20 Facts About Isamu Takeshita

Isamu Takeshita was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Isamu Takeshita was a diplomat whose accomplishments included helping end the Russo-Japanese War favorably for Japan and obtaining former German possessions in the Pacific for Japan following World War I In addition, he was a patron and practitioner of the Japanese martial arts, especially judo, sumo, and aikido.

Isamu Takeshita entered the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1892, and he graduated third in a class of eighty students.

Isamu Takeshita entered naval service as a midshipman in 1889; his first ship was the armored corvette Kongo.

Isamu Takeshita's commands included the cruisers Suma, Kasuga, Izumo, Tsukuba and the battleship Shikishima.

Isamu Takeshita was a member of the Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States in 1917, the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, and the League of Nations.

Isamu Takeshita returned to Japan to accept a posting as commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet on 1 December 1922, a position he held until January 1924.

Isamu Takeshita was placed on the retired list in November 1929.

Isamu Takeshita's mission was to try to explain to American audiences that Japan's invasion of China in the Second Sino-Japanese War, was to stop the spread of Communism.

In February 1937, Isamu Takeshita was appointed head of the Japanese Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, and YMCA.

In May 1939, Isamu Takeshita became the third president of the Japan Sumo Association.

Isamu Takeshita first heard of Morihei Ueshiba through his colleague at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, Admiral Seikyo Asano, who was studying Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu under Ueshiba at Ayabe.

In 1925, Isamu Takeshita went to Ayabe to see Ueshiba and was so impressed that he recommended Ueshiba to Yamamoto Gonnohyoe, a retired admiral and former Prime Minister of Japan.

In February 1927, Isamu Takeshita invited Ueshiba to Tokyo again, and this time, Ueshiba settled there.

Isamu Takeshita's influence was such that many military officers, government officials and members of the wealthy class began practicing Ueshiba's martial art.

Isamu Takeshita was not only an admirer but an ardent practitioner of aikido, despite his age.

Isamu Takeshita filled notebooks with descriptions of Ueshiba's techniques, and these descriptions provide insights into the development of aikido.

In 1935, Isamu Takeshita gave a demonstration of Ueshiba's art at the first Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai demonstration.

In 1940, Isamu Takeshita was instrumental in providing a legal identity to Ueshiba's Kobukan organization by founding the Kobukai Foundation and becoming its first president.

Also, in 1941, Isamu Takeshita used his influence to arrange a demonstration of aikido by Ueshiba at the Imperial Palace.