Hombu Dojo
Coordinates: 35°41′56.9″N 139°42′51.5″E / 35.699139°N 139.714306°E / 35.699139; 139.714306
The Hombu dojo in Tokyo is the headquarters of the Aikikai.
The Hombu dojo is officially named Aikido World Headquarters, and is entirely operated by the Aikikai Foundation. It is sometimes called the Aikikai Hombu to distinguish it from the headquarters of later aikido organisations. Hombu (本部 honbu) is a common word meaning "headquarters".
Hombu dojo has about 30 instructors, and most are shihan. The instructors include the Doshu and Hiroshi Tada 9th dan.
The location of Hombu dojo is in Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. (This same location was formerly the Ushigome District of Shinjuku.)
The dojo was established in April 1931 by the founder of Aikido. It was originally named Kobukan Dōjō (皇武館道場, imperial warrior hall dojo) but was called "Hombu Dōjō" after World War II.
In 1967 the original single-story wooden structure was replaced by a five story modern building. Training takes place in three rooms which total about 250 tatami in area. The main training area has 105 tatami mats (170m2). The other two training areas, containing 72 and 42 tatami mats respectively, are often used for beginner's classes, children's classes, women's classes, or fixed term and enrollment "academy" (Gakko) courses.
Classes are held seven days a week. Beginner's and regular classes are open to all Aikido practitioners that are or become Aikikai members.
A small number of students also reside in the dōjō as part of a live-in training program.
Read more about this topic: Aikikai