{"id":23494,"date":"2025-04-29T09:42:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T02:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/?p=23494"},"modified":"2025-06-12T08:53:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:53:39","slug":"keiko-with-saotome-sensei-in_tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/ja\/keiko-with-saotome-sensei-in_tokyo\/","title":{"rendered":"Memorable Keiko with Saotome Sensei"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"23494\" class=\"elementor elementor-23494\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c2cf7e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8c2cf7e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac6c69c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac6c69c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Memorable Keiko with Saotome Sensei<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f3aa29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8f3aa29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> At Chiyoda-Ku Aikikai \u2014 October 2023<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5b4861 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d5b4861\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are moments when the journey leads us back \u2014 not merely to a place, but to the spirit that first set us in motion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8a0a87 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e8a0a87\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcb85f7 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"dcb85f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/odmIXXNcZPA&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fa4ef2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8fa4ef2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d56a0f8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d56a0f8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13aed98 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13aed98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Saotome Sensei \u2014 Touching the Source Once More<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cf1b16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9cf1b16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"521\" data-end=\"755\">Saotome Shihan is one of the last direct links to the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei. As an uchi-deshi, he trained daily under O Sensei\u2019s personal guidance \u2014 absorbing not just techniques, but the living breath of Aiki.<\/p><p data-start=\"762\" data-end=\"959\">After nearly five decades of dedicating himself to the transmission of Aikido in the United States, his return to Tokyo in October 2023 was not just a visit \u2014 it was a quiet return to the source.<\/p><p data-start=\"966\" data-end=\"1173\">His keiko reflected the discipline, clarity, and etiquette inherited from O Sensei \u2014 but also a gentle warmth that reminded us: true mastery lives in balance \u2014 between form and spirit, strength and kindness.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94352b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"94352b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><div  id=\"jtg-25347\" class=\"modula modula-gallery modula-custom-grid\" data-config=\"{&quot;height&quot;:800,&quot;tabletHeight&quot;:800,&quot;mobileHeight&quot;:800,&quot;desktopHeight&quot;:800,&quot;enableTwitter&quot;:false,&quot;enableWhatsapp&quot;:false,&quot;enableFacebook&quot;:false,&quot;enablePinterest&quot;:false,&quot;enableLinkedin&quot;:false,&quot;enableEmail&quot;:false,&quot;randomFactor&quot;:0.5,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;custom-grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:12,&quot;gutter&quot;:10,&quot;mobileGutter&quot;:10,&quot;tabletGutter&quot;:10,&quot;desktopGutter&quot;:10,&quot;enableResponsive&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;tabletColumns&quot;:2,&quot;mobileColumns&quot;:1,&quot;lazyLoad&quot;:0,&quot;lightboxOpts&quot;:{&quot;animated&quot;:true,&quot;Thumbs&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;modern&quot;,&quot;showOnStart&quot;:false,&quot;position&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;},&quot;Toolbar&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:{&quot;right&quot;:[&quot;close&quot;],&quot;left&quot;:[&quot;infobar&quot;]},&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;Carousel&quot;:{&quot;Panzoom&quot;:{&quot;touch&quot;:true},&quot;infinite&quot;:false,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;},&quot;keyboard&quot;:{&quot;Escape&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;Delete&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;Backspace&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;PageUp&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;PageDown&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;,&quot;ArrowUp&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;,&quot;ArrowDown&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;ArrowRight&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;ArrowLeft&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;},&quot;wheel&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;touch&quot;:true,&quot;backdropClick&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;l10n&quot;:{&quot;CLOSE&quot;:&quot;Close&quot;,&quot;NEXT&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;PREV&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;Error&quot;:&quot;The requested content cannot be loaded. 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class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\n\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n\t{\n\t\t\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t\t\"@type\"   : \"ImageGallery\",\n\t\t\"id\"      : \"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/ja\/keiko-with-saotome-sensei-in_tokyo\/#modula-gallery-25347\",\n\t\t\"url\"     : \"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/ja\/keiko-with-saotome-sensei-in_tokyo\/\"\n\t}\n\n\t<\/script>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c14e43 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8c14e43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lessons from Saotome Sensei\u2019s Keiko<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3763d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3763d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"514\" data-end=\"710\">During the keiko at Chiyoda-ku Aikikai, Saotome Sensei guided us back to the essence of Aikido \u2014 not as a system of techniques, but as a <strong data-start=\"651\" data-end=\"673\">living martial art<\/strong>, grounded in spirit and tradition.<\/p><p data-start=\"717\" data-end=\"860\">He reminded us plainly: <strong data-start=\"741\" data-end=\"790\">Aikido is not a sport, nor a social activity.<\/strong> It is not practiced for competition, entertainment, or socializing. Aikido is a martial Way \u2014 one that embodies the discipline of martial arts, the moral clarity of <strong data-start=\"964\" data-end=\"975\">bushid\u014d<\/strong>, and the harmonizing force of <strong data-start=\"1006\" data-end=\"1014\">Aiki<\/strong>. It calls us not only to refine movement, but to refine ourselves. It is a path that demands sincerity, vigilance, and deep inner responsibility.<\/p><p data-start=\"1177\" data-end=\"1281\">At the heart of Sensei\u2019s teaching was a quiet, essential question: <strong data-start=\"1248\" data-end=\"1279\">Why do you practice Aikido?<\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"1288\" data-end=\"1468\">Without clarity of purpose, even the most refined technique becomes hollow. When the &#8220;why&#8221; is lost, Aikido becomes disconnected from its essence \u2014 reduced to empty form or habit.<\/p><p data-start=\"1475\" data-end=\"1657\">Our task is not merely to preserve techniques, but to carry forward something far more elusive: <strong data-start=\"1571\" data-end=\"1601\">the living current of Aiki<\/strong>\u2014 the invisible breath that O Sensei entrusted to us. This tradition cannot be safeguarded through form alone. It must be passed on through presence, integrity, and the way we walk the Way. For those who teach, this responsibility grows deeper: to transmit not only skill, but spirit.<\/p><p data-start=\"1903\" data-end=\"2011\">Saotome Sensei\u2019s presence reminded us that Aikido is not something to perform \u2014 it is something to embody. The Way is not walked with strength alone, but with kindness, humility, and an open heart.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-964b5ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"964b5ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Returning to the Beginning<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f388f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f388f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\" data-start=\"270\" data-end=\"476\">Through Saotome Sensei\u2019s movements and words, the living breath of O Sensei\u2019s teachings echoed once more \u2014 not as something fixed in the past, but as a spirit that moves forward with every sincere practice.<\/p><p class=\"\" data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"696\">In stepping onto the tatami at Chiyoda-ku Aikikai, we were not simply retracing old steps. We were reminded that returning to the source means carrying its light into each new day \u2014 with clarity, sincerity, and care.<\/p><p class=\"\" data-start=\"698\" data-end=\"877\">The path of Aikido is not about reaching an end. It is about continually returning \u2014 again and again \u2014 to the heart of why we began. And in doing so, we keep the spirit alive.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Memorable Keiko with Saotome Sensei At Chiyoda-Ku Aikikai \u2014 October 2023 There are moments when the journey le [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23517,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[230],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-return-to-the-source"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Memorable Keiko with Saotome Sensei - iKiCenter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/ja\/keiko-with-saotome-sensei-in_tokyo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ja_JP\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Memorable Keiko with Saotome Sensei - 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