearing dark, have embraced the ways of Satan. My student here, with a white top and black hakama still hasn't made up his mind which way to go."

@Ellis: LOL!

After posting I actually found some information and it did say that it was because of rank.

From the Aikido Encyclopedia: "At present, the white hakama usually implies master status"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha excellent post Ellis!

In gassho,

Mark

The only white hakama I've seen are in photos of O'Sensei. Even Saotome Shihan wore blue or black at the seminars of his I've been to. One convenience drawback of a white hakama might be that it's appearance would soil easily, requiring washing after perhaps each class.

You gave me also a good chuckle, Amdur Sensei. I really like the contrast of white and black...sort of a yin-yang thing I suppose...and I have a yin-yang sewn on my left shoulder.

Drew

Drew Gardner wrote: The only white hakama I've seen are in photos of O'Sensei. Even Saotome Shihan wore blue or black at the seminars of his I've been to. One convenience drawback of a white hakama might be that it's appearance would soil easily, requiring washing after perhaps each class. You gave me also a good chuckle, Amdur Sensei. I really like the contrast of white and black...sort of a yin-yang thing I suppose...and I have a yin-yang sewn on my left shoulder. Drew

This was in Hikitsuchi Sensei's home dojo, so that may have had something to do with it as well. Personally I like the all white, looks very clean. I have to wash my Gi anyway right?

Drew Gardner wrote: The only white hakama I've seen are in photos of O'Sensei. Even Saotome Shihan wore blue or black at the seminars of his I've been to. One convenience drawback of a white hakama might be that it's appearance would soil easily, requiring washing after perhaps each class.

Saotome Sensei has been known to wear white hakama when teaching at his Shrine Dojo in Florida, and has worn other formal colors on other formal occasions.

Before the war, beginning students at the Kobukan were apparently instructed to wear white hakama for a time (and examples can be seen in some of the Noma Dojo photos of that period), but the cleaning issue eventually led to a shift to dark hakama.

White is also traditional for pilgrims, and it's worth noting that Wakayama (the three shrines of Shingu/Kumano/Nachi in particular) has been a popular pilgrimage destination for many, many centuries.Indeed, the founder was often combining pilgrimage and instruction at Hikitsuchi's dojo when he headed down that way, a point which couldn't help but flavor the instruction, clothing, and props used.

Best,

Fred Little

If I recall correctly, Hikitsuchi Sensei was also a Shinto priest.

Chris Guzik wrote: If I recall correctly, Hikitsuchi Sensei was also a Shinto priest.

And here is a useful post on the subject of hakama color and Shinto practice.

FL

Andrew Hanson wrote: This was in Hikitsuchi Sensei's home dojo, so that may have had something to do with it as well. Personally I like the all white, looks very clean. I have to wash my Gi anyway right?

Specifically, Hikitsuchi Sensei followed the tradition of Shinto, and the hakama he is wearing relates to that.He was also considered an aikido master, and so he gets "double-whammy" status.

A little unrelated, but interesting I think, is a video of my sensei, Motomichi Anno Shihan who is the succesor of Hikitsuchi Sensei and is now the dojo cho of the Kumano-Juku Dojo in Shingu( formerly Hikitsuchi sensei's 'home' dojo).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5OtEHPi58

Best,
Jen

Jennifer Smith wrote: Specifically, Hikitsuchi Sensei followed the tradition of Shinto, and the hakama he is wearing relates to that.He was also considered an aikido master, and so he gets "double-whammy" status. A little unrelated, but interesting I think, is a video of my sensei, Motomichi Anno Shihan who is the succesor of Hikitsuchi Sensei and is now the dojo cho of the Kumano-Juku Dojo in Shingu( formerly Hikitsuchi sensei's 'home' dojo). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5OtEHPi58 Best, Jen

Double whammy ... lol!

Thanks for the video, I enjoyed watching it!

