Iwama Dōjō

A small practice hall, where the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, lived since the 1940's until his death in 1969. Iwama dojo, also known as Ibaraki Dojo or Aiki Shuren dojo (dojo of the austere(spiritual) practice of Aiki). This dojo has special significance to the history of Aikido, for it is widely recognized as the birth place of this martial art. Its fame was spread thanks to Morihiro Saito Shihan, who succeded the founder as the dojo cho of this place and to Hitohiro Saito. Both father and son succeded in preserving the original aikido in this dojo until 2004 when the Saito family was removed from this position and the dojo became under the direct charge of the organization Aikikai. The dojo's name is now Ibaraki Aikikai Shibu Dojo, which means branch dojo of Aikikai in Ibaraki. Though the name show a lowering in its statute, the dojo is now widely known all over the world. Every year, on May 29th there is a huge celebration called Tai Sai, wich attracts hundreds of Aikido practitioners and curious to this place