Caretaker of Settlers
Sokaku Takeda, a master of the Daito Ryu of Jujitsu, was in Hokkaido . At this time the Founder's land development work had made much progress and he had a great desire to study with Takeda.
At the age of 32 he met Master Takeda at the Hotel Hisata in Engaru in 1915 and was told, "You have potential and exceptional ability. So I will teach you." He became a student.
Daito Ryu Jujutsu has a long history, traditionally claiming to have been started by Prince Sadazumi, the sixth prince of Emperor Seiwa of the ninth century, and has been developed and preserved up to the present. Its theory is deep and the number of its techniques is great. Master Sokaku was quite an expert even though he was short; the Founder had great respect for him. Thus after they met he had an unexpected one-month stay at Hotel Hisata to study with Takeda. Later, in 1916, the Founder invited Takeda to his home, received instruction, and took care of him, including cook for him and bathing him. The Founder eventually built a new house for his teacher. Takeda was a man of violent spirit and very severe with students who were studying under him. This made no difference to the Founder. He forgot his food and sleep, and concentrated all his energy into their study. This fact has a deep relationship with present-day Aikido.
The Founder's study of the Daito Ryu started in 1915. In 1916 he got the precious certificate magnifying his having mastered all his studies. Over that period it was less than one hundred days that he actually studied with Takeda personally. The rest of time he studied and trained by himself.
For the budo he studied at that time he had to pay the teacher three hundred to five hundred yen for each technique (one yen then being equal to about half a dollar). In addition to that, the Founder had to work hard cutting wood and carrying water for his teacher before receiving the lesson. Thus he spent almost all the capital that he had received from his parents.
Serious Illness of His Father
Late in the spring of 1919 the Founder received a telegram telling him that his father was in serious condition. The Founder gave all his property to his teacher Takeda and left Hokkaido .
In Hokkaido , under the guidance of the Founder, the development of land had progressed well. The village was founded, a school had been constructed, and he had gained social prestige and property. But things such as these did not concern him. Only his painfully pleasant and fruitful studies were on his mind. Thus the young Founder returned from the north in the same condition he had gone: with no possessions, save a vigorous spirit.
Study at Ayabe
As he rode the train home he happened to hear of the Rev.Wanisaburo Dedushi the leader of the Omotokyo, a new religion. The Founder, desiring to do anything to heal his father, decided at once to change course for Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, where the Omotokyo Headquarters were located, and ask for prayers for the recovery of his father.
Ever since he was child, the Founder had naturally had and extraordinary interest in the study of spiritual thought and was raised with deep understanding by his parents. When he was seven years old, he studied under Priest Mitsujo Fujimoto of Jizoji Temple , of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, and at the age of ten he had studied Zen Buddhism at Homanji Temple in Akitsu Village . Growing older, the Founder's seeking for spiritual food became stronger. He would visit wherever he could and ask for instructions.
The desire for his father's recovery was his main reason for visiting the Rev.Deguchi. However, after having listened to the priest he was struck by his profound insight.
When he arrived at his home in Tanabe, to his sorrow, he learned his father had passed away. Confronted with the death of the person whom he loved most in the world the Founder swore before the grave to break out of his mental deadlock, develop further, and reach for the secret of budo.
After that, the daily life of the Founder changed greatly. At times he stood on the top of a rock in a white robe and made pious prayer; or he would kneel somewhere on the top of a mountain, reciting Shinto prayers continuously. His old friends in his village were amazed at this change and worried that he had become mad. Later in 1919 he was attracted with the memory of Deguchi whom he had previously encountered, and moved to Ayabe with his entire family. He sought a light to brighten his heart. A house at the foot of the main shrine mountain in Ayabe became his home. There he taught jujitsu and studied actively under Reverend Deguchi until 1926