April 2001. The Saitos at home in Iwama
Photo: Derk Minus
Saitos at Home
Tag: Iwama
Blindfolded
2001. Saito Sensei blindfolded and Tristao laughing in the background. At the party Sensei snapped a chopstick and proceeded to blindfold himself. Following he would sing a short Japanese ditti whilst twirling the broken chopstick between his hands. At the end of the song, he removed his blindfold and the poor soul whom the broken chopstick was pointing to was made to down his/her drink in one shot. Repeat process many times.
Photo: Dr. Bruce Choy
With Bruce Choy
2001. Dr. Bruce Choy having a beer with Hitohiro Saito during the Takemusu Aiki Association (http://www.aikidoaus.com.au/), Australia visit. Seated are Oku-san and Mr Saburo Takayasu. (Personal tip from Dr. Choy: “Best not to try and keep up beer for beer with Mr Hitohiro Saito!”)
Photo: TAA Australia.
Back of Aiki Jinja Stone
2001. The back of the Aiki Jinja stone. The line down the right side: “Showa jyuu-hachi nen.” (1944). The larger kanji: “Kaiso Ueshiba Morihei. Okina ken ryuu.” (Founder Ueshiba Morihei. This stone raised with respect and reverence.) Smaller kanji: “Heisei jyuu-san nen. (2001) Doushu Ueshiba Moriteru.” The stone was carved by Seiseki Abe (1915-2011), an extremely famous calligrapher from Osaka with long associations with the Ueshiba family and aikido.
Photo: Carlos Nogueira
Aiki Jinja
2001. Saito Sensei’s pride and joy was this large stone, with calligraphy from Abe-Sensei. The inscription reads “Aiki Jinja”.
Photo: Patricia Yarrow
Jo Practice
1999. Saito Sensei surveys his work during the morning jo practice.
Photo: Michele Marolla (Italy)
Gardening
1999. Saito Sensei at work in his extensive garden. Gardening and aikido are a perfect combination.
Photo: Joran Fagerlund
Birthday Cake
1998. Cutting his birthday cake in style
Photo: Jean Marc Serio
First Uchi-Deshi from Russia
November 1997. The first uchi-deshi from Russia with Saito Sensei in Iwama dojo, Ibaraki.
From left to right: Saito Sensei, Oleg Yakimov, Sergey Botov.
Today: Oleg Yakimov representative ‘Takemusu Aikido Russia, 6 Dan, shihan Aikikai’
Botov Sergey representative ‘Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai by Hitohito Saito in Russia; 6 Dan, shihan.’
Photo: Pavel
Delivery Service
1995. Saito Sensei’s delivery service. Ever the gracious host, he is driving another visiting sensei and everyone’s luggage to the Iwama train station.
Photo: Aviv Goldsmith