Mitsunari Kanai Sensei was truly a modern-day samurai. Inspired by Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, he became deeply captivated by the profound allure of martial arts. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, he went beyond simply decoding the founder’s techniques; by incorporating his own insights into human mechanics and ergonomics, he refined Aikido into a style uniquely his own. His movements were remarkably supple, efficient, and fluid, yet possessed a bold dynamism that continuously spellbound all who watched.

Despite his outstanding prowess, he never once utilized it for political gain. Instead, he devoted himself entirely to Aikido, the martial arts, and the study of iron gained through his research into Japanese swords. He was a man of noble virtue—showing no favoritism among his students and treating every single person who trained with dedication with profound affection.

Guided by the spirit of Jin (benevolence), he aimed to lend a helping hand whenever hardworking individuals were left struggling without due recognition. In his later years, he harbored an earnest desire to warmly embrace those who had lost their place due to political conflicts within the martial arts community. Rather than engaging in politics, he longed to create an environment where everyone could once again find joy in immersing themselves in the path of Aikido.

金井先生は、まさに現代に生きるサムライであった。合気道開祖・植芝盛平に触発され、武道の深遠な魅力に没頭していったのである。旺盛な探究心を持つ先生は、開祖の技を紐解くだけにとどまらず、自ら培った人間力学や人間工学の知見を融合させ、独自の合気道を昇華させていった。その技は極めてしなやかで無駄がなく、流麗でありながら大胆な動きで多くの人々を魅了してやまなかった。

卓越した実力を誇りながらも、それを政治的に利用することは一切なかった。ひたすら合気道や武道、そして日本刀を通じて得た鉄の研究に情熱を注ぎ、弟子たちに対しては偏見なく、熱心に稽古に励む一人ひとりに深い愛情を持って接する人徳の士であった。

努力する者が正当な評価を受けず困窮している際には、「仁」の精神をもって助け合うことを目指された。晩年には、政治的な対立によって居場所を失った人々を温かく救い上げたいという志を抱き、争いではなく、誰もが再び楽しく合気道に打ち込める環境を作り上げることを強く望んでおられた。

Kei Izawa
7th dan, Tanshinjuku Aikido Dojo
Boulder, Colorado