“When I am here, I long for being away at the soonest. When I am away, I long for being back at the soonest.”

Manuel, an Italian sotodeshi,2005

To come to Iwama means to meet O-sensei. The village is located two hours east of Tokio in Ibaragi Prefecture. Since log ago this place has been known as a place of the traditional Japanese martial arts. Nowadays, Hitohiro sensei teaches in a newly build Tanrenkan dojo, where one can study Aikido in a traditional way as an uchideshi (student of the inner circle). This term denotes a student who lives directly in his sensei’s house or very close. If one decides to be an uchideshi, he should know what it is about. The life at the sensei’s side does not mean only keiko (exercising) but also an intimate contact with his family and all matters related to him.

It is a privilege to be in a daily contact with the sensei. A student should be aware of it all the time although he must pay for this experience. Understandably, a stay in Iwama is not cheap but an experience for life is a prize for it.