Outline of Career

Takaichi Sayanagi
Born on April 11, 1925 in Kagawa Prefecture

Devoted himself to Judo from his boyhood. Repatriated from Siberia in October of 1947. Worked for the Kochi District Public Prosecutors Office from 1949. In 1955 met Morihei Shibaue, the founder of Aikido, and practiced at the headquarters practice hall. Established Kochi branch of Aikido in 1960 and worked for the development of Aikido in Kochi Prefecture.

Aikido Kochi Pref. Branch Master, President of Aikido League of Kochi Pref., Director of All Japan Aikido League, Adviser of Chugoku & Shikoku District of Aikido League, Master of Kochi University Aikido Club, Master of Matsuyama University Aikido Club, Master of Kochi Technological College Aikido Club,
8th degree black belt of Aikido
Received the Distinguished Martial Arts Award in Nippon Budokan
Passed away on July 17 of 1999


On the occasion of the Distinguished Martial Arts Award
(appeared April 1998 issue of Monthly Martial Arts (Gekkan Budo)

"Attracted by the Spirit of Harmony"

Takaichi Sayanagi Aikido


■Encounter

I had two great encounters in my martial arts life.

One was with Master Minoru Mochizuki of Judo and the other Master Morihei Ueshiba of Aikido.

In my boyhood I devoted most of my time to Judo. I studied Judo under Master Minoru Mochizuki of Kodokan Judo when I became a youth. Because Master Mochizuki had a profound knowledge of Aikido in those days, I began to learn it from him. Before long I was strongly attracted by Aikido. Master Mochizuki encouraged me to practice Aikido and finally sent me to the headquarters of Aikido, providing me a letter of introduction. Whenever I recall the Master's generous mind which was far from business like, my heart is warmed by his kindness.


The affection of Master Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, is also beyond my description. Welcoming an outsider to Aikido, he showed modesty and gentleness, treating everyone equally. In the practice with Master Ueshiba I was thrown easily and comically whenever he pleased. Nonetheless I never had the slightest feeling of bitter oppression of the weak in his techniques. It was a moving experience for me and his teaching was the perfection of martial arts. Herewith I discovered the perfect martial art for my whole life and found the Master of my life.


In 1960 when I was leaving the headquarters after being granted permission to establish Kochi Prefecture Aikido Branch, he bade me farewell with a look of affection, saying, "If you have any trouble, just call this old man."
These words still remain in my ears even now and I cannot forget his remark.


■The Spirit (Ki sterngth)

I have one unforgettable memory. It was the year 1970. A man came into a bar where I was. He was in clothes soaked with blood and had a "sashimi" knife. He was a heinous criminal with a record of twelve offenses and he was running away, having stabbed a person. To tell the truth, at the moment I saw him, I thought there would be trouble. He had an unusual demeanor which only such a genuine heinous criminal could have. The other guests froze as if they expected something of me while they remained silent. In fact, at that time, I had become slightly famous as a teacher of Aikido being good at fights in the neon -light district.

As the situation didn't allow me to withdraw, I went out with him and we finally faced each other. I thought he had no fellows, but it turned out there were three men standing in the street including him. When I resigned myself to my fate, an expression suddenly came into my mind. It was "Just call the name of this old man," the farewell given to me by Master Ueshiba. When I called his name in my mind suddenly I became completely calm. I still wonder why I was able to become so calm in that situation. I could catch the man with no fear. He couldn't fight against me at all as if he had been enchanted by magic. It is said that he later asked a policeman, "Who on earth is he?"

This happening made me think deeply and humbly. If I had caught him by fighting alone, I might have been so proud and might have boasted so much. But I wasn't doing anything at that moment. It was not me who frightened him but a great power which emerged embodying me. Until then, I hadn't realized the spirit of Budo (Japanese martial arts). This occurrence lead me to bow to Budo deeply again.




■Repaying of the obligation

I'm now past seventy. When I look back on my life of Budo of over fifty years, I wonder what is a certain thing which I could hand down to the younger generation. It would be that nature is a precious thing and that people cannot live isolated.

The kind of viewpoints we have in our lives depends on what kind of attitude we have toward life and it is a matter of the way we live. If you can cultivate the viewpoint of the universe, all places will become your hometown and all other people and all other lives will be related to you. But humans are not disposed to consider other lives by nature. To do so, we need practice and training. And that's the reason why Budo exists. If we look at ourselves honestly and discipline ourselves strictly, we sometimes find ourselves being weak personalities, easily falling into laziness, or unfairness. In fact, it is a wonderful thing to know ourselves to be evil like that. It's a motive to improve ourselves. However stupid we should find ourselves, we never have to despise ourselves. We have only to overcome ourselves as such from that moment.

We will understand and know other people well by knowing ourselves. By doing so, we can reflect on the universe where we can live. In this age of modern weapons, Aikido no longer has meaning for acquiring fighting ability which was an original aim of Budo like many other Japanese martial arts. But it has never become a meaningless or trivial thing. When we struggle to improve ourselves, there will be a more powerful strength with us than in any other past days, because Aikido compels us to imagine other people's minds, look back on nature, embody ourselves in the order of the universe and not to break out of it. I think there must be no age when these viewpoints from the universe are needed more than these days.

Aikido is a spiritual property granted to me by Master Ueshiba, but it's only a property I'm keeping temporarily and it's for future generations. I must try not to spoil the spirit and hand it down to the next generation rightfully.

To my honor, I was unexpectedly awarded the Distinguished Martial Arts Award on this occasion, therefore, it will be my future obligation to devote myself to the above mentioned things. Thank you very much.