The author adds a small collection of ‘episodes’ (エピソード) to this CV. These could also be described as ‘anecdotes’. In addition to his own memories, he again uses the internet as a source. His comment on the term MUSUBI is interesting.
Anecdotes
Studying many martial arts
Yoshigasaki rarely spoke about himself, so the facts are unclear, but it is said that he practised Shorinji Kempo, karate, kickboxing, fencing and other disciplines.
Yoga and warrior training 武者修行
Wikipedia states that he ‘began practising yoga at the age of 10’ and ‘travelled to India in 1971 to study yoga’.
Yoshigasaki undertook extensive travels in Asia around 1972.* It is believed that he also travelled to India at this time. During his travels, he practised his techniques on locals in Afghanistan, which he said gave him confidence.
Speaking multiple languages
By the time he graduated from high school, he was fluent in English and French. Some websites also state that he could speak Italian. During his studies, he said, ‘When you learn one language, all European languages are the same.’
Religion
Although Wikipedia states that he ‘also studied Zen Buddhism, Shintoism, Christianity and Islam,’ we can assume that his studies were broad rather than in-depth. When asked on the website ‘Lectures from Doshu’ what the characteristics of Shintoism are, he replied, ‘I don't know much about it.’
Student days... Independent
He said he cooked for himself, received no money from home, and took care of himself.
At that time, private tutoring was a common job, but he opened a cram school and taught children there.
It is said that he made the children sit in seiza.
Student days... Sociability
Yoshigasaki never hung out with others; he was always alone.
He was by no means shy and could talk to anyone without hesitation. This may have been the driving force behind his attempts to take on new challenges.
Student days... Seiza
Yoshigasaki initially found it difficult to sit in seiza. During his summer camp in his first year of university, when he had to sit in seiza for three hours, he collapsed after an hour and a half. He later wrote in an article for the university's alumni association: ‘I had difficulty sitting still, my body became stiff and I couldn't move.’
Contacts after graduating from university
Yoshigasaki was open and got along with everyone. Apparently, he sometimes paid unexpected visits to the active and older students (senpai) of the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Aikido Club. Wikipedia writes: ‘When he was young, he welcomed the unknown American actor Steven Seagal to Japan, offered him accommodation and taught him aikido, for which he eventually received his second dan.’
He never chased after women, but there were times when they pursued him. He seems to have been popular with women.
He seems to have been respected by many of his students.
Harmonising the ki with heaven and all things is the essence of aikido. (氣を天と万物に合わせる、合気道の真髄である。)
Facial expression
Yoshigasaki occasionally smiled in a restrained manner, but rarely showed emotion.
However, online photos of him always show a smiling face.
In his later years, he seems to have become a very gentle person.
At https://toitsu.dk there is a page entitled ‘Memories of Doshu’ which contains a seemingly endless number of tributes. [2] This also shows how much he was respected by his many students.
MUSUBI
This expression appears on websites from various countries. It seems to mean ‘connection’ (結び), but the meaning is unclear.
It is unclear whether it means ‘collection, compilation’ (集大成) or ‘connecting people’ (人々を結びつける).
Yoshigasaki's thoughts are summarised at https://knkmusubi.net/ [3].
Sources:
[1] https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenjiro_Yoshigasaki
[2] https://toitsu.dk
[3] https://knkmusubi.net/
*At the end of 2025, following an email exchange, the website operator stated that, according to the author's recollection, the trip had lasted several months rather than a whole year, as reported in some places on the internet. However, Yoshigasaki had lost a year of study time. [BB]
1971年東京工業大学駅伝大会