Mitsugi Saotome 五月女貢

(b. 1937). Aikikai Shihan. Began practice at the Kuwamori Dojo in Tokyo in October 1954. He entered the AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO as an UCHIDESHI in April 1961 and remained as an instructor until departing for the U. S. in 1975. His organization called AIKIDO SCHOOLS OF UESHIBA was established in the late 1970s and includes more than 40 dojos. It operated on an independent basis until January 1988 when it was recognized by the AIKIKAI HOMBU. Saotome’s organization functions independently of the UNITED STATES AIKIDO FEDERATION, but the ranks given by the two groups are considered to be equivalent and interchangeable. Saotome has written two books on aikido (see bibl. ). He travels extensively in the U. S. and makes regular trips to France. Interviewed in AN#71-72. See Pictorial p. 96. Washington D. C. Aikikai, 421 Butternut St. NW, Washington, D. C. 20012 USA (202)829-4202.