Tamura Shihan EN · PT · FR

Remembrance

Tamura Shihan died at Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on 9 July 2010. Messages came from Tokyo, across Europe and beyond, and memorial seminars are still held in his name.[14]

Tributes, 2010

Short excerpts from published tributes. English translations are ours unless marked “original English”. Messages from the FFAB’s book of condolences are limited to official bodies.

“I learned with the deepest regret of the death of Master Nobuyoshi Tamura. I cannot resist the sorrow that the memory of days gone by causes me.”

“My father has left us physically, but he lives on in each of you who knew him, for you are, each in your own way, the direct heirs of his teaching.”

“Senpai’s high quality Aikido movements and techniques came mostly from being O-sensei’s uke. Nobody can copy him…”

“He was a longtime member of the IAF Senior Council and always attended Congresses, at which he taught, with precision, grace and good humour.”

“He is – and will stay forever – our ethical, moral and spiritual reference.”

“No one better than Tamura Shihan concentrated the essence of aikido in so slight a body, and made it shine like a precious stone.”

“We miss someone hard to describe. A father, a friend, an adviser or a master?”

“He showed me the door of love. But above all he made me understand that it is up to me to open that door.”

“In good times and bad times for Swedish aikido, Tamura Shihan stood us by. We are truly indebted to him, and our fond gratitude remains forever.”

“…when we die we do not die; something continues… like the old plum tree that blossoms again and again.”

The Japanese monthly Hiden (秘伝) published a memorial feature in its December 2010 issue (print only).[47]

Recurring memorials

  1. Bras (Var) and FFAB leagues, France: FFAB / École Nationale d’Aïkido annual tribute day at the Shumeikan. Chosen as an annual tribute in 2012; e.g. “Hommages à Maître Tamura”, 1–2 March 2014. Seseragi 50 (2012) · ENA 2014
  2. Limousin, France: Ligue du Limousin (FFAB) tribute course; 2026 edition “Hommage à Maître Tamura”, Isle (87), 7 March 2026. 2026 announcement
  3. Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Netherlands: “Nobuyoshi Tamura memorial” weekend in the Tenchigowa (Rotterdam) and Sho Shin (Amsterdam) dojos, described in 2015 as a tradition. 2015 announcement
  4. Castellón, Spain: Aikikan España, “Memorial Tamura Sensei”. Aikikan
  5. Brno, Czech Republic: Nebi Vural, “Mr. and Mrs. Tamura Memorial”, SKP Kometa Brno; the 2025 edition is documented, later editions are not confirmed as memorials. 2025 report · 2025 listing

Memorial events, 2010–2026

Each event links to a public source. “Announced” means we have only the organiser’s announcement. Please send other events, with a link, to info@tamura-shihan.org.

  1. Aix-en-Provence, France: Funeral and cremation, more than a thousand people. Organiser: family / FFAB. Seseragi special
  2. Bras (Var), France: Collective tribute at the Shumeikan: Buddhist ceremony (Heart Sutra) and speeches, about 800 people or more. Organiser: FFAB / ENA. Seseragi special · Seseragi 47 · L. Tamaki, eyewitness
  3. Paris, France: Stage in memory of Tamura Sensei, with R. Van Droogenbroeck, S. Benedetti, T. Shewan, J.-C. Joannès, M. Bécart and T. Suga. Organiser: Ligue Île-de-France (FFAB). announcement
  4. Bras, France: ENA Kagami Biraki; posthumous Order of the Rising Sun presented to Rumiko Tamura. Organiser: FFAB / ENA. Seseragi 48
  5. Rotterdam, Netherlands: “Nobuyoshi Tamura Memorial” for his 80th birthday. Organiser: Dutch dojos. announcement
  6. Lys-lez-Lannoy, France: Memorial stages in homage to Tamura Sensei (announced). Organiser: FFAB Flandres-Artois. announcements
  7. Arras, France: Tribute stage, led by Abdelkader Mimouni and others (announced). Organiser: Ligue Hauts-de-France. announcement
  8. Lyon, France: FFAB international course in memory of Master Tamura, planned for the 10th anniversary; probably cancelled because of COVID-19 (unconfirmed). Organiser: FFAB. FFAB
  9. Brno, Czech Republic: Seminar in memory of Nobuyoshi and Rumiko Tamura. Organiser: Nebi Vural / SKP Kometa Brno. listing · report
  10. Paris, France: Homage stage to Tamura Sensei and Madame Tamura, led by Jacques Bonemaison. Organiser: PUC Paris Aïkido. report
  11. Wevelgem, Belgium: 15-year memorial seminar for Tamura Sensei and Sugano Sensei (listing). Organiser: Belgian dojos. listing
  12. Saint-Denis-lès-Bourg and Saint-Dizier, France: “Stage transmission Tamura Shihan” (R. Dalessandro, R. Duffours) and “Stage hommage à Tamura Sensei” (D. Fais, J.-M. Hupé, F. Besse) (announced). Organiser: FFAB clubs. Saint-Denis · Saint-Dizier
  13. Bordeaux, Montmélian, Évreux and Manom, France: Tribute stages led by Mickaël Martin (Bordeaux), Gilbert Milliat and Gilles Ailloud (Montmélian), Youlika Michalski (Évreux) (announced). Organiser: FFAB leagues and clubs. Bordeaux · Montmélian · Évreux · Manom