As a couple who both practice Aikido, people often ask us, “So, at which dojo did you meet?”

The answer always surprises them—because our story didn’t begin in a dojo at all.

We first met 25 years ago on a roadside in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia.

Back then, I wasn’t practicing Aikido yet.

It was only after we got married that Mike, who had already been training for six years, encouraged me to step onto the mat.

His very first dojo was with the Kochi Aikido Group, and ever since, we’ve often said to each other, “Someday, let’s go back there together.” But like many dreams, the years slipped by and it never seemed to happen.

Then in January 2024, during a casual get-together after training, our friend A mentioned, “Oh, I’ve practiced at a dojo in Kochi before.

” That sparked something, and before we knew it, the conversation turned into “Let’s all go together!” Still, as with many big ideas, it didn’t happen right away.

But the following year, at the very same gathering, the topic resurfaced with new excitement—and this time, the plan finally began to take shape.

When A looked into it, we discovered that in late March, the Kochi Aikido Group would be hosting a seminar with Morito Suganuma Shihan, Director and Dojo-cho of Aikido Shoufukan.

That was the sign we were waiting for. Our “Aikido Journey: Kochi Edition” was officially on.

Travel Itinerary

  Friday, March 21 – Practice at Nakamura Dojo (Shimanto City, Nakamura Aikikai)

  Saturday, March 22 – Sightseeing on the way back from Shimanto City to Kochi City

  Sunday, March 23 – Join the seminar with Suganuma Shihan, hosted by Kochi Aikido Group

  Monday, March 24 – Sightseeing for just the two of us after parting ways with A

  Tuesday, March 25 – Return to Tokyo

Of course, we contacted both Nakamura Dojo and Kochi Aikido in advance and received their kind permission to join training.

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Preparation

With the schedule set, the first step was booking flights and hotels. This time, balancing cost and convenience, we went with JAL.

👉 Compare low-cost flights (Kiwi.com)

Booking flights early usually means you can snag “hayawari” (early bird discounts). But I once forgot this lesson—on a past trip to Izumo, I waited until just one month before departure to buy tickets.

The result? I ended up paying nearly double the discounted price. A painful but unforgettable lesson.

For accommodations, we skipped the luxury hotels and instead prioritized good reviews and reasonable prices:

  Shimanto City (Nakamura) → Nakamura Daiichi Hotel (BBH Group)

  Book Your Stay in Shimanto City with Trip.com

  Kochi City → Comfort Hotel Kochi

  Check the Best Hotel Deals in Kochi City on Trip.com

Traveling from Kochi City to Shimanto City by train is possible, but it takes a long time and makes it harder to enjoy sightseeing along the way.

To give ourselves more freedom and flexibility, we chose to rent a car instead.

Rental Car → Toyota Rent-A-Lease

Find rental cars on EconomyBookings

Search hotels & flights in Kochi Prefecture on Traveloka

(By booking through the above links, you’re also supporting Aikido Travel activities—thank you!)

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The Journey Begins – From Haneda to Kochi Ryoma Airport

March 21, 2025. With two dogi and a hakama packed into the suitcase, we headed to Haneda Airport.

I couldn’t help but remember how empty the airport had felt during the pandemic, compared to the lively, bustling scene of today. Time changes so much.

After picking up souvenirs, we met A at the gate. The flight departed on time, and soon a clear blue sky stretched before us, with Mt. Fuji rising proudly above the clouds.

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A Hearty Lunch at Nishimura Shoten

After arriving at Kochi Ryoma Airport, we grabbed our rental car and made our way to our first stop: Nishimura Shoten.

The reviews weren’t wrong—the parking lot was full. But thanks to Mike’s uncanny “superpower” of always finding a spot, we managed to park without a hitch.

While waiting, we browsed the menu posted outside and checked the daily special. The more we looked, the hungrier we felt, and the anticipation made everything more exciting.

Once seated, I ordered the “Aradaki” (braised fish head), which arrived in a bowl so large I had to ask myself—is this really meant for one person?

The tender fish, rich with deep flavor, was simply outstanding.

Driven by the Japanese “mottainai” spirit of not letting food go to waste, I did my best. But in the end, I could only make it halfway through before admitting defeat.

