Scattering Ito Sensei’s Ashes in Japan

2024, All Years, Body Dialogue Newsletter

by Nicole Beauvois

I arrived on 3 October, 2024 to prepare for the ceremony with our hosts Mr. and Mrs. Yamazaki who are long-time friends of Fugaku and own the inn at Mt Asama.

Thanks to new technologies, we were able to communicate using a little English and a little Japanese.

It was raining and we were trying to imagine what we would do if the rain did not stop for the ceremony.

On the morning of 5 October, there was a beautiful mountain mist. I went to the dojo and practiced Diamond 8 cuts, and asked Mother Nature if she could clear up for the ceremony.

One hour before our friends arrived, it had cleared up !!!! We set up a table in the middle of the dojo with a white tablecloth, a photo of Fugaku (the one that I personally like so much), vases with flowers on each side, a candle to light, a wooden container for the sake and a glass.

Hideko san and Kazuo Hokari san arrived at Komoro station at 3pm, Also arriving were Misao Natsubori san, Watanabe san and Junko Yamamoto san (his last catch like Fugaku would have said).  Iida san and Ushida san drove from Kyoto and arrived directly at the ‘Tengu onsen in Asama Lodge.)

Everyone had a moment to get their room keys. The Kansai Shintaido group changed into their keiko gi. A 3:30 pm we left together for the beautiful dojo surrounded by the mountain with the Fugaku’s urn in my arms. Misao brought a bottle of good sake for me to put in the wooden container for Fugaku, and Akemi san (the wife of Yukihiro Yamasaki, our host) filled the glass with water.

I lit incense, bowed and prayed in front of Fugaku’s photo, and everyone in turn did the same.
We played the Dalai Lama’s chant throughout the ceremony.

I spoke to Fugaku indicating that I also represented his family (Yoshitaka san, his brother, Hiroko san, his sister, his 2 elderly cousins and their families) as well as my family in France and all the people around the world who were associated with this moment.

Hokari Sensei explained his relationship with Fugaku describing the history of Fugaku from Egami sensei onwards.

“My name is Hokari, an old friend of Ito-sensei.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, and on behalf of Nicole and late Ito-sensei, I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend Ito-sensei’s ash scattering ceremony today.
All of you gathering here are people who have met Ito-sensei in your own ways, and have been instructed by him for many years, and have worked together to spread Shintaido.

I also express my gratitude to Mr. Yamazaki, the owner of Asama Sanso and his family, who prepared a thoughtful alter for the ceremony.

I apologize for the inconvenience to tell my about personal relation with Ito-sensei. The first time I met him was 60 years ago, at the summer training camp of the Chuo University Karate Club, where he was the captain of the club.

The Niigata University Karate Club, where I worked, also belonged to the same Shotokai as Chuo University, so I was allowed to participate in the training camp.

At that time, the Chuo University Karate Club was regarded as the headquarters of the Shotokai, with Egami Sensei as a master instructor and Aoki Sensei as a deputy instructor.

Some years later, after that event, Aoki Sensei moved away from karate and founded Rakutenkai with the aim of developing a new martial art that cultivated humanity. Since I was so fascinated by the philosophy advocated by Aoki-sensei, I left Shotokai, and jumped into Rakutenkai, where I met Ito-sensei again.

Rakutenkai’s practice resulted in Shintaido, and the Shintaido Association was established to spread throughout Japan and the rest of the world. Ito-sensei worked a division manager for spreading Shintaido, whereas I worked as a division manager of the general affairs.

Eventually, Ito-sensei moved to the United States and then France to promote Shintaido, mainly outside Japan and I stayed in Japan to serve as a general manager of the International Shintaido Federation, coordinating with the Shintaido groups in Japan, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, and other countries.

About 15 years later, I was hit by a truck driven by a drunk driver while jogging, and all my relatives were gathered to the hospital, because my life was in danger.

Fortunately, with the support of my robust body cultivated in Shintaido, I survived, but my pelvis was broken into three pieces, and both knees and both ankles were broken. That made it impossible for me to practice Shintaido, although it did not interfere with my daily life.

Therefore, I had to leave Shintaido, but have continued to have a close personal relationship with Ito-sensei, shared ideas based on Shintaido philosophy, and discussed not only Shintaido, but also a wide range of topics, including world politics and economic issues.

As you know, more than 10 years ago, Aoki Sensei launched a new martial art to replace Shintaido, called “Kenbu Tenshin-ryu”, that resulted in the situation where Shintaido has almost disappeared in Japan.

Ito-sensei struggled with whether he should follow Aoki-sensei, or continue with the Keiko-system of Shintaido. Finally, he made up his mind to believe in, and pursue Shintaido Keiko system, and instructed people who followed him.

Now that Ito-sensei has departed, I hope all of you will carry on his legacy and pass on Shintaido to future generations.

With that, I would like to conclude my remarks. Thank you.”

Then Watanabe san performed Tenshingoso with voice. Mr. and Mrs. Yamasaki and their children Dai san and Emma san joined us.  It was their first time doing Shintaido. 

It was so good.

Then I showed a short video of Fugaku singing “gin gin gira gira”, a nursery rhyme about the setting sun that he used to sing on the hill near the chapel where we practiced. 

For him, it was a prayer for every person who had died since 1 May 2023*. I suggested that we sing this song twice for him, and he sang it as a form of Kotodama.  It was so good that we could offer it to him.

Then came the scattering of the ashes. I took the urn, and we took turns scattering them around the dojo. 

We separated Fugaku’s ashes into two portions, and scattered the majority all around dojo, and buried a small portion in a space between a monument and a couple of old trees planted by Japanese Royal families, that is located in the forecourt of Asama-sanso. He will stay in the dojo as well as under the Royal family’s trees. It seems as if his soul covers all around the big nature surrounding Asama-sanso, a place he loved so much.

We were moved, and happy to have been able to respect his wishes.

We came back and some of us set up the altar in the tatami room reserved for us for dinner.

We all soaked in the onsen with water straight from the volcano, which is red because it contains iron.

Before we started eating, Mr. Yamasaki offered sake to everyone and also to Fugaku in front of his picture. They also served part of the big dinner that we had. 

Thanks to Misao san for her efforts in organizing the visit of our dear friends. Thank you to our friends for coming to see me. A warm gratitude to the Yamasaki family who supported me and offered their precious time to accompany Fugaku’s ashes to this place that was so precious to him. Thank you to all his friends who prayed around the world. Thanks also to our friends in Tokyo who couldn’t make it but whom Tamiko Sato san will be bringing together on 9 September for a memorial dinner.

Nicole Beauvois
October 6, 2024
At Asama-Sanso lodging