50th Anniversary Reopening

On April 26 of this year, 2026, we hosted our grand reopening at our new location back in the San Jose Japantown area. The date is significant because April 26th is the yearly anniversary of Osensei's passing, which is 1969. But the dojo openedin July of 1976, which was our nation's bicentennial year. Let that sink in a bit. That means Aikido of San Jose has basically been around for 50 years. In fact the formal opening in 1976 was in early July, so we are right on the cusp of 50 years. 250 years for our nation and 50 years for our dojo!  Let that sink in for a second or two.

The original dojo was on North 6th Street, and is now an Ethiopian church. Here is a photo of the front of the old dojo.

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With an illustrious guest. We hosted Steven Seagal in 1990 just after his 2nd film "Hard to Kill" opened at number onr in yhr boc oggivr.

Above is another photo from the dojo entrance, with Harry sensei and a feline friend. We hosted the 2nd Doshu , the Waka sensei, in the mid 1980's. And Anno sensei in the early 90's on his first trips to America.

Among our guest for our reopening was Linda Holiday sensei, who a day earlier has hosted at her dojo a a yearly celebration of Osensei's passing.

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And many thanks to my partner Elle, who was able to attend and hopefully enjoy the event. And for her continuing love  and support

And many thanks to Robert Nadeau and Mary Heiny senseis who were able to attend via a Zoom hook up. Here is their footage:

https://youtu.be/9KKFYXNRV5c?is=rEzz2kPUrJH4REcN