{"id":24316,"date":"2025-05-13T10:07:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T03:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/?p=24316"},"modified":"2025-06-12T08:51:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T01:51:47","slug":"first-encounter-with-yamashima-sensei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/ja\/first-encounter-with-yamashima-sensei\/","title":{"rendered":"Tokyo 2018 \u2013 First Encounter with Yamashima Sensei"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Tokyo 2018 \u2013 First Encounter with Yamashima Sensei<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cHe threw me to the mat, and something in my heart stood up \u2014 I had found my teacher.\u201d<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

An unplanned journey became a turning point. It was more than just a keiko \u2014 it was the moment I met the teacher I had long been searching for.<\/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

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\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
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Journey to the Dojo<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

On November 5th, 2018, an unplanned journey became a turning point. It was more than just a keiko \u2014 it was the moment I encountered the teacher I had long been searching for.<\/p>

Although I had visited Tokyo many times before, this was the first time I came with Aikido at heart<\/strong>\u2014and with the intention of participating in a regular Keiko at Chiyoda-ku Aikikai<\/strong>. That afternoon, I got lost navigating the subway system. After walking over 2 kilometers, I finally hailed a taxi and arrived just in time. I was tired but filled with anticipation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The First Keiko with Yamashima Sensei<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

During Keiko, I had the opportunity to practice with Aigo-san<\/strong> and Sakai-san<\/strong>. Then, for the first time, I took Uke for Yamashima Sensei<\/strong>. The moment he threw me \u2014 effortlessly and with quiet power \u2014 I knew: this was the teacher I had been looking for<\/strong>. His movement spoke directly to the heart, beyond words and technique.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

A Connection Beyond the Tatami<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

After Keiko, we went out for dinner together. It was at that table, over a simple meal, that Sensei agreed to come to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to lead a seminar in 2019. That moment was filled with quiet joy \u2014 a sense of connection, trust, and a new chapter beginning.<\/p>

That night, back at the hotel, I couldn\u2019t sleep. My mind kept drifting back to the training, the quiet intensity of Sensei, and the feeling that something profound had just begun. As I slowly slipped into sleep, a whisper surfaced from within \u2014 not spoken aloud, but deeply felt:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!”<\/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

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t<\/a>\"Map\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
The image shows a map of a section of Tokyo, Japan, highlighting a route that passes through locations such as Iidabashi, Tokyo Dome, and Tokyo Teishin Hospital. Notable landmarks on the map include the Printing Museum, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Otsuma Women's University, Chidorigafuchi Park, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. The map also shows parts of the Toei Oedo Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. A parking spot is marked as \"You parked here.\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n\t
<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t<\/a>\"Subway\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
The image shows a subway platform with a train on the left side. Several people are standing on the platform, facing away from the camera. Above the platform, there is a yellow sign with directions to the Iidabashi Gate, written in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. The ceiling has fluorescent lights, and there are pillars along the platform.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n\t
<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t<\/a>\"Eleven\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
A group of eleven people are seated around a rectangular dining table in a restaurant. They are enjoying a meal with various dishes, bowls, sauces, and drinks, including glasses of beer. Some individuals are holding up their beer mugs, and the setting appears to be casual and social. The background includes windows with a blue-lit exterior and menus on the walls.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>
\n\t
<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t<\/a>\"Calendar\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
A calendar page showing the months of June, July, October, and November. The dates from October 7 to October 13 are marked with circles and lines in blue and red ink, with additional handwritten notes in red and blue near these dates. The calendar includes Japanese characters for the days of the week.<\/div>\n\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