Here's an old photo of O-Sensei from 1967 that has recently surfaced, Takayasu Sensei gave me permission to put it on our website. It may be of interest to some.

It's a group photo in front of the Shrine, showing O-Sensei posing with students from Ibaraki Univerity Dojo, during Gasshuku, probably early 1967. In 1997, Sensei visited Iwama on a trip to Japan, and returned to the Ibaraki Uni. Dojo for the first time in almost 25 years. One of the Sempai presented him with this photo, which now hangs in Sensei's Sydney City Dojo.

Takayasu Sensei is standing, 3rd from left. Others in the photo remain unknown at this stage.
http://www.aikidoaus.com.au/dojo/images/osensei10_lg.gif

cheers,

Jason Wotherspoon
Takemusu Aiki Association of Australia http://www.aikidoaus.com.au/dojo

[ November 08, 2002: Message edited by: Jason ]

Four things I thought interesting about the photo.

1. Everyone in the front row appears to be making every effort not to have their heads higher than O'Sensei's.

2. Some of the deshi are were what I think have to be the shortest keiko-gi pants I've ever seen. Not that that is a bad thing.

3. Where are the hakamas?!? If hakama was such a big issue with O'Sensei, then why is this group hakama-less. I note that only the two ladies are wearing one.

4. I read somewhere that O'Sensei frowned upon and did not like in anyway having writings or patches, etc on the keiko-gi. Yet it is very clear this group is doing just that.

It's a nice photo. Thanks for sharing it.

... Cheers ...

[ November 10, 2002: Message edited by: Steven Miranda ]

In answer to your points:

1. Yes, I noticed it too. It's interesting how the younger generation then showed respect to their elders.

2 and 3. Since Takayasu Sensei started training in 1967, and this pic. is taken in 1967, most of these deshi are probably Sensei's classmates, and therefore first year students, I would hazard a guess that all the non-hakama students are beginners, thus not ready for them. And since they are beginners, they probably didn't have much experience with the shrink rates of new keiko-gi, or perhaps, being a University dojo, they had access to only a certain size in bulk orders of keiko-gi for their students.

4. I will have to ask Sensei about this, but I believe that certain concessions were ususally allowed to university students on gasshuku. If I find out, I'll post it here.

cheers,

Jason

Thanks for the reply. I would be interested in what your sensei has to say about the writting on the keiko-go and the lack of hakama. So much has been made of it on this and many other boards yet I continue to see photos such as this that is contrary to popular beliefs.

... Cheers ...

To me this looks like a typical Japanese university club group photograph. They are probably being directed (i.e., cajoled into position) by the photographer.

As Jason states, the absence of hakama (and everyone wearing white belts) suggests to me that all are in lower or middle kyu grades. In the Hiroshima University club, which started in 1972, the grades are 4th kyu, 2nd kyu and 1st kyu (passing the latter entitles the wearing of a brown belt). Women students can wear hakama after obtaining 4th kyu; the men have to wait until shodan.

As for names & other rmarks on keikogi, there are some simple reasons for this. It is a pretty rigid custom in Japanese university clubs for juniors to fold seniors' keikogi and hakama, and so it is vital to have one's name on one's clothes, keikogi (tops and bottoms), and hakama. In summer schools, juniors are quite exhausted from training and taking ukemi, but they have to wash and fold up all the keikogi of the kambu members and above. This tradition is rigidly observed.

In addition, students do quite a lot of godo-geiko and attend student demonstrations (and are even awarded trophies for the best demonstrations: much to my shock when I first saw this). So having the club's name on the keikogi is really quite practical.

By 1967, Japan had got beyond the stage where keikogi were regarded as underwear. And O Sensei probably had long stopped worrying about such matters. After all, he was well 'above the clouds' by this time and responsibility was firmly in the hands of Kisshomaru Dojo-cho. Actually, he seems serenely unaware of what is happening around him.

In some ways aikido university clubs operate quite independently in Japan, in accordance with a tradition gojng back at least till the Meiji period. But this means that there is a fairly dead weight of tradition in the clubs, the deadness and weight depending on the university.

Best regards,

PAG

quote:

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Originally posted by Keith Engle:
1) Myself, I look at the picture and see a bunch of people in the front row trying to get low enough not to block the people in the back row.

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Particularly since the people in the back row seem to have no problem standing tall.

Thanks for the reply. Everything you mention does make good sense to me. Thanks for the explaination.

... Cheers ...

quote:

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Originally posted by P Goldsbury:
Hello Steven,

To me this looks like a typical Japanese university club group photograph. They are probably being directed (i.e., cajoled into position) by the photographer.

As Jason states, the absence of hakama (and everyone wearing white belts) suggests to me that all are in lower or middle kyu grades. In the Hiroshima University club, which started in 1972, the grades are 4th kyu, 2nd kyu and 1st kyu (passing the latter entitles the wearing of a brown belt). Women students can wear hakama after obtaining 4th kyu; the men have to wait until shodan.

As for names & other rmarks on keikogi, there are some simple reasons for this. It is a pretty rigid custom in Japanese university clubs for juniors to fold seniors' keikogi and hakama, and so it is vital to have one's name on one's clothes, keikogi (tops and bottoms), and hakama. In summer schools, juniors are quite exhausted from training and taking ukemi, but they have to wash and fold up all the keikogi of the kambu members and above. This tradition is rigidly observed.

In addition, students do quite a lot of godo-geiko and attend student demonstrations (and are even awarded trophies for the best demonstrations: much to my shock when I first saw this). So having the club's name on the keikogi is really quite practical.

By 1967, Japan had got beyond the stage where keikogi were regarded as underwear. And O Sensei probably had long stopped worrying about such matters. After all, he was well 'above the clouds' by this time and responsibility was firmly in the hands of Kisshomaru Dojo-cho. Actually, he seems serenely unaware of what is happening around him.

In some ways aikido university clubs operate quite independently in Japan, in accordance with a tradition gojng back at least till the Meiji period. But this means that there is a fairly dead weight of tradition in the clubs, the deadness and weight depending on the university.

Best regards,

PAG

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I received an answer from Sensei about the things we were discussing above.

The kanji on the uniforms says Ibaraki Dai Gaku Ai Ki, as they are students from the Ibaraki Univ. club. Sensei was not aware of any rule in Iwama at that time, regarding the restriction of patches and markings.

Everyone in the group is at beginner level, hence not wearing hakama. The two ladies are sankyu, and are allowed to wear hakama before shodan, because that was allowed.

hope this answers your questions,

Jason Wotherspoon

quote:

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Originally posted by Jason:
Hi Steve, and all,

I received an answer from Sensei about the things we were discussing above.

The kanji on the uniforms says Ibaraki Dai Gaku Ai Ki, as they are students from the Ibaraki Univ. club. Sensei was not aware of any rule in Iwama at that time, regarding the restriction of patches and markings.

Everyone in the group is at beginner level, hence not wearing hakama. The two ladies are sankyu, and are allowed to wear hakama before shodan, because that was allowed.

hope this answers your questions,

Jason Wotherspoon

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