Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu is a traditional martial art popularized by Takeda Sokaku. One of his students, Mr. Toshimi Matsuda, established a dojo (training hall) called Shobukan to teach these techniques to many people. However, not many people know that this Shobukan dojo was once located near Asahikawa’s Ginza shopping street.
Recently, I had the chance to visit the place where Shobukan once stood. In the past, I trained briefly at the dojo of Mr. Toshimi Matsuda’s student, Mr. Motonobu Takara. Through one of my senior classmates from that time, I was able to see a booklet written by Mr. Matsuda, and that’s how I found the address.
Today, there are no remaining signs or markers of the dojo in the area. However, there are still a few stores near the location that have been there since those early days. I recently took a walk around the area to try and get a sense of its atmosphere.
Walking along the street with its old stores and shops, I could almost feel the atmosphere from the time when Shobukan existed here. It’s a strange feeling to imagine people training in martial arts right here, back in those days.
If anyone knows about Mr. Toshimi Matsuda’s dojo, or remembers “a judo or jujutsu dojo” in the area, I’d be very grateful to hear from you!
