Kotaro Yoshida
Encyclopedia
was an 19th to 20th Century Japanese
martial artist
and member of the Amur River Society (also known as the Black Dragon Society), an ultra-nationalist organization of disenfranchised ex-samurai who promulgated "pan-Asiatic ascendancy" in line with the rise of Japanese imperialism
. While by all accounts a prolific martial artist and teacher, there is little surviving documentation of Yoshida's life that has been translated into English. Because he was known to have lived an extremely ascetic lifestyle, and possibly as a result of his political activities and connections, most information on Yoshida today has been passed down through oral transmission by primary sources.
In relating a speech given by one of Yoshida's top students, Richard Kim, Don Warrener (himself a student of Kim) notes that Yoshida came from a family that had held samurai
rank during the pre-restoration period of feudal Japan
. At a young age Yoshida apprenticed himself to Takeda Sokaku
, head of the Daitō-ryū aiki-jūjutsu school, which would soon become popular throughout Japan as part of the public revitalization of the martial arts. Yoshida would become Sokaku's top student, and there is some disagreement as to whether mastery of the art was passed down to Yoshida himself or another Sokaku pupil. What is known is Yoshida's status as a top student of Sokaku's is undisputed, and he is in fact credited with introducing Morihei Ueshiba
, founder of Aikido
, to Sokaku.
It is claimed that Yoshida had an estranged son who emigrated to the United States and eventually passed on a form of Aikijujitsu to a US military serviceman named Don Angier
, who currently teaches in California.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
martial artist
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and member of the Amur River Society (also known as the Black Dragon Society), an ultra-nationalist organization of disenfranchised ex-samurai who promulgated "pan-Asiatic ascendancy" in line with the rise of Japanese imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
. While by all accounts a prolific martial artist and teacher, there is little surviving documentation of Yoshida's life that has been translated into English. Because he was known to have lived an extremely ascetic lifestyle, and possibly as a result of his political activities and connections, most information on Yoshida today has been passed down through oral transmission by primary sources.
In relating a speech given by one of Yoshida's top students, Richard Kim, Don Warrener (himself a student of Kim) notes that Yoshida came from a family that had held samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
rank during the pre-restoration period of feudal 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...
. At a young age Yoshida apprenticed himself to Takeda Sokaku
Takeda Sokaku
was known as the founder of a school of jujutsu known as Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.- Life :Born in the Aizu domain , Sōkaku grew up in a time of war and civil strife and was able to witness both first hand while still a young boy...
, head of the Daitō-ryū aiki-jūjutsu school, which would soon become popular throughout Japan as part of the public revitalization of the martial arts. Yoshida would become Sokaku's top student, and there is some disagreement as to whether mastery of the art was passed down to Yoshida himself or another Sokaku pupil. What is known is Yoshida's status as a top student of Sokaku's is undisputed, and he is in fact credited with introducing Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei 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....
, founder of Aikido
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...
, to Sokaku.
It is claimed that Yoshida had an estranged son who emigrated to the United States and eventually passed on a form of Aikijujitsu to a US military serviceman named Don Angier
Don Angier
Don Angier is a well-known American martial artist who is head of the Yanagi Ryu Aiki Ju Jitsu system. He is the only American known to have inherited the title of Sōke . He was granted the title by Kenji Yoshida, son of Kōtarō Yoshida, a local handyman under whom Angier studied as a teenager. He...
, who currently teaches in California.