Kisshomaru Ueshiba

Kisshomaru Ueshiba (Japanese植 芝 吉祥 丸, Ueshiba Kisshomaru; * June 27, 1921 in Ayabe, † 4 January 1999) was a Japanese aikido master and Doshu the Aikikai.

He was the third son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and his wife Hatsu Ueshiba. In the years 1936-1942 he studied Aikido with his father. At Waseda University, he studied economics.

In 1942 he took over from his father the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo as acting Doshu ( master of the way ) and director. After the death of Ueshiba Morihei, he took over this function also in the Aikikai. As Doshu he was the leading man of Aikido who saved his father's legacy in the world federation of Aikikai. He regularly all over the world training in Aikido. His first trip abroad for this purpose in 1964 was to Europe and America. After his death the office of Doshu passed to his son Moriteru Ueshiba.

On March 29, 1987 Kisshomaru Ueshiba was awarded the Japanese Medal of Honor at the Blue Ribbon for his work; 1992 honorary doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Valencia.

Works

• Kisshomaru Ueshiba: The Spirit of Aikido. ISBN 3-932337-37-9
• Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Moriteru Ueshiba: Best Aikido - The Fundamentals. Kodansha, 2002, ISBN 4-7700-2762-1