Hitohiro Saito - Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai

Hitohiro Saito is the founder and leader (Kaicho) of a traditional Iwama style aikido organization. It is named Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai (岩間神信合氣修練会, lit. Iwama spiritual aiki drill association). It has dojo in about 20 countries.

With the passing of Morihiro Saito (13 May 2002), Hitohiro Saito initially continued to govern the Founder's dojo and the Temple of Aikido, Aikijinja. He had also prepared to surrender these roles to the Aikikai, which own those properties. However, the doshu also asked for the Iwama Ryu grading certificates to cease, and in return Hitohiro asked for the Aikikai to announce in publication that the founder's original style is preserved at Iwama. The latter did not occur, and Hitohiro also came under pressures within the Iwama group. In November 2003, Hitohiro separated from the Aikikai. By February 2004 he had formed his own organisation (ISSASK).

While a number of Morihiro Saito's students preferred to remain affiliated with the Aikikai, others decided to follow Hitohiro Saito upon his break from the organization. Today he teaches full time at his own Tanrenkan and travels constantly inside Japan and around the world, instructing at seminars attended by hundreds of aikido students.