AIKIKAI FOUNDATION - Newsletter Archive

�@�@�@ << 2011 Winter >>

�� Hatsu-Keiko�iFirst Lesson of 2011) �@�@�@06/Jan�@06�F30�`07:30

New Year display

2F display

Doshu greeting

Doshu demonstration

Hatsu Keiko
 �@Every year, Hatsu-Keiko (first lesson of the year) held on 6th January at 06:30a.m. Almost all Hombu dojo's teachers & instructors attend the class and practice with ordinary practitioners together. It is very hard to take proper UKEMI since the dojo is so crowded but it is a great opportunity to practice with Hombu dojo's teachers or instructors for one whole hour under Doshu's instruction before dawn.

�� Hombu Dojo Kagami Biraki�@�@09/Jan�@14:00~ceremony, 15:00~social-gathering (fee:500yen)

long line***

Doshu Greeting

3F participants

2F participants

4F participants

Hono Embu 1

Hono Embu 2

Hono Embu 3

award

Tada Shihan speech

3F NAORAI

2F NAORAI(kids)

4F NAORAI

cooking OSHIRUKO*

packing MOCHI**
=== Greeting from Doshu ===

�@
OMEDETO GOZAIMASU.(A Happy New Year.) �@Once again, I am pleased that a great number of people were able to participate in the 2011 Kagamibiraki ceremony. This year is the 80th anniversary since the founder Morihei Ueshiba built Honbu dojo in 1931. Since that time, due to the extraordinary efforts of Ueshiba Kaiso (O'Sensei), his son Kisshomaru Doshu, and other senior sensei, who devoted all of their energy to the dissemination and practice of Aikido it has spread to over 90 countries worldwide! It is our responsibility to transmit his true Aikido to posterity.
�@At the same time, I believe that practicing Aikido contributes to making a society a richer place. Because of that, I sincerely respect daily practice and strive to attain the spirit of harmony in Aikido I would like to make a positive leap forward this year, too. In this way, through practice,I would like our Aikido familyto grow. I am grateful for your support.
 
- Impression of Hombu Dojo Kagami Biraki by Minoru TANIYAMA (Shonan Kawasemi Aikido Club) -

�@�@I have participated in Hombu KagamiBiraki since I was promoted to 4th Dan by recommendation.I started Aikido when I was a student of Tsukuba University in 1990. At that time, there was no "Tsukuba Express" and it took long time to go to Hombu, so I practiced at Hombu dojo twice a year during spring and summer vacations for camp. After graduated from the University, there was some time off from Aikido. When I moved to Kanagawa prefecture for my second job, I re-started Aikido at Shonan-Kawasemi Aikido club run by one of my seniors and have been practicing until now. I really appreciate that I was able to take Seki Shihan's instruction at this club as I was taught by him during my collage days.
�@�@I visited Hombu for the first time since 1993 in my 4th year at the university, white Tatami, same as at that time, and many practitioners brought me a sense of nostalgia. There is a big change in social conditions compared to 1990. Nevertheless, Aikido and Hombu have not been changed, and I felt the strength of the tradition . I feel that Aikido is very difficult even though I have been practicing it for 20 years. Taking this opportunity to visit Hombu for the fist time in 18 years, I would like to practice Aikido devotedly.

- Impression of Hombu Dojo Kagami Biraki by Natsue ASAKURA (Hombu Dojo) -

�@�@I really enjoyed attending KagamiBiraki. It was spectacular for me to see such high grade seniors as 5th Dan, 6th Dan and more in Hombu dojo together. In a sense, I thought that this was the most safe place in Shinjuku at this moment.
�@�@I drunk so much during NAORAI(social-get-together) that I fell down when I got back to my home. Nevertheless, I would like to attend the Kagami Braki again next year. When I saw many seniors, I wondered if I could reach 6th Dan if I could continue Aikido for another 20 years. Through Kagami Biraki, I vaguely wish that I could keep practicing Aikido that long.

*** tidbit of information of Hombu Dojo Kagami Biraki *** 
�@�@* OSHIRUKO: sweet adzuki-bean (red-bean) soup with rice cake (MOCHI or O-MOCHI)
�@�@** MOCHI : rice cake
(Every year, Hombu dojo's teachers, instructors and volunteers pound steamed rice into cake for OSHIRUKO from the early morning.)

�@ ***
Hombu Dojo Kagamibiraki is very popular. Over 1000 practitioners attend the ceremony every year. If you want to see Doshu's Embu with your own eyes, please come to dojo a little bit earlier than the opening time. Otherwise, you can not sit in 3rd floor dojo.

�� Budokan Kagami Biraki�@�@10/Jan (2nd Monday) 12:00~ (free, need registration in advnce for Keiko)
- Impression of Nippon Budokan Kagami Biraki by Ivan Rigual SARRIA (Hombu Dojo) -

�@�@At the beginning of every year, is a tradition in Japan to do the kagamibiraki, the division of the New Year's Rice Cakes, the ceremony is on January the 11 and the rice cakes used in New year's displays are taken down, divided up, and cooked in a traditional dish of sweet azuki bean soup (OSHIRUKO), then we eat it drinking sake.
�@�@This year like every year they did the Kagamibiraki in Budokan, the opportunity that we had participating in the Budokan Kagamibiraki was exceptional. Such a great place like Budokan, so big and with the best professional budokas of the different budo, was just a great pleasure to be there.
�@�@Around Budokan we could see some people dress in old ancient samurai style, then they perform the way Shogun would organize his soldiers. We had the chance to see Shoriniji Kempo, Judo,Iaido basics, Naginata, Kyudo, Sumo, Karate and of course Aikido, all of them they perform a demonstration, and then we could see the way they do a normal class. It was a great time, after we all finished we sat down in the middle of Budokan to taste OSHIRUKO, with the paste of rice, call OMOCHI, and drink some sake. All of us just felt the heart of Japan being in the Budokan Kagamibiraki.
 

�� KAN-KEIKO in 2011 (Mid Winter Training) �@24/Jan ~ 02/Feb

KanKeiko1

KanKeiko2

KanKeiko3

list of achievers1

TENUGUI & diploma
- Every year, Hombu dojo holds a mid-winter training during the most coldest season in Japan for 10 days, from last the Monday of January to the first Wednesday of February.
Practitioners need to take at least one class everyday during Kan-Keiko period. When they are able to practice for 10 whole days, they are given a diploma and a TENUGUI (a special traditional Japanese towel) autographed by Doshu as a prize for perfect attendance. This year, over 110 practitioners accomplished it and were informed on the second floor bulletin board in Hombu Dojo.

-
Mid-summer training will be held from the last Monday of July to the first Wednesday of August.�@

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Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters
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Email: aikido@aikikai.or.jp