A tribute to Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei by Daniel Toutain

Last Friday, I received a phone call saying that Tamura Sensei had passed away a few hours earlier.

I knew that he was very ill, and I feared bad news one day, but I was shocked to receive the call.

Mastere Nobuyoshi Tamura
Photo credit: www.bunkaisport.com

I had the privilege of being his student at the end of the seventies and during the eighties, and I followed him everywhere during this time.

Beyond his extraordinary and internationally acclaimed Aikido, it is his great human qualities that leave an indelible mark on me. When I was close to him, I was able to see just how much he was able to pass on the true message of Aikido by his kind-hearted attitude.

In recent years I did not have the opportunity to see him, because life is like that sometimes, nonetheless he has remained ever present in my heart. I now regret that time has passed so quickly and that I did not visit him.

Sometimes I talked about Tamura Sensei with Saito Sensei, who held him in very high regard. They are now joined and, once again, it is a huge loss to the world of Aikido.

This is an opportunity for all of us who followed their teaching, to honor them and remain worthy of what they gave us.

My thoughts go especially to Mrs Tamura, with whom he shared most of his life, and to his child, his family and all those who feel this immense loss.

I feel a deep sadness.

Rest in peace Sensei, like Saito Sensei, there will not be a training session without a very respectful and affectionate thought for you.