Chronology of Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido
\n(December 14, 1883 – April 26, 1969)<\/p>\n
Abridged from Encyclopedia of Aikido (Stanley Pranin, Aiki News\/Aikido Journal)<\/p>\n
Note: These are documented events during the life of Morihei Ueshiba.
\n=====================================================================
\n1883 – Morihei Ueshiba born December 14 in Tanabe, Kishu (Wakayama Prefecture)<\/p>\n
1900 – Moves to Tokyo in September, starts stationery store<\/p>\n
1901 – Briefly studies Tenjin Shin’yo-ryu Jujutsu<\/p>\n
1903 – Marries Hatsu Itogawa, a distant relative, in Tanabe
\n – Joins 61st Army Infantry Regiment of Wakayama, late December<\/p>\n
1905 – Departs for Manchurian Front (Russo-Japanese War)<\/p>\n
1906 – Discharged from army, returns to Tanabe<\/p>\n
1908 – Receives certificate from Yagyu-ryu Jujutsu<\/p>\n
1910 – Travels to Hokkaido<\/p>\n
1911 – First daugher born (Matsuko)<\/p>\n
1912 – Leads settlers from Kishu to Hokkaido (Aza-Shirataki, Kamiyubetsu
\n villege, Mombetsu County)<\/p>\n
1915 – Meets Sokaku Takeda (Daito-ryu jujitsu) at Hisada Inn in Engaru<\/p>\n
1917 – First son born (Takemori), July<\/p>\n
1918 – Serves as town councilman in Kamiyubetsu village, June 1918-April 1919<\/p>\n
1919 – Leaves Hokkaido in December due to father’s illness
\n – Turns land and property over to Sokaku Takeda<\/p>\n
1920 – Meets Onisaburo Deguchi of Omoto religion in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture
\n – Father (Yoroku) dies in January
\n – Returns to Tanabe
\n – Moves with family to Ayabe (site of Omoto religion)
\n – Builds “Ueshiba Juku” dojo
\n – Second son born (Kuniharu), August
\n – First son dies (Takemori), August
\n – Second son dies (Kuniharu), September<\/p>\n
1921 – Third son born (Kisshomaru – birth name Koetsu), June<\/p>\n
1922 – Mother (Yuki) dies
\n – Sokaku Takeda visits Ayabe along with family to teach, staying
\n from circa April 28 to September 15
\n – Receives “kyoji dairi” (teaching assistant) certificate from
\n Takeda (September)<\/p>\n
1924 – Goes to Mongolia with Onisaburo Deguchi with goal of establishing
\n a utopian community. (February to July) The party, led by Onisaburo
\n Deguchi, including Ueshiba, is captured and held prisoner by the
\n Chinese military for plotting the overthrow of the existing government.
\n Released after short period of internment through intervention
\n of Japanese consulate and returned to Japan.<\/p>\n
1925 – Gives demonstration in Tokyo for former Prime Minister Gombei Yamamoto<\/p>\n
1927 – Moves to Tokyo with entire family
\n – Establishes temporary dojo in billiard room of Count Shimazu’s
\n mansion in Shiba, Shirogane in Sarumachi<\/p>\n
1928 – Moves to Shiba, Tsunamachi, site of temporary dojo<\/p>\n
1929 – Moves with family to Shiba, Kuruma-cho, sets up temporary dojo<\/p>\n
1930 – Moves to Shimo-Ochiai in Mejiro
\n – Jigoro Kano of Judo observes demonstration by Ueshiba in Mejiro
\n dojo and dispatches several students from Kodokan, including
\n Minoru Mochizuki, to study<\/p>\n
1931 – Dedication of Kobukan dojo in Ushigome, Wakamatsu-cho<\/p>\n
1932 – Budo Sen’yokai (Society for the Promotion of Martial Arts) is
\n established with Ueshiba as its first head<\/p>\n
1933 – Technical manual “Budo Renshu” published<\/p>\n
1935 – Film documentary of Aikid Budo made by Asahi Newspaper Company
\n in Osaka. Only known pre-war film of Morihei Ueshiba
\n (Available from Aikido Journal)<\/p>\n
1937 – Ueshiba’s name appears in enrollment book of Kashima Shinto-Ryu<\/p>\n
1938 – Technical manual “Budo” published<\/p>\n
1939 – Invited to instruct in Manchuria<\/p>\n
1940 – Attends martial arts demonstration in Manchuria commemorating
\n 2600th anniversary of Japan<\/p>\n
1941 – Gives demonstration at Sainenkan dojo on imperial grounds for
\n members of the imperial family
\n – Teaches at military police academy
\n – Invited to Manchuria to instruct during University Martial Arts week
\n – Becomes martial arts advisor for Shimbuden and Kenkoku universities
\n in Manuchuria<\/p>\n
1942 – Name “Aikido” becomes official and is registered with Ministry
\n of Education
\n – Invited to Manchuria as representative of Japanese martial arts
\n to attend Manchuria-Japanese Exchange Martial Arts demonstrations
\n in commemoration of 10th anniversary of Manchurian Independence
\n (August)
\n – Moves to Iwama, Ibaraki Prefecture
\n – Kisshomaru Ueshiba becomes Director of Kobukai Foundation<\/p>\n
1943 – Aiki Shrine built in Iwama<\/p>\n
1945 – Kobukai Foundation ceases activity due to post-war ban on martial arts
\n – Iwama dojo completed<\/p>\n
1948 – Hombu Dojo moves to Iwama, office opened in Tokyo
\n – Kisshomaru Ueshiba becomes Director of Aikikai Foundation<\/p>\n
1949 – Regular practice resumes at Tokyo dojo<\/p>\n
1955 – To Osaka for several weeks to instruct in dojo of Bansen Tanaka<\/p>\n
1956 – Hombu Dojo moves back to Tokyo from Iwama
\n – Several foreign ambassadors invited to public exhibition<\/p>\n
1958 – U.S. television documentary “Rendezvous with Adventure” filmed
\n (Available from Aikido Journal)<\/p>\n
1960 – Receives Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from Japanese government<\/p>\n
1961 – Invited to Hawaii by Hawaii Aikikai (February)
\n – Television documentary made by NHK company (Available from Aikido
\n Journal)
\n – All-Japan Student Aikido Federation established with Ueshiba as
\n president<\/p>\n
1963 – First All-Japan Aikido Demonstration (October)<\/p>\n
1964 – Receives Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, as Founder of Aikido<\/p>\n
1968 – New Hombu Dojo building completed<\/p>\n
1969 – Gives final demonstration January 15 at Kagami Biraki celebration
\n – Dies April 26
\n – Ashes buried at Kozanji, Tanabe
\n – Hair preserved at Iwama, Kumano Dojo, Ayabe and Aikikai Hombu Dojo
\n – Made honorary citizen of Tanabe and Iwama
\n – Wife, Hatsu, dies in June<\/p>\n
