1970's and Saito Sensei
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1970's 1970-Saito Sensei is 42 years old. The first foreigners arrive in Iwama. Saito Sensei begins his life mission of continuing to preserve O-Sensei's aikido. He publishes his first series of five training books, Traditional Aikido.
1973. The "Ibaragi Aikido Shuren" dojo,(Shuren is "training") which is more casually referred to as the "Iwama dojo". This humble structure became the home to many who trained there. Current status: property of Honbu dojo. Ultimate fate: unknown. Photo: David Alexander. |
1971. Bill Witt with Saito Sensei and others. Bill Witt was one of the very first "gaijin" (foreigner) to seek out Saito Sensei in the Saito Sensei and Bill Witt: The Early Years. |
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1972, Tokyo. The first party together. This one in David's 6-mat apartment in Nuke-benten near the Honbu Aikikai dojo where Saito Sensei had been teaching Sunday classes (interviews about this time on the Memorial page) --which always included buki-waza (jo and bokken training). Not long afterwards, David moved to Iwama for the next ten years. Left to right: Lars Anderson (Sweden), Morihiro Saito Sensei, Takeji Tomita (Sweden), and David Alexander. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1972, Iwama. Hand planing new, very heavy bokken for building extra arm strength. Jason Yee and Bruce Klickstein assist. Photo: Bruce Klickstein. |
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1973. March, Iwama. With Saito Sensei in his garden. Takako & David Alexander have just moved to Iwama. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1973. David Alexander and Saito Sensei workout with ken bukiwaza one freezing winter day in the dojo. During this winter, there were few people training-just David and the local Iwama regulars. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1973, Iwama. "Kazunari". Relaxing after the monthly visit of Honbu Aikikai for the "juyoka matsuri", or "Celebration of the 14th of the month". Mrs. Saito (okusan) shows how to keep baby Kazunari happy with "Beer for Tots". Kazunari now lives in the house next door to the Saito's. Corri Geffen is in front. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1973. Tom Everett gets his double nikkyo & "uisuki" farewell present. Fumiko pours, Saito Sensei grabs his right and Shigemi Inagaki grabs his left. Rumor has it that David A is responsible for coming up with this "tradition", which has been "enjoyed" by many ever since. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1973. The first group of gaijin to train in Iwama. In front: Bruce Klickstein, Ulf Evanås(as a white belt), Mirko Takac, David Alexander, Morihiro Saito Sensei, and Bill Witt Photo: David Alexander. |
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1973. Saito Sensei throws Umezawa-san. Sugawara-san watches from the left. Photo: This set of nine photos from Mary Bartlett, who was part of the first group of gaijin as Mary McDonald. 1/9. |
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1973. Saito Sensei resting pensively during a photo shoot Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1973. Okusan and Saito Sensei in front of the dojo. Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1973. Saito Sensei perfecting his soba making in the shokudo. If you were lucky enough to enjoy this handmade specialty made from buckwheat flour, you'll look upon the humble sobanoodle with fond memories. Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1973. In the shokudo. Saito Sensei's soba and cold beer with lunch. The *best* on a hot, humid day. As ever, lightbulbs remain unshaded. No television either. Rules posted. Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1973. Narita-san (left) and Hans Goto before the Aiki-jinja, wearing hanten. Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1973. On a hot, unbearably humid day, thoughts of bicycling through the rice fields to the famed waterfall (taki) proves irresistable. Looks like Hans Goto, Mary Barlett, Ulf Evanås, Darrell Bluhm, and probably Narita-san. Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1973. Saito Sensei at the waterfall. Photo: Mary Bartlett. |
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1974. Overlooking windy San Francisco. Inagaki, David Alexander, Sensei and Bill Witt. Bruce Klickstein. |
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1974. San Francisco. Saito Sensei before a tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. Bruce Klickstein. |
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1974. Saito Sensei's first trip out of Japan. He travels with a large entourage to California and Hawaii. At the SF Airport, Corri Geffen discovers you just can't nikkyo Sensei. Entourage includes Shigemi Inagaki, Hans Goto, Jeanette "Jeannie" Klickstein (at that time), Tom Everett, Bill Witt and David Alexander. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1974. Kokyu during the first American tour. The early days. Just Sensei, and a few aikidoka. A lovely, almost ethereal photograph. Contributed by Roy Vrijs. Source unknown. |
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1974. Hawaii Hochi sports newspaper announcement for Saito sensei's one day seminar on their way back from California to Japan. Held at the Honolulu Aikido Dojo. In front: David Alexander, Saito Sensei and Shigemi Inagaki. In back, the dojo owner in a suit, and two aikidoka in Hawaiian shirts. Photo: David Alexander. |
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1974. Saito Sensei in San Francisco seminar, with Terry Dobson and Bill Witt. Photo: Bill Witt. |
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1975-76? Sweden. First visit? Uke: Lars Anderson. Photo: Bruce Klickstein. |
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1975. Après keiko games. Who are the two (losing) on the left? Photo: Bruce Klickstein. |
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1976. With the grandkids before the dojo door. Sensei holds baby Kazanari. Okusan has Masaki on her back. Masaki is the son of Harumi and Umezawa-san. Now an adult, he is working at the new town hall. Photo: Bruce Klickstein. |
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1976. Iwama. From the left, Cory Geffen, Jeanie Lerner, Diana Taylor, Bruce, Sam from Sweden, ??, ??, Bernice Tom, ??, and David Alexander Bruce Klickstein. |
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1978? Danny Russell's wedding, Iwama. The Saitos in formal kimono. Photo: Bruce Klickstein
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1978. Iwama. Preparing the soba in the shokudo. Bruce Klickstein. |
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1978. Bruce Klickstein, Teija Bell, ? and Saito Sensei. Yakisoba at the Iwama dojo. Photo: Bruce Klickstein. |
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1978 in San Francisco. Bruce Klickstein and Saito Sensei. Photo: Bruce Klickstein. |
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1979 in Calgary, Canada. Stan Pranin translating for Saito Sensei. Photo: Stan Pranin |
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