Im not too sure, but i have seen video's of O'sensei wearing white hakama's. If that helps any

-morgan

Jennifer Smith wrote: Specifically, Hikitsuchi Sensei followed the tradition of Shinto, and the hakama he is wearing relates to that.He was also considered an aikido master, and so he gets "double-whammy" status. A little unrelated, but interesting I think, is a video of my sensei, Motomichi Anno Shihan who is the succesor of Hikitsuchi Sensei and is now the dojo cho of the Kumano-Juku Dojo in Shingu( formerly Hikitsuchi sensei's 'home' dojo). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5OtEHPi58 Best, Jen

Daaang, he's lookin sharp, i'd like to see him in action NOW!!

in aiki,
morgan

Morgan Wible wrote: Daaang, he's lookin sharp, i'd like to see him in action NOW!! in aiki, morgan

He is still SHARP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just moved this query over from another thread, since it seems a distraction from the main topic there; perhaps it is more appropriate here.

In The thread: Pre War Aikido, 1930 through Iwama period

Peter A Goldsbury wrote: Like Hikitsuchi, [Ikkusai] Iwata favoured a white hakama.PAG

Dear Peter,

This is an interesting point. You noted in your earlier post that Ikkusai Iwata studied with the Founder prior to the War. This is also true of Hikitsuchi.

Was the wearing of the white hakama 1) a practice he had continued from his early days of pre-war training when the deshi at the Kobukan wore white hakama 2) something (like Hikitsuchi) connected with a Shinto ordination of some sort 3) a practice he adopted later in life (as is sometimes the case with senior kendo instructors) 4) some combination of the above or 5) something else entirely?

More generally, was Rinjiro Shirata ever known to wear a white hakama in his later life?

And just as interestingly, how did others respond to his Iwata's choice?

Best regards,

FL

Hello Fred,

For me, the answer given by Ellis (Post #3) gets the tone about right.

I never asked Iwata Sensei why he favoured white, so I don't know. However, I suspect that E J Hobsbawm's 'Invention of Tradition' has some relevance here. Japanese weddings and student graduation ceremonies are a good subject to study in this respect.

Do you know Takano Sensei? Very nice man. I think he's 6th or 7th dan. Has been a Hombu student for years. His dojo is in Azabu and he does "combinations". One back panel is dark grey, the other is white. Similarly with the front. I once asked him why and he mentioned purity and the reverse, yin and yang, the balance of the universe: a combination was clearly more 'cool' than one or other extreme--and then you can bring in all the stuff about harmony, for which aikido is so famous.

Hikitsuchi, Bansen Tanaka, Iwata all wore white hakama, as did O Sensei himself on occasion. Kisshomaru favored a grey colour and this seems to have been exclusive to him. The present Doshu regards it much more as a uniform, with little scope for variations.

I myself am skeptical about the 'shinto' explanation: it covers too many things here to have enough depth. I am sure I could order a white hakama from Iwata tomorrow, use it in my dojo and explain to those who batted any eyelids that I do so for the same reason that all taxi drivers wear white gloves. That would be enough.

Best,

Peter A Goldsbury wrote: I myself am skeptical about the 'shinto' explanation: it covers too many things here to have enough depth.

Gozo Shioda Sensei has been video taped also wearing a white hakama and it's pretty much known knowledge that he was not shinto nor followed any other religion for that matter. So I would agree with Goldsbury Sensei on this.

Peter A Goldsbury wrote: Hello Fred, ...However, I suspect that E J Hobsbawm's 'Invention of Tradition' has some relevance here. .... Do you know Takano Sensei? Very nice man. I think he's 6th or 7th dan. Has been a Hombu student for years. His dojo is in Azabu and he does "combinations". One back panel is dark grey, the other is white. Similarly with the front. I once asked him why and he mentioned purity and the reverse, yin and yang, the balance of the universe: a combination was clearly more 'cool' than one or other extreme--and then you can bring in all the stuff about harmony, for which aikido is so famous. Hikitsuchi, Bansen Tanaka, Iwata all wore white hakama, as did O Sensei himself on occasion. Kisshomaru favored a grey colour and this seems to have been exclusive to him. The present Doshu regards it much more as a uniform, with little scope for variations.

