(b. 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.