1980’s

1980’s. Iwama. In the snow. This photo also hung in the Iwama dojo genkan. Saito Sensei took advantage of the overnight spectacular snowfall to stage these photographs, reminiscent of the much loved Japanese television period dramas.

Photo: Miles Kessler

1980’s Danny Russell’s wedding, Iwama. The Saitos in formal kimono.

Photo: Bruce Klickstein

1980’s. Donny Lyon took this photo in Iwama and gave it to Yvonne Thelwell in Washington D.C.

Photo: Don Lyon (1952-1996)

1980’s. Ganseki otoshi. Uke is Bjorn Saw from Sweden. This was taken during a special video shoot with Paolo Corallini Sensei and Alessandro Tittarelli at his dojo 8 June 1992 in Jesi(An), Italy.

Photo: contributed by Paul Henderson

1980. Jason Yim ukeing for Saito Sensei at the Iwama dojo. This photo was part of a technical series for the Aikido Journal magazine.

Photo: Jason Yim

February 1981. The traditional “Keiko-gi” send-off party at the Atago-san onsen. Saito Sensei and Derek Minus from Australia. “On the back of my Keikogi Hitohiro drew a particularly good daruma.”

Photo: Derek Minus

1981-82. Saito Sensei’s second visit to California included a sailboat trip around San Francisco Bay. Tuuli lived on this boat. Sid is her dad.

Ryuji Inagaki took a long trip to travel and lived in the Bay Area for 6 months. The photo was taken in Sausalito where the Messer docked their boat.

In front, Bruce Klickstein, Sally Klickstein (at that time), Saito Sensei, and Bill Witt. In back, Tuuli Messer in red shirt, Ryuji Inagaki, David Alexander in hat, and Sid Messer

Photo: David Alexander

1981. Rob Okun taking ukemi for Saito Sensei’s demonstration of the 9th Kumijo, during the 1981, “All Japan Aikido Embukai”, in Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan stadium. This was the first time Saito Sensei publicly show 31 Kata Kumijo and the new 8-9-10 Kumijo. Both these practices were first developed in 1978 when Rob Okun, Craig Brown, Berry Knight and I lived in Iwama for 2 years and Saito Sensei started to teach Asa no Keiko 7 days a week for the uchi deshi.

Photo: Jason Yim

1982. Bastad, Sweden seminar. Uke: David Alexander. On this trip, he held one class in Germany and they visited Copenhagen, Denmark for several days.

Photo: Swedish newspaper clipping. Provided by David Alexander

1983. What can be done with a simple Tenugui, or “hand-towel”? Glad you asked! Ulf Evenås wrote “These pictures were laying in the Iwama Dojo for many years. Sensei loved them.”

Photo: Ulf Evenås as uke. Provided by Bill Witt

March 1984. Saito Sensei handplaning a bit of lumber out in his garden. Shokudo and dojo are in the background.

Photo: Andreas Wiemann

Fall of 1984. Iwama. Bruce Klickstein was only there for one week with Teja Bell. Jason Yim was staying for 6 months. Saito Sensei had received a small stack of “Japanese Red Oak” from a friend and asked if they wanted to learn how to make a Bokken in the traditional way. He had them construct a paneling stand with 2″ x 4″. They were just making regular bokkens, not “Heavy Bokken”. But due to the length of the wood they were able to make bokkens of 42″ length. Only the plane and sandpaper were used.

Photo: Bruce Klickstein

Fall of 1984. Bruce Klickstein, Teija Bell, John Thorton (sp?) and Saito Sensei. Yakisoba at the Iwama dojo.

Photo: Bruce Klickstein

1985. Saito Sensei. The kanji on his sleeve is “Morihito”.

Photo: Stan Pranin

1985. Don’t you love that wallpaper? This and the following party shot was in Takayasu’s residence in Sydney.

Lester (Tony) Snow (now in the UK), Barry Knight (later 6th dan in Melbourne), Nemoto from Iwama, and the Sydney, Australian crew: Saburo Takayasu, (later Shihan with Takemusu Aiki Association of Australia), Derek Minus (later 5th dan), and Mic Marelli (later 5th dan)

Photo: Takemusu Aiki Association Incorporated NSW

1985. Saito Sensei enjoys a good steak while in Australia.

Photo: Takemusu Aiki Association Incorporated NSW

1986, September. Lake Tahoe seminar. Of this seminal group, many are still training and even running their own dojo. At that time all trained at the Aikido Institute in Oakland, California.

Photo: Bruce Klickstein

1986. Oakland, California. American-style BBQ at someone’s house. Shirt kanji is natsu, or “summer”.

Photo: Bruce Klickstein

1987. Osimo, Italy. Setting up for a video shot in Paolo Corallini Sensei’s dojo that resulted in instructional videos on Aiki ken and Aiki jo. Uke: Shibata Ken’ichi

Photo: Stan Pranin

1989. Saito Sensei walking with entourage, including Daniel Mizukami on the left and Robert Ishibashi. Los Angeles seminar

Photo: Carlos Nogueir

1989. Saito Sensei in action with Robert Ishibashi and Peter Davis in Los Angeles.

Photo: Carlos Nogueira

1989. Los Angeles seminar. Saito Sensei demonstrates the power of deflection in the right place. Uke: Robert Ishibashi

Photo: Carlos Nogueira