Aikikai Kagami Biraki Promotions

Christopher Li wrote: His massive lack of interest in organizations at any level has been mentioned by many of the uchi-deshi. That's why I'm saying that calling it "the Founder's organization" is probably less accurate than calling it "Kisshomaru's organization". Best, Chris

I think in the beginning neither Morihei Ueshiba nor Kisshomaru had much choice in the matter. The Kobukan was incorporated in 1940 and it would seem that the pressure to do so came from Ueshiba's backers like Fujita Kinya. Kisshomaru would hardly have been in a position to contribute much and so it would be inaccurate to call the Kobukai 'Kisshomaru's organization'. Seko Seiichi did most of the work at this time and I knew him quite well, for he was my predecessor in the IAF. He and Fujita certainly had very strong support from Morihei Ueshiba.

Kisshomaru seems to have been more closely involved in the decision to reactivate the Kobukai, and to change the name, in 1948, when his father was still keeping his head down in Iwama. The main supporters of the new Aikikai were Morihei Ueshiba's old wartime supporters like Tomita.

Best wishes,

PAG

All very well, Professor, but then O-Sensei went around giving talks and radio interviews about how Aikido was the art of love and everybody should practice Aikido to usher in an era of world peace and mutual understanding. (Exaggerating only a little.) If he meant what he said at all, he surely recognized the need to spread the art, and of an organization that could do that. One of the most salient differences between him and Takeda Sokaku's other students was that he opened his art up, while the others kept theirs closed. And however little he may have been involved in the management of the Aikikai, he certainly supported it with his constant travels to different places to teach.

Hugh Beyer wrote: All very well, Professor, but then O-Sensei went around giving talks and radio interviews about how Aikido was the art of love and everybody should practice Aikido to usher in an era of world peace and mutual understanding. (Exaggerating only a little.) If he meant what he said at all, he surely recognized the need to spread the art, and of an organization that could do that. One of the most salient differences between him and Takeda Sokaku's other students was that he opened his art up, while the others kept theirs closed. And however little he may have been involved in the management of the Aikikai, he certainly supported it with his constant travels to different places to teach.

Apologies, but could you point out more clearly where you disagree with me, if you do. My point is that to state that Morihei Ueshiba cared little for organizations, any organizations, is not quite accurate.

Well, maybe I was really arguing with Chris. I'm sure I was arguing with somebody here.