Everything about Aiki Shrine totally explained
Iwama dojo, aka
Ibaraki dojo or
Ibaraki Shibu dojo (Ibaraki branch dojo), is a small
aikido dojo located in the town of
Iwama in Kasama City,
Ibaraki Prefecture. The founder of aikido,
Morihei Ueshiba, lived there from
1942 until his death in
1969.
The Iwama dojo has become a focus of the followers of
Iwama style aikido. This line of aikido recognizes Iwama dojo as the birth place of the
martial art of aikido, since the art was officially named aikido in the year Ueshiba took up full-time residence there. After Ueshiba's death,
Morihiro Saitō was the caretaker of the Aiki shrine and the instructor responsible for training in the dojo. In spite of political friction between Saitō and the
Aikikai (owners of the property, including the dojo and shrine), a tense but cooperative relationship was maintained for many years.
Following Saitō's death in
2002, his son
Hitohiro and the Aikikai parted ways. The younger Saitō established his own organization and is teaching from the Tanrenkan dojo in Iwama. The current head of Ibaraki Shibu Dojo is
Hiroshi Isoyama.
Aiki Jinja
Aiki Jinja (合気神社) is the
shrine built by
Morihei Ueshiba in
Iwama in honor of the deities of
aikido.
Jinja is the Japanese term for a shrine. The shrine grounds include a
dojo (training hall).
The first small shrine building was built in the
1940s, the second one, much bigger, was erected in front of the small one in
1962. They were both renovated by the Saito family in
2001-
2002 with the approval of the
Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. This renovation also included a beautiful fence set up around the compound, and a huge stone with the carvings "Aiki Jinja" designed by
Seiseki Abe, a master of calligraphy and of Aikido who was also the calligraphy teacher of Morihei Ueshiba and is the teacher of
Hitohiro Saito Shihan.
Every month, on the 14th, the Saito family hosted the Doshu and a religious service was held at the Aiki Jinja (Tsukinamisai). Later, a small party with all the
uchi deshi (resident students) and the Saito family was held inside the old dojo. This tradition is kept up by current Doshu
Moriteru Ueshiba.
Every year on
April 29 (the start of the Japanese
Golden Week holiday), the annual shrine festival is held by
Oomoto priests in commemoration of Ueshiba's death on April 26, 1969. Through the years, the Saito family developed this event transforming it into a very big day for the small town of Iwama. Hundreds of aikido practitioners come to Iwama to participate in the event. A religious celebration is held inside the shrine and ancient music is played. Before finishing, a small ritual demonstration of aikido is held. To finish, all of the visitors are invited to a huge lunch in the dojo compounds.
Further Information
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