Yesterday, I had the honor of attending the celebration for Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo. Over 1,100 practitioners and supporters from across Japan and around the world gathered to mark this historic achievement—an unprecedented three-generation legacy of imperial honors within the Ueshiba family.
The Order of the Rising Sun, established in 1875, is one of Japan's highest civilian distinctions, recognizing outstanding contributions to education, culture, and social welfare. That Morihei Ueshiba, Kisshomaru Doshu, and now Moriteru Doshu have all received imperial honors speaks volumes about Aikido's profound cultural and social impact.
In his acceptance speech, Doshu humbly emphasized that this honor belongs to all of us—everyone practicing and supporting Aikido worldwide. He shared impressive statistics: when Kisshomaru Doshu assumed leadership in 1969, Aikido had spread to 15 countries; when Moriteru Doshu took over in 1999, it was 80 countries; today, we're in 140 countries and regions. The founder's vision of Aikido as a "silver bridge connecting Japan and the world" has truly become reality.
What struck me most was Doshu's commitment to the future. He acknowledged that as Aikido grows, it faces challenges from changing times and social environments. Yet he firmly stated that while we must adapt, the philosophy and techniques founded by Morihei Ueshiba must remain unchanged. His responsibility, he said, is to pass this practice to the next generation in the most accurate way possible—not as a reward for past efforts, but as encouragement to continue improving.
Following the speeches and toast, we were given ample time to mingle and enjoy the impressive variety of food and beverages on offer. These large gatherings are always excellent opportunities for dojo heads from across Japan and abroad to reconnect and plan future collaborations. This was very much the case yesterday, and I had wonderful conversations with many colleagues, including catching up with Okamoto Yoko Sensei from Sandokai Aikido Kyoto and John Brinsley Sensei from Los Angeles Daiwa Aikido. I'm already looking forward to welcoming many visitors to Yokohama AikiDojo in the coming months.
Catching up with friends Okamoto Yoko Sensei from Sandokai Aikido Kyoto and John Brinsley Sensei from Los Angeles Daiwa Aikido.
A touching detail: the commemorative gift to attendees was Wajima lacquerware, selected by Ueshiba Mitsuteru to support recovery efforts following last year's devastating earthquake in the Noto Peninsula. Even in celebration, Aikido's connection to broader social concerns shines through.
I'm deeply grateful to have been part of this historic day and look forward to welcoming many visitors to Yokohama AikiDojo in the coming months.
Guillaume Erard
Dojo-cho, Yokohama AikiDojo