Many thanks for the reply, Peter;

Hobsbawm's 'Invention of Tradition' is a wonderful book, to be sure. The person who introduced me to it is now the chair of my dissertation committee. Apparently, I'm her first advisee, so there's a bit of "the whole nine yards" for both of us.

This is the first I've heard of Takano Sensei, but I think I like his fashion sense.

Veblen would almost certainly approve of the current Doshu's attitude.

For my part, I was brought up in a realm in the South where there is a certain expectation that whites and pastels are first worn on Easter Sunday, and appropriate from then until Labor Day. The once inviolable Labor Day rule seems to be observed more in the breach in recent years, and I'm not convinced that's a bad thing, especially in the midst of a warm Indian Summer.

Of course, when I was growing up in the South, it's also true that I had come from elsewhere, and learned very quickly that the first rule is not to upset the locals too terribly much.

Best regards,

FL

Jennifer Smith wrote: He is still SHARP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the video,are you living and practising in SHINGU?How is Anno sensei, is he doing fine? Please give my regrads to him.
I went there severeal times and have known Blaize and the americans too from my experience with Hikitsuchi sensei!
Every morning he used to come aupstairs to make a tea for OSENSEI and myself,too.
I would like to go again to SHINGU,tell me your tel no.please!!!
Matthias K.Kroll
Aikikai 3 dan (Kumano Juku)

Hello Jennifer,

I`m Lotta and live in Germany.

I´m looking for women in Aikido.
Where do you train/give trainings?

I`d like to exchange what we find in our dojos, about styles
and so on.

I try to follow Endo style, very soft, because I´m over 50 now.

Perhaps you like to write an email.

Lotta

Brigitte Reinert wrote: Hello Jennifer, I`m Lotta and live in Germany. I´m looking for women in Aikido. Where do you train/give trainings? I`d like to exchange what we find in our dojos, about styles and so on. I try to follow Endo style, very soft, because I´m over 50 now. Perhaps you like to write an email. Lotta

Hi Lotta,
I'll PM you.
Jen

Matthias K. Kroll wrote: Thank you for the video,are you living and practising in SHINGU?How is Anno sensei, is he doing fine? Please give my regrads to him. I went there severeal times and have known Blaize and the americans too from my experience with Hikitsuchi sensei! Every morning he used to come aupstairs to make a tea for OSENSEI and myself,too. I would like to go again to SHINGU,tell me your tel no.please!!! Matthias K.Kroll Aikikai 3 dan (Kumano Juku)

Hi Matthias,
I'm practicing in Santa Cruz, CA. There is a long and strong Shingu tradition and connection here. Shingu is our Sister City. MMany earlier instructors here trained with Hikitsuchi Sensei and I, myself, have trained extensively with Anno Sensei, Mary Heiny Sensei & Clint George Sensei. My previous teachers are also Shingu 'Stylists' , mostly Linda Holiday, who I trained with for 13 years, but I've also trained a bit with Jack Wada.

I would love to chat. I'll PM you.

Say, I'd love to attch a photo from my desktop but I don't know how. Can anyone help here?
Gracias,
Jen

Matthias K. Kroll wrote: Thank you for the video,are you living and practising in SHINGU?How is Anno sensei, is he doing fine? Please give my regrads to him. I went there severeal times and have known Blaize and the americans too from my experience with Hikitsuchi sensei! Every morning he used to come aupstairs to make a tea for OSENSEI and myself,too. I would like to go again to SHINGU,tell me your tel no.please!!! Matthias K.Kroll Aikikai 3 dan (Kumano Juku)

Oops, I forgot to say, Anno Sensei is doing very well. He was dealing with some health problems a few years back but he was treated by a doctor in our dojo, who offered some 'magical' western remedies to his 'mystical' asian body . After that he was great!
He still farms, he has retired from the paper factory and he also has a couple of grand-daughters who are the apples of his eye and also keep him scrambling.
When here for a visit he taught my kids class and kept laughing and saying , 'they never listen to me. But they listen to you." Well, they don't listen to me either, and I'm pretty sure they do listen to him. But that is Anno Sensei, isn't it?

Being near him is reason enough to train for an entire lifetime!