Posted 2011-05-13 11:38:45 by Jun Akiyama
News URL:
http://chicagoaikidoclub.wordpress.c...urprise-party/
Here's an article entitled
"Jo Takehara's 80th & 50th Surprise Party" on the Chicago Aikido Club blog site that highlights Jo Takehara's recent 80th birthday and 50 years in aikido party.
From the article: "Winding up the presentation was Keiki Hinami, who presented Takehara Sensei with special gift on behalf of the club and guests: a “hato no tsue” or a dove-handled cane. As Keiki explained, this cane is a traditional gift from the Akita prefecture in Northwest Japan. In Japan, one is considered to have lived a full lifetime at the age of forty, and reaching 80 is akin to living two life times. Having the dove on the handle is symbolic, as the Japanese word for dove (“hato”) sounds as if it is comprised of words for eight (“ha”) and ten (“to”), making the number 80."
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