Abstract
The purpose of this study is threefold:
(1) To introduce a brief biography of admiral Isamu Takeshita and his character.
(2) To introduce the features of the “Martial Arts Diary by Admiral I. Takeshita” (MADT), a recently discovered historical document deciphered by the present author.
(3) To further historical research about aikido from December 1925 to about 1928, primarily using the Diary.
Briefly, the main conclusions were as follows:
(1) Takeshita was born in Kagoshima, Kyusyu, in 1869, and died in 1949. He was promoted to Admiral in 1923. In December 1925, he met Morihei Ueshiba who taught him a martial arts called Daitoryu-aikijyujyutu. From that time, he supported in the development of his martial art.
(2) MADT refers to the abridged diary of references made to martial arts from the original diary by the present author.
(3) Ueshiba taught Daitoryu-aki-jujyutu, not Ueshibaryu-aiki-bujyutu, to Takeshita in about 1926. Takeshita was much impressed by Ueshiba, and founded the circle called Aioikai in order to support him. Then they changed the name from Daitoryu-aiki-jujyutu to Aioiryu-aiki-jujyutu. We can understand from this that it became independent from the Daitoryu.
(4) Ueshiba's family moved to Tokyo in October 1927, not Feburary as Kisshyomaru Ueshiba has written in his books.
