A Step Etched in Kamakura: Hatenkai Aikido's 20th Anniversary Journey and the Birth of the New Dojo 'Kamakurado'"

Title: Returning to the Origin: A Day in Kamakura

Next year, our dojo, Hatenkai, will mark its 20th anniversary—a significant milestone. To reflect on the path we have walked and to look toward the future we must forge, I recently visited Kamakura.
My first destination was Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. At the heart of this ancient capital of warriors, I quietly joined my hands in prayer, offering my deepest respect to the profound history of this land and the souls of the samurai.
Then, I proceeded to the main purpose of my visit: Yakumo Shrine in the Ōmachi district.
Why this specific shrine? Because this place is bound by a wondrous en—a fateful connection—to the path of Aikido we walk, a connection stretching back over 900 years.
Yakumo Shrine is said to have been founded during the Heian period by Minamoto no Shinra Saburō Yoshimitsu, a legendary samurai warrior who is also considered, in the lore of our martial art, to be the progenitor of Aikido’s foundational techniques. The moment I learned of this, I was struck by a profound sense of purpose; I was going to greet the very roots of my own martial art.
Before the shrine, I reported my gratitude for the past and my resolve for the future, and in return, I was granted an Ofuda.
Translator's Note 1: What is an Ofuda?
An Ofuda is a sacred talisman from a Shinto shrine, bearing the name of the shrine and its enshrined deity. It is not an object of worship itself, but a sacred symbol used to bless and protect a home or, in this case, a dojo. The act of receiving and enshrining an Ofuda is a traditional Japanese cultural practice to show respect and pray for safety and prosperity.
In the afternoon, I made my way to a small keikoba (practice hall) in Kamakura that I had prepared for this day. The space was empty, yet it was filled with a crisp, dignified air.
I have named this special practice hall in Kamakura "Kamakura-dō." It will be a new place of inquiry and training. For the time being, it will serve as a dojo for seminars and for the intensive training of a small number of senior students. (Regular activities are still in preparation.)
Then, I enshrined the Ofuda I had received from Yakumo Shrine within the Kamakura-dō. This is something I do not normally do in my other dojos. However, I made this an exception as a special act of my personal respect for the spirit of the land of Kamakura. The Ofuda was placed in the highest possible position within the practice space.
(A note for our international members: This act of enshrining an Ofuda is born from my personal sense of gratitude and respect; it is a cultural gesture, not a religious one. There is no religious requirement or practice of any kind for the members of our dojo. We are a flat and open organization, so please feel at ease.)
Practicing quietly in this dignified air, I felt each technique more deeply, more serenely than usual.
As the day’s journey came to an end and evening fell, I passed through the noren curtain of an establishment in Ōfuna called "Wabi-cha." It was a quiet, tasteful space—a fitting end to a fine day.
Translator's Note 2: What is "Wabi-cha"?
The name of this izakaya (a traditional Japanese pub) comes from the aesthetic concept of "Wabi-sabi." It is a core part of Japanese culture that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. It values authenticity and tranquility above all—a philosophy that deeply resonates with the spirit of Budo.
Alone, quietly tilting my cup, I reflected on the meaning of this day and on the future of the "Kamakura-dō."
The Kamakura-dō is a small practice hall, just born. Yet, it is a place where we will transmit the art of Aikido with profound substance, small though it may be.
To have taken this small step in the historic land of Kamakura feels immensely significant. How will it grow from here? I wish to quietly watch over its progress and walk this path together with it.
For this wonderful en I have experienced today, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart.