Kisshomaru Ueshiba

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Kisshomaru Ueshiba (植芝 吉祥丸 Ueshiba Kisshōmaru, June 27, 1921–January 4, 1999) was the son of the founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido, and became the international leader of aikido after his father's death.

Kisshomaru Ushiba was born in the city of Ayabe, Kyoto prefecture, Japan; the third child of Morihei Ueshiba (植芝 盛平 Ueshiba Morihei, 1883–1969) and Hatsu Ueshiba (植芝 はつ Ueshiba Hatsu, 1881–1969).

Kisshomaru trained with his father beginning around 1937. He later attended Waseda University and graduated with a degree in economics in 1946. Prior to graduation, however, his father appointed him the head of the Kobukan Dojo in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 1942. Kisshomaru would go on to save the dojo from fire bombing several times during the Second World War.

After the war, and beginning in 1948, Kisshomaru oversaw the development of the Aikikai Honbu organization (and eventually the tearing down of the Kobukan Dojo in 1967 to construct the Aikikai headquarters).

After Morihei Ueshiba's death in 1969, Kisshomaru took on the mantle of "dōshu", which roughly translates as "keeper of the way". As his father is the first dōshu, he is the second, and after his death in 1999, his son Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝 守央 Ueshiba Moriteru, born 1951) became the third. Kisshomaru Ueshiba is often given credit for being the primary force behind the spread and popularization of aikido throughout the world.

Preceded by Morihei Ueshiba	Dōshu of Aikikai April 26, 1969 - January 4, 1999	Succeeded by Moriteru Ueshiba
Preceded by (none)	Dōjōchō of Aikikai Hombu Dōjō 1957 - 1969	Succeeded by Kisaburo Osawa