Even so, my heart was full of happiness. It’s strange how travel meals leave behind more than flavors—they leave behind little stories of abundance, humility, and joy.

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Visiting Tosa Shrine and Zenrakuji Temple

With some time before keiko, we explored Kochi City. First stop: Tosa Shrine.

The quiet, tree-lined grounds seemed to clear the mind, and walking along the corridors of the shrine, we admired the historic ritual objects on display.

Our omikuji fortunes—chu-kichi (middle blessing) and sho-kichi (small blessing)—were gentle reminders that we still had much room to grow.

Right next door, we visited Zenrakuji, the 30th temple of the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage.

Bathed in the warmth of early spring sunshine, we offered our prayers and felt a sense of good fortune for the journey ahead.

With light hearts, we set off toward Shimanto City.

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👉 Coming up next: The road to Shimanto City and our first keiko at Nakamura Dojo.

Thank you for visiting Aikido Travel.

We are pleased to introduce the overseas seminars scheduled for the second half of 2025 by Shihan Etsuji Horii, President of Aioikai.

Currently ranked 7th dan, Shihan Horii trained for about 10 years at the Aikido Hombu Dojo Instruction Department. He has served as a director of the All Japan Aikido Federation and continues to teach at dojos both in Japan and abroad.

Official Website

From September 2025 onward, seminars are planned in five cities across Asia and Europe, offering a unique blend of keiko (training) and cultural experiences.

September 2025 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Aikido Seminar with Shihan Etsuji Horii

Date: September 27–28, 2025

Host: Aikido Yuki Shudokan Club

Click here for seminar details

Founded in 2000 by HORIZOE Sensei, Aikido Yuki Shudokan Club is a respected dojo with a long history. Hanoi, the political and cultural heart of Vietnam, offers a captivating setting with historic architecture and rich traditions.

Booking through the links below helps support Aikido Travel’s site and activities.

Plan your trip:

Search hotels & flights in Hanoi (Traveloka.com)

Search on Trip.com

Compare low-cost flights (Kiwi.com)

October 2025 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Aikido Seminar with Shihan Etsuji Horii

Date: October 4–5, 2025

Host: Kuala Lumpur YMCA Aikido Club

Click here for seminar details

Established in 1969, this is one of Malaysia’s oldest dojos. Enjoy training in a traditional setting, sharing sweat and camaraderie with fellow aikidoka.

Plan your trip:

Search hotels & flights in Kuala Lumpur (Traveloka.com)

Search on Trip.com

Compare low-cost flights (Kiwi.com)

Late October – November 2025 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Annual International Aikido Seminar with Shihan Etsuji Horii

Date: October 31 – November 2, 2025

Host: Aikido Padepokan Indonesia – Aioikai Indonesia

Click here for seminar details

During this period in Jakarta, a special seminar will be held featuring four shihan, including Shihan Horii. Be sure to check out other seminars happening at the same time.

Plan your trip:

Search hotels & flights in Jakarta (Traveloka.com)

Search on Trip.com

Compare low-cost flights (Kiwi.com)

November 2025 | Singapore | Aikido International  Seminar with Shihan Etsuji Horii

Date: November 15–16, 2025

Host: Ryounkai

Click here for seminar details

Experience a vibrant multicultural city while training in Singapore. This is a perfect opportunity to combine keiko with sightseeing.

Plan your trip:

Search hotels & flights in Singapore (Traveloka.com)

Search on Trip.com

Compare low-cost flights (Kiwi.com)

Late November 2025 | Madrid, Spain | Aikido Seminar with Shihan Etsuji Horii

Date: November 29–30, 2025

Host: SUI Dojo

Click here for seminar details

The only European seminar in this series. Train in the passionate city of Madrid, and enjoy Spain’s rich art and cuisine.

Plan your trip:

Search hotels & flights in Madrid (Trip.com)

Compare low-cost flights (Kiwi.com)

Booking through the links above helps support Aikido Travel’s site and activities.

Training in a new location not only enhances your technique but also broadens your horizons and connections. Don’t miss this opportunity to combine travel with Aikido practice.

View the October 2025 Seminar Calendar

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Update:

On August 21st, we received new seminar information about Horii Shihan.

01st Anniversary of Aioikai Aikido Da Lat Dojo in Da Lat ward, Vietnam.

