Little House In Ise

The cobbled walk, moat and fortified gates of the Nippon Budokan give the place an appropriately martial feel. The view of the moat in front of what used to be a gate into the old Edo castle is slightly obscured by cherry trees. It is too late in the year for blossoms but the large trees add a bit of much needed shade. Today, the Budokan was the site of the 47th All Japan Aikido Demonstration organized by the Aikikai.

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I volunteered to work instead of demonstrating and was assigned to “patrol” the 2nd and third floor. My Team (Mayumi and Tim Buerger) patrolled the 2nd and third floors. This meant that we had a lot of opportunities to chat with visitors, watch the demo and take pictures. Aside from having to wear a tie in the heat it didn’t really feel like work. At any rate, we saw some excellent Aikido, got a “free lunch” and were able to enjoy encouraging people to remove their clothes in slightly less public places (believe me, this counts a public service!). After the event, we walked through the Budokan cleaning up and then went for drinks with visiting luminaries. Pictures follow… Please note, I have promised two rather famous sensei that I would self-censor a few incriminating images (Bank number for “donations” at the end of this post ).

The moat protecting the budokan

The Outer Gate

The Inner gate

Above the entrance

The main arena had five large mats for the demonstrations.

Kudo Shihan of Tokushima -- my first sensei in Japan.

Kobayashi sensei does ikyo

Inagaki sensei demonstrated buki tori waza -- energetic buki tori waza ...

I love this iriminage!

Yokota-sensei lead the Honbu Ippan (General) Demonstrations

Morning class regulars

Kokoro Does Irimi nage

Ray does irimi nage

Ray finishes shihonage

Tada sensei does yonkyo

Tada sensei leading

Doshu and Waka-sensei do kotegaeshi (before)

Doshu and Waka-sensei do kotegaeshi (after)

Doshu and Suzuki sensei

A few pictures in the crowd …

Morning class friends

Kadi (Congrats on your 1st kyu!)

The Buergers and Fujimaki sensei

Afterward …

Ueda sensei and the Mieken Aikidokai came for the Enbukai!

Kokoro and friends

Doshu and the some of the women of morning class

Kanpai!

Osawa Sensei and the Saito girls