Kotaro Yoshida 吉田幸太郎

(b. October 1883-1966). B. Miyama-mura, Tamura-gun, Fukushima Prefecture.Journalist and writer. Graduated from Tohoku Gakuin in Sendai in 1906. Graduate of Waseda University and an American university. Author of numerous books. Little is known about Yoshida, but it appears that he operated a newspaper company and private library in Kitami, Hokkaido. He began his study of DAITO-RYU JUJUTSU under Sokaku TAKEDA in 1915. Yoshida was responsible for introducing Morihei UESHIBA, founder of aikido, to Sokaku TAKEDA at the HISADA INN in ENGARU, Hokkaido. He later received the KYOJU DAIRI certification from Takeda and was one of those who accompanied him as an assistant instructor. After the war he taught Daito-ryu in Toshima-ku in Tokyo. He was a staunch right-wing activist and belonged to such organizations as the Genyosha and Kokuryukai. Among his students are Richard Kim, well-known karateka in San Francisco and Masutatsu Oyama of Kyokushinkai Karate fame. His son, Kenji, lived for many years in the United States and taught YANAGI-RYU AIKIJUJUTSU. Yoshida also taught Katsuyuki KONDO for a brief period in the early 1960s. Paralyzed in his later years, he moved to Hitachi, Ibaragi Prefecture where he died.

Josh Gold

Executive Editor of Aikido Journal, CEO of Budo Accelerator, and Chief Instructor of Ikazuchi Dojo.

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