On April 29, beginning at 11:00 AM, the Aikikai Foundation held the gAiki Shrine Festivalh and also a Memorial Service for the Founder and Ueshiba Kisshomaru Nidai Doshu, in Kasama City, Ibaragi Prefecture. Over 1200 people attended and paid their respects.
The students from Iwama Dojo have to wake up very early everyday for cleaning the front of the Aikijinja. However, there was something special about that Saturday morning. It was Aiki Shrine Festival. This is one of the moments we can feel the importance of the small village of Iwama, where the Founder decided to build his dojo and shrine.He would never imagined that this small farm in an unknown city in the Ibaraki Prefecture would attract literally thousands of visitants in such a special date. This is a day to better perceive the importance of the spiritual form that embodies this art and makes it so special. Even the birds seem to silence their whispers to have a better hear the priests ordering the ceremony, blessing the shrine and the dojo and turning Iwama a secret place. Thanks so much to the ones who decided to spend their day in Iwama

Carla Valverde
Portugal
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