1883-1969

Chronology of the Life of Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

[Jigoro Kano establishes the Kano Juku School the forerunner of the Kodokan.]

Moves to Tokyo in September and works in business of relative Koshiro Inoue. Studies Tenshin Shinyo-ryu Jujutsu under Tokusaburo Tozawa in Tokyo. Possible brief study of Shinkage-ryu Sword school.

Marries Hatsu Itogawa in Tanabe.Joins 61st Army Infantry Regiment of Wakayama (late December).

[Beginning of Russo-Japanese War.]

Departure of his regiment to Manchurian Front.

Discharged from Army. Returns to Tanabe.

Receives Yagyu-ryu Jujutsu certificate (probably Goto-ha Yagyu Shingan-ryu) from Masanosuke Tsuboi (or Masakatsu Nakai).

[Kodokan Judo Headquarters established.]

To Hokkaido to evaluate government sponsored land development project. Soon returns to Tanabe

Possible brief study of judo under Kiyoichi Takagi in Tanabe. First child, a daughter Matsuko, born.

Heads group of settlers from Kii Province who settle in Aza-Shirataki, Kamiwakibetsu village in Mombetsu County, Hokkaido.

Meets Sokaku Takeda of Daito-ryu Jujutsu in Hisada Inn in Engaru withintroduction from Kotaro Yoshida.
Completes first 10-day Daito-ryu seminar (March 5).

Engaged in intensive study of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.

First son, Takemori, born in July.

Serves as town councilman in Kamiwakibetsu village from June 1918 to April 1919.

Leaves Hokkaido in December due to father's illness.
Turns land and property over to his teacher, Sokaku Takeda.

Meets Onisaburo Deguchi of Omoto religion in Ayabe.
Father, Yoroku, dies in January. Arrives home in Tanabe shortly after Yoroku's death.Moves to Ayabe, site of Omoto religion, in Kyoto Prefecture, with family.Builds Ueshiba Juku dojo attached to his residence.
Second son, Kuniharu, born in April.
Oldest son, Takemori, dies in August.
Second son, Kuniharu, dies in September.

[First Omoto incident occurs.]

Mother, Yuki, dies.

Sokaku Takeda visits Ayabe with his family to teach and stays from c. 28 April to 15 September.
Receives Kyoju Dairi from Takeda qualifying him as certified Daito-ryu instructor (September).

Goes to Mongolia with Onisaburo Deguchi with goal of establishing a utopian community (February to July).
Captured and held prisoner by Chinese military for plotting overthrow of existing government and Narrowly escapes death.

Gives special demonstration in Tokyo for high-ranking military officers and dignitaries.

[Kenji Tomiki begins training.]

Moves to Tokyo with entire family. Establishes temporary dojo in billiard room of Count Shimazu's mansion in Shiba, Shirogane in Sarumachi.

Moves to Shiba, Tsunamachi, site of temporary dojo.

Moves with family to Shiba, Kuruma-machi, and sets up temporary dojo.

Moves to Shimo-ochiai in Mejiro.Judo founder Jigoro Kano observes demonstration by Ueshiba in Mejiro dojo and dispatches several Students from Kodokan including Minoru Mochizuki to study.

Dedication of Kobukan dojo in Ushigome, Wakamatsu-cho.Sokaku Takeda teaches seminar from 20 March to 7 April at Kobukan dojo. Ueshiba's name appears in Takeda's enrollment book.[Rinjiro Shirata enters Kobukan.]

Budo Sen'yokai (Society for the Promotion of Martial Arts) is established with Ueshiba as its first head.[Gozo Shioda enters Kobukan.]

Technical manual, Budo Renshu, is published.

Making of Asahi Newspaper film documentary in Osaka with Takuma Hisa.[Second Omoto Incident occurs.]

Ueshiba's name appears along with that of Zenzaburo Akazawa in enrollment book of Kashima Shinto-ryu school.

Technical manual, Budo, containing photographs of Ueshiba's techniques is published

Invited to Manchuria to instruct.

[Koichi Tohei enters Kobukan.]

Attends martial arts demonstration in Manchuria commemorating 2600th anniversary of Japan.[Kenki Tomiki receives first 8th dan given by Ueshiba.][Kisaburo Osawa enters Kobukan.]

Gives demonstration arranged by Admiral Isamu Takeshita at Saineikan dojo on palace grounds before members of imperial family.Teaches at military police academy.Invited to instruct in Manchuria for University Martial Arts Week.Becomes martial arts advisor for Shimbuden and Kenkoku University.

Name "Aikido" becomes official and is registered with Ministry of Education.Invited to Manchuria as representative of Japanese martial arts to attend Manchuria-JapaneseExchange Martial Arts demonstrations in commemoration of 10th anniversary of independence of Manchuria (August).Moves to Iwama, Ibaragi Prefecture.Kisshomaru Ueshiba becomes Director of Kobukan Dojo.

First Aiki Shrine built in Iwama.

Kobukai Foundation ceases activity due to post-war ban on martial arts.Iwama dojo completed.

[Morihiro Saito enters Iwama Dojo.]

[Sadateru Arikawa enters Aikikai Hombu.][Hiroshi Tada enters Aikikai Hombu.]

Engages in farming, intensive training, and meditation in Iwama.Aikikai Hombu Dojo moves to Iwama, office opened in Tokyo.Kisshomaru becomes head of Aikikai dojo.

Regular practice resumes at Tokyo dojo.

[Minoru Mochizuki to France to teach judo and aikido.]

[Koichi Tohei promoted to 8th dan by Ueshiba.]

[Koichi Tohei to Hawaii for initial stay of one year.]

[Yoshinkan Aikido Dojo opened in Tsukudo Hachiman.]

Aikikai Hombu (headquarters) moved back to Tokyo from Iwama.Several foreign dignitaries attend a demonstration given by the founder at the Aikikai Hombu arranged by Andr� Nocquet.

Appears in U.S. television documentary Rendez-vous with Adventure.
[Kenji Tomiki establishes the Waseda University Aikido Club in April.]

Receives Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from Japanese government.

Invited to Hawaii for opening of Honolulu Aikikai (February).Appears in television documentary made by NHK.
[All-Japan Student Aikido Federation established with Ueshiba as president.]

[All-Japan Aikido Demonstration held for the first time at Hibiya Kokaido (October).]

Receives Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, as the founder of aikido.

[New Hombu Dojo building dedicated.]

Gives final demonstration on 15 January at Kagami Biraki Celebration.
Succumbs to liver cancer on 26 April.
Ashes buried at Kozanji, Tanbe.
Hair preserved at Iwama, Kumano Dojo, Ayabe and Hombu Dojo.
Made honorary citizen of Tanabe and Iwama.
[Wife, Hatsu, dies in June.]