Yoshimitsu Yamada was born 17 february 1938. 8th dan Aikikai (1990). Aikikai Shihan. Attended Aoyama Gakuin University majoring in Business Management. Cousin of Tadashi ABE. Entered AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO as UCHIDESHI c. 1956 while a university student. Dispatched to New York City in 1964. Central figure in the Eastern Region of the UNITED STATES AIKIDO FEDERATION. Also has a large following in Latin America. Author of several books on aikido. Chief instructor of the New York Aikikai.