March 31, 1928 – May 12, 2002
October 2001. Mic relates: “A couple of days before the ‘Iwama Town Matsuri’, Saito Sensei was upset by visitors to the Aiki Jinja parking their cars in the small clearing across the street from Hitohiro’s restaurant. Sensei put up a sign and a barrier asking people who visit the Jinja not to park there. As you can see, it was a reasonably substantial log.” (It was still there, as of June 2002, but later was moved).
Photo: Mic Marelli
1999. Saito Sensei at work in his extensive garden. Gardening and aikido are a perfect combination.
Photo: Joran Fagerlund
1994. Saito Sensei applying the “Ai-Ki” brand to new bokken.
Photo: Aviv Goldsmith
1991. One September evening a tremendous storm toppled a large pine tree. It snapped about 1.5 meters above the ground and crashed down, just missing the dojo, its crown brushing the wooden dojo steps. It was quite an alarming sight to awaken to. After morning keiko, Sensei and Hitohiro cut the tree into logs for the uchi deshi to carry off and stack for future winters.
Photo: Joerg Beile
March 1984. Saito Sensei handplaning a bit of lumber out in his garden. Shokudo and dojo are in the background.
Photo: Andreas Wiemann