Organized by: Aioikai Aikido Da Lat Dojo

Dates: October 1–2, 2025

Click here for seminar details

Helpful travel links for your visit to Da Lat ward, Vietnam

Search hotels and flights together (Trip.com) Search for budget flights across platforms (Kiwi.com) <

We have updated with new posters for Horii Etsuji Shihan’s Aikido Seminar in Hanoi (Vietnam) and in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

We’ll continue to update this page as new information becomes available—stay tuned!

Thank you, as always, for using Aikido Travel.

Some of you may have already noticed, but our seminar page has recently been updated!
To make it easier to navigate and understand, we’ve implemented two major changes:

1️⃣ About the Style Designation

Previously, the "Association" field allowed users to enter information freely.  
However, our intention to list the **style** wasn't clearly conveyed, and many users entered their **dojo name** instead.  
As a result, the information sometimes lacked clarity.

To resolve this, we now offer four representative styles as options, along with “Other” and “Unknown” (though this one isn’t expected to be used currently).  
Depending on future needs, we may expand or revise these selections.

This adjustment aims to help prospective participants easily determine whether a seminar aligns with their own Aikido style in advance.

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2️⃣ About the Hosting Dojo

Many users were previously entering dojo names in the "Association" field,  
so we’ve now created a **dedicated field to specify the hosting dojo name**.

This ensures greater clarity regarding seminar organizers and their affiliated groups.  
If the host is an organization rather than a dojo, please enter the organization name here.

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Confirming Seminar Updates

We’ve updated seminar pages according to the new format for all events **scheduled after August 7, 2025**,  
but there may be some omissions or incorrect entries.

In such cases, **seminar organizers or contributors can edit the page directly**.

How to Update:
1. Visit the seminar page  
2. Click the “...” button at the top-right of the poster  
3. Make your edits in the editor  
4. Click the “Update Seminar” button at the bottom of the page to save

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Other Small Updates

- Moved the search box to the bottom of the page  
- Added labels before each field  
- ‍ Added “Sensei” after instructor names  
- Increased spacing between fields for better readability  
- Reduced font size in map descriptions and included hotel affiliate links as travel tips  
- Removed “Seminar” and “Calendar” links from the left sidebar

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 What’s Next

Due to current developer workload, improvements will continue gradually.  
We're also planning to introduce dedicated profile pages for dojos and instructors, making the site even more comprehensive and user-friendly.

Thank you for your continued support of Aikido Travel. We deeply appreciate your encouragement and feedback!

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Let me know if you’d like a more casual version, or if this will be posted publicly—I can help optimize it for web or mobile readability as well

Hello!

The heat is still lingering, but exciting updates about overseas seminars continue to arrive.

In this post, we’re happy to share the Aikikai Hombu Dojo instructors' overseas seminars scheduled for October 2025, arranged chronologically. We hope this information helps those planning to attend.

Yoshinobu Irie Shihan – Aikido Seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia

Organizer: Shin Getsu Kai

Date: October 10–12, 2025

Click here for seminar details

This is the annual seminar by Irie Shihan held in Jakarta.

This year, the hosting dojo has changed, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

I had the opportunity to attend this seminar once, and the students were incredibly kind and friendly—it was easy to connect with them.

The organizers were also thoughtful throughout, ensuring everyone had a comfortable and enjoyable training experience.

From late September to October, Jakarta will host seminars led by four Aikido Shihan, including Irie Shihan:

Kuribayashi Shihan Seminar

Etsuji Horii Shihan Seminar (Annual International Seminar)

Each event promises a valuable experience.

Makoto Ito Shihan – Aikido Seminar in Greece

Organizer: Greek Aikido Council

This seminar will take place in two cities:

Date: October 15–16, 2025 – Thessaloniki

Click here for seminar details

Date: October 17–19, 2025 – Athens

Click here for seminar details

An Aikido seminar held in Greece, where history and daily life blend beautifully.

If you attend, we recommend planning some extra time to enjoy sightseeing as well.

Toshio Suzuki Shihan – Aikido Seminar in Milan, Italy

Organizer: Aikikai Milano asd

Date: October 18–19, 2025

Click here for seminar details

This seminar overlaps with Ito Shihan’s seminar in Greece, making the choice a very luxurious dilemma.