On April 26th 1969, Morihei Ueshiba passed away peacefully at 5am after battling a chronic liver condition.
The night that he died was the beginning of a week-long funeral events at the Ueshiba family’s home.
On April 29th, Aikido instructors carried the O’Sensei’s remains to the third floor of the Hombu dojo. Teachers and instructors spent the night praying and watching over O’Sensei.
On April 30th, the remains were brought to the crematorium by his relatives and his followers, and the ashes were brought back to the 3rd floor of the Hombu dojo at 3:30pm.
On May 1st, from 7pm to 9pm, 1500 people came to pay their respects and they brought baskets and bouquets. The government sent delegates to honor O’Sensei with the award of the third-class order of the sacred treasure for his lifetime work in Aikido.
The Sacred Treasure was established on January 4th 1888 by the Emperor Meiji.
On May 2nd, from 1pm to 4:30pm a funeral service conducted by Shinto priests of the Oomoto branch was held at the Aoyama Funeral Hall in Tokyo. There were over 2,000 people who paid their tributes to O’Sensei.
The Oomoto religion was founded by Nao Deguchi (1836-1918) on February 3rd,1892. It is a new Shinto religion. Shinto means: ”The way of the God”. It is the importance of harmony between Nature, humans and the gods. (Oomoto.0r.jp)
Shinto, in general, is very attractive as a religion because there is the belief that our ancestors are watching over us and they are protecting us. There is the creator, god and there are our deceased family members in heaven.
From May 15th to May 17th, over funeral rites were performed in Ayabe-Kyoto, in Iwama and on the 17th, the ashes of O’Sensei were laid to rest in his grave at the Kozanji Temple in Tanabe, the birth place of O’sensei.
Other dojos around the world held memorial services: NYC Aikikai, California Aikido Federation and the Pasadena Aikikai, Honolulu dojo, the members of the Malaysia Aikikai, and Argentina Aikido clubs…
The hair of the deceased are enshrined in 3 places, at the Aikido shrine in Iwama, Ibaragi prefecture, at the Ueshiba’s family grave in Tanabe and at the Kumano Hongu Temple in Wakayama prefecture.
Other awards:
In 1960, he received the medal of honor with purple ribbon for his achievements in founding the art of Aikido.
In 1964, he was awarded the award of The Order of the Rising Sun, fourth class for services as the founder of Aikido.
In 1966 he was presented the title of Earl by the Archbishop of Brazil of the catholic Church for contributing to the happiness of mankind through the dissemination of Aikido in the world.
Reference: “Morihei Ueshiba 1883-1969” Aikido, Volume 6, No.2 Aikido Headquarters, Tokyo 1969.
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