Nagano Hiromichi

Nagano Hiromichi was born on June 19, 1947 in Tanegashima in southern Japan. The island of Tanegashima belongs to the province of Kagoshima and has acquired historical significance. 

He applied to the city police and was trained as a judo trainer from 1965 to 1971. He travelled to Germany for the first time for the 1972 Olympics. He obviously liked the foreign country, so he stayed for a while. He worked as a judo trainer in Bielefeld. 

In 1975 he met the aikido master Asai Katsuaki at the police academy in Münster. Asai Sensei came from Aikikai Honbudojo in 1965 and was probably the first original aikido trainer in Germany. When he observed the lessons, he was very impressed by the very different etiquette on the mat, an etiquette that reminded him of patterns at home. These had been lost in judo because too few Japanese masters taught in Germany. He suddenly remembered a classmate at the Tokyo Police Academy who was training Aikido with Shioda Gozo Sensei. In Munich, the Dojo "Budokan" had opened at Rindermarkt with Matsuba Harunobu (Karate/Judo) and Kuramatsu Itaru (Karate). Nagano Sensei joined in 1976 and was the third in the group to run a successful Budo training center.

Since 1978, Shimizu Kenji Sensei has been visiting Germany regularly. He taught Aikido Tendoryu in extensive courses. His training sparked Nagano Sensei's unbridled enthusiasm for Aikido, so that he decided to become Shimizu Kenji Sensei's personal student in Japan. He traveled back to his homeland in 1983 and became uchi deshi at the Tendokan in Tokyo. There he completed professional training as an Aikido trainer and met, among others, his future wife Sakai Keiko. Through old connections at the police academy, he came into contact with Inoue Kioichi Sensei, who taught Aikido there. On his recommendation, he introduced himself to the dojo of Shioda Gozo Sensei, the founder of the Aikido Yoshinkan style, and became his personal student.

With his newly acquired knowledge, he pressed on back to Germany. However, the visa was delayed, so that he was able to train in Honbu Dojo until May 1986. Shioda Gozo Sensei commissioned him to establish and develop this style in Germany. 

Nagano Sensei was very keen to spread Aikido Yoshinkan. He consolidated and deepened understanding in annual courses for student grades and Dan holders. Cultural peculiarities were always visible and everyone could feel that they had become involved in Japanese martial arts. He also supported the efforts in Switzerland and Italy and founded successful branches in Poland and Ukraine.

In the 31 years of his activity, he has used his excellent connections in his homeland to invite high-ranking Japanese Aikido masters to Germany every year.

On December 1st, 2017, Nagano Sensei passed away in Munich. He was awarded the 8th Dan Aikido Yoshinkan. The dojo community mourns with his family for their founder and master. It is our mission and motivation to continue the path of Japanese martial arts in his spirit.