Additional Media Coverage

About three weeks ago, a journalist from Israel came to Hombu to interview Doshu... without an interpreter. I happened to walk in the dojo at the right (wrong?) time, just as Amir was about to crack. He had been looking around for someone, anyone who could speak Japanese and English to help out his reporter-friend. He ran up to me panting and asking for help with the interview, to which I reluctantly agreed.

I was escorted into the oval office of Hombu where the journalist was patiently waiting, and after about a five minutes, Doshu came striding in. Of course the first question had to be about aikido philosophy... Asking the question is easy, translating Doshu's answers into English.... that's a whole new ball game for me. The Ueshiba family is notorious for speaking in riddles (most Japanese people had no idea what the heck O'sensei used to lecture about), so needlesstosay, I was sweating bullets. Everything went fine though, despite a brief ten seconds of tension when Doshu cut off the reporter to ask very sternly just where this interview would be rearing its ugly head. He eventually granted permission for pictures to be taken during his seven o'clock practice; a few of which I managed to get a hold of. To take advantage of the photo-op, Amir and I practiced together at the back of the dojo.I like this one (above) even though my main man Namba sensei is staring at my butt.

Doshu is in this picture. Can you find him? Think of it like "Where's Waldo?" Hint: If you can't read Japanese, it might be difficult.