 He then became a member of the Waseda University karate club before starting training in aikido at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo under aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba in March 1950.He was dispatched to Rome, Italy in 1964 where he established the Italian "Dojo Centrale" in 1967, and the national association "Aikikai d'Italia" in 1970.He returned to Japan in 1971 to resume teaching at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo.