Akira Tohei

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Akira Tohei (July 2, 1929 - 1999) was a Japanese aikido teacher. He held the rank of 8th dan in the Aikikai.

He began his aikido practice in 1946 under the direct instruction of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. In 1963, Tohei was asked by Morihei Ueshiba to accompany his son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, on a tour of aikido dojo throughout the United States. When the three-month journey ended in Hawaii, Tohei remained for a further nine months and taught aikido throughout the Hawaiian Islands. On his return to Japan he joined the teaching staff at Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

For the next eight years Tohei, in addition to his teaching at the headquarters, was also an instructor at Asia University, Akita Economics University, Keio University, Nihon Women's University, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

In 1966, Aikikai honbu awarded Tohei the title of Shihan. In 1972, he was dispatched to America and became the chief instructor of the Midwest Region of the United States Aikido Federation, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Tohei was promoted to 8th dan in 1989.

Akira Tohei taught aikido classes daily up until his death in July of 1999, just before his 70th birthday.