Mitsunari Kanai
Encyclopedia
Mitsunari Kanai was an aikido
teacher born in Japan
, who spent most of his teaching career in the United States
. He was an 8th dan
teacher with the title shihan
in the organisation Aikikai
.
, entering the Hombu Dojo in 1958 as an uchi-deshi
. He moved to the United States in 1966 as a 4th dan and subsequently founded the New England Aikikai, currently located off Porter Square
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Kanai was instrumental in the early development of aikido in the United States and Canada
, and taught seminars widely throughout the United States, Canada and Europe
. He was one of the founders and a Technical Director of both the United States Aikido Federation (USAF) and the CAF.
Kanai was also skilled in iaido
and subsequently taught this art to his senior students, many of whom hold dan rank
in both iaido and aikido. He was also highly respected for his metalworking skills and deep historical knowledge of the Japanese sword, the katana
, serving at times as a specialist advisor to the East Asian Collection at the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
.
Some of his senior students continue to operate New England Aikikai, while others have dispersed, starting new dojos throughout New England, notably Framingham Aikikai and Portland (Maine) Aikido, and as far away as Portland, Oregon
. His students also run the aikido clubs at nearby Harvard University
, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, and Tufts University
.
Other USAF Shihan:
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
teacher born in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, who spent most of his teaching career in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was an 8th dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
teacher with the title shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
in the organisation Aikikai
Aikikai
The Aikikai is the original school of Aikido. It is centered on the Aikikai Foundation in Japan, and its figurehead is the Doshu . It is represented globally through the International Aikido Federation....
.
Life
Kanai was one of the last group of students of the founder of aikido, Morihei UeshibaMorihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
, entering the Hombu Dojo in 1958 as an uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi is a Japanese term for a live-in student/apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis...
. He moved to the United States in 1966 as a 4th dan and subsequently founded the New England Aikikai, currently located off Porter Square
Porter Square
Porter Square is a neighborhood in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts in the USA, located around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Somerville Avenue, between Harvard and Davis Squares...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Kanai was instrumental in the early development of aikido in the United States and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and taught seminars widely throughout the United States, Canada and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He was one of the founders and a Technical Director of both the United States Aikido Federation (USAF) and the CAF.
Kanai was also skilled in iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
and subsequently taught this art to his senior students, many of whom hold dan rank
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in both iaido and aikido. He was also highly respected for his metalworking skills and deep historical knowledge of the Japanese sword, the katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
, serving at times as a specialist advisor to the East Asian Collection at the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
.
Some of his senior students continue to operate New England Aikikai, while others have dispersed, starting new dojos throughout New England, notably Framingham Aikikai and Portland (Maine) Aikido, and as far away as Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. His students also run the aikido clubs at nearby Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, and Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
.
See also
- AikikaiAikikaiThe Aikikai is the original school of Aikido. It is centered on the Aikikai Foundation in Japan, and its figurehead is the Doshu . It is represented globally through the International Aikido Federation....
- Aikikai Hombu Dojo
Other USAF Shihan:
- Akira ToheiAkira ToheiAkira Tohei was a Japanese aikido teacher. He held the rank of 8th dan in the Aikikai.He began his aikido practice in 1946 under Koichi Tohei, then the chief instructor at Aikikai Honbu Dojo. From 1956 he practiced under the direct instruction of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba...
- Yoshimitsu YamadaYoshimitsu YamadaYoshimitsu Yamada is an aikido instructor. He is ranked 8th dan in the Aikikai and is the chief instructor at the dojo New York Aikikai.-Life:...
- Kazuo ChibaKazuo ChibaKazuo Chiba is an aikido teacher from Japan who has spent a considerable part of his teaching career in the United Kingdom and United States. He is an 8th dan in the aikido organisation Aikikai, and founder of dojos in London and San Diego, California...
- Seiichi SuganoSeiichi SuganoSeiichi Sugano was a Japanese aikido instructor who lived and taught in many Western countries. He held the rank of an 8th dan Aikikai....