About International Exchange

合氣道光氣会 Aikido Kokikai Japan News 

2020-11-12 

Shudō Maruyama, Founder and President 

About International Exchange (国際交流 kokusai kōryū) 

With progress in modern transportation, we can now travel to any country in a short amount of time. In 1960, it took 12 hours to go from Tokyo to Akita by train. Now, you can go to New York in 12 hours. Present-day Japan has become more and more internationalized. Raising kids with a global outlook has become an important goal.  

Personal relations are important for interacting with a diversity of people from around the world. For example, you can go to New York and try to make friends. But if you just smile and say agreeable things like “Yes, yes,” you’ll only end up being made fun of—nobody will want to get to know you. In Japan, you might be regarded as a good person, but in the US, the culture strongly values self-assertion. You can also assert yourself strongly by presenting Japanese culture to Americans or others. When you can do that kind of thing, you’ll be much more respected than if you only say, “Yes, yes.“ Then you can make good friends. 

And if you have a black belt in Kokikai Aikido, that will also bring you respect. I received permanent residency status in the US, and for more than 40 years, I’ve been spreading Kokikai Aikido there. I have always been respected by Americans and never felt any discrimination. I always sit right in the middle of any group and act like a big shot. When you have a special talent, you will be respected in any country, the whole world over. 

It takes a long time to master Japanese culture, and in particular Kokikai Aikido. I hope you will keep doing your best and let spreading your wings around the globe be a motivation.  

(translated by Barbara Litt, with assistance from Dave Nachman and Steve Syrek)