The Aikikai Foundation (Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai?) is the original aikido organisation. It is an incorporated entity in Japan since 1940. It is headed by the doshu, the living successor of the founder of aikido. In its name, Kai (会) simply means assembly or club The Aikikai Foundation operates the Hombu dojo, which is also named Aikido World Headquarters. It is sometimes called the Aikikai Hombu to distinguish it from the headquarters of later aikido organisations. It is located in Tokyo. The term "Hombu" may sometimes be used loosely to refer to the upper echelons of instructors at Hombu dojo, or to the Aikikai Foundation itself. The Aikikai Foundation also manages one satellite dojo, the historical Iwama dojo in Ibaraki (about 100 km north-east of Tokyo). The Aikikai Foundation sends instructors around Japan on a continual basis. The Aikikai Foundation also has the business of issuing, throughout the world, certificates of grading and instructor titles legitimated by the Doshu.
Doshu Chronology
O Sensei
Morihei Ueshiba 1883-1969 1883 Born on December 14 in Tanabe city, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan 1912 Moves to Hokkaido Prefecture and meets Sokaku Takeda, learns Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujitsu.
1919 Meets O. Deguchi of the Omoto Sect in Ayabe, Kyoto. 1927 Moves to Tokyo with his family and begins teaching the Way of Aiki. 1960 Receives the Shiju Hosho Medal from the Japanese government. 1969 Passes away on April 26, at the age of 86.
Second Doshu
Kisshomaru Ueshiba 1921-1999 1921 Born on June 27, in Ayabe. 1946 Graduates from Waseda University, Faculty of Economics and Political Science. 1956 Gives the first demonstration and starts to teach Aikido to the public. 1957 Publishes the first textbook AIKIDO. 1969 Assumes the title of Aikido Doshu. 1995 Receives the Zui Hosho Medal from the Japanese government. 1999 Passes away on January 4, at the age of 77.
Third Doshu
Moriteru Ueshiba 1951- 1951 Born on April 2, in Tokyo. 1976 Graduates from Meiji Gakuin University, Faculty of Economics. 1996 Becomes General Director of the Hombu Dojo. 1999 Assumes the title of Aikido Doshu.