<!-- Source: https://tamura-shihan.org/en/remembrance.html -->

# 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.

## Tributes, 2010

Short excerpts from published tributes. Excerpts are given in English; those marked “original English” were written in 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.” — **Ueshiba Moriteru, Doshu, Aikikai Foundation (Tokyo)**, letter to Mrs Rumiko Tamura, July 2010; from the FFAB’s French translation. [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “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.” — **Tamura Shihan’s sons**, message read at the funeral, Aix-en-Provence, 13 July 2010; tr. from Japanese by S. Benedetti. [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “Senpai’s high quality Aikido movements and techniques came mostly from being O-sensei’s uke. Nobody can copy him…” — **Yamada Yoshimitsu Shihan, 8th dan, New York Aikikai**, August 2010 (original English). [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “He was a longtime member of the IAF Senior Council and always attended Congresses, at which he taught, with precision, grace and good humour.” — **Peter A. Goldsbury, Chairman, International Aikido Federation**, IAF statement, 12 July 2010 (original English). [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “He is – and will stay forever – our ethical, moral and spiritual reference.” — **Luís Vasconcelos Salgado, President, European Aikido Federation**, Bras, 4 September 2010 (original English). [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “No one better than Tamura Shihan concentrated the essence of aikido in so slight a body, and made it shine like a precious stone.” — **Funakoshi Mitsuo, Japanese Aikido Federation**, letter of condolence, 2010; tr. from Japanese by S. Benedetti. [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “We miss someone hard to describe. A father, a friend, an adviser or a master?” — **Octavio de la Mata y Serrano, President, Aikikai de España – AETAIKI**, 2010. [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “He showed me the door of love. But above all he made me understand that it is up to me to open that door.” — **Tessa Huiskamp, President of the Aikido Committee, JBN (Netherlands)**, 2010. [Seseragi special issue, Sept 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)

> “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.” — **Swedish Aikido Federation and Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation**, official message, July 2010 (original English). [FFAB book of condolences, 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/292642188SCAN0412_000.pdf)

> “…when we die we do not die; something continues… like the old plum tree that blossoms again and again.” — **Rev. Michel Jigen Fabra, Zen monk**, memorial ceremony at Bras, 4 September 2010. [Seseragi no. 47, Dec 2010](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%2047.pdf)

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

## Recurring memorials

1. **Around 2 March each year (his birthday)** **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)](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/seseragi-le-journal-de-la-ffab-124.html) · [ENA 2014](https://www.aikido-noyelles.fr/nouvelles-de-le-n-a-2/)
2. **Each season, from 2010** **Limousin, France**: Ligue du Limousin (FFAB) tribute course; 2026 edition “Hommage à Maître Tamura”, Isle (87), 7 March 2026. [2026 announcement](https://aikido-nouvelleaquitaine.fr/stage-ouvert-a-tous-hommage-matre-tamura-cid-limousin-grard-grows-sylvain-perot-isle-87-07032026/)
3. **Around his birthday, from at least 2013** **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](http://shoshinaikido.blogspot.com/2015/02/nobuyoshi-tamura-aikido-memorial-67-en.html)
4. **Annual (2026 edition: 29–30 May)** **Castellón, Spain**: Aikikan España, “Memorial Tamura Sensei”. [Aikikan](https://www.aikikan.es/event/memorial-tamura-sensei-castellon-29/register)
5. **Recurring? (unconfirmed)** **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](https://www.eurasiaaikido.org/2025/03/07/reflections-after-the-brno-seminar/) · [2025 listing](https://hapsy.co/e/aikido-seminar-in)

## Memorial events, 2010–2026

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

1. **13 July 2010** **Aix-en-Provence, France**: Funeral and cremation, more than a thousand people. Organizer: family / FFAB. [Seseragi special](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf)
2. **4 September 2010** **Bras (Var), France**: Collective tribute at the Shumeikan: Buddhist ceremony (Heart Sutra) and speeches, about 800 people or more. Organizer: FFAB / ENA. [Seseragi special](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%20HOMMAGE%20SENSEI.pdf) · [Seseragi 47](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%2047.pdf) · [L. Tamaki, eyewitness](https://www.leotamaki.com/article-ceremonie-a-bras-en-l-honneur-de-tamura-sensei-56584018.html)
3. **25–26 September 2010** **Paris, France**: Stage in memory of Tamura Sensei, with R. Van Droogenbroeck, S. Benedetti, T. Shewan, J.-C. Joannès, M. Bécart and T. Suga. Organizer: Ligue Île-de-France (FFAB). [announcement](https://www.leotamaki.com/article-stage-a-la-memoire-de-tamura-sensei-avec-vdb-benedetti-tiki-shewan-joannes-becart-et-suga-57613842.html)
4. **15–16 January 2011** **Bras, France**: ENA Kagami Biraki; posthumous Order of the Rising Sun presented to Rumiko Tamura. Organizer: FFAB / ENA. [Seseragi 48](https://www.ffabaikido.com/fr/pdf/SESERAGI%2048.pdf)
5. **1–3 March 2013** **Rotterdam, Netherlands**: “Nobuyoshi Tamura Memorial” for his 80th birthday. Organizer: Dutch dojos. [announcement](http://shoshinaikido.blogspot.com/2013/01/aikido-seminar-nobuyoshi-tamura-memorial.html)
6. **25 Feb 2017 · 24 Feb 2018** **Lys-lez-Lannoy, France**: Memorial stages in homage to Tamura Sensei (announced). Organizer: FFAB Flandres-Artois. [announcements](http://www.aikido-noyelles.fr/tag/maitre-tamura/)
7. **2 March 2019** **Arras, France**: Tribute stage, led by Abdelkader Mimouni and others (announced). Organizer: Ligue Hauts-de-France. [announcement](https://www.aikido-noyelles.fr/tag/ecole-nationale-daikido/)
8. **20–21 June 2020 (planned)** **Lyon, France**: FFAB international course in memory of Master Tamura, planned for the 10th anniversary; probably canceled because of COVID-19 (unconfirmed). Organizer: FFAB. [FFAB](https://www.ffabaikido.fr/fr/stage-international-des-20-et-21-juin-2020-lyon-282.html)
9. **28 Feb – 2 Mar 2025** **Brno, Czech Republic**: Seminar in memory of Nobuyoshi and Rumiko Tamura. Organizer: Nebi Vural / SKP Kometa Brno. [listing](https://hapsy.co/e/aikido-seminar-in) · [report](https://www.eurasiaaikido.org/2025/03/07/reflections-after-the-brno-seminar/)
10. **1–2 March 2025** **Paris, France**: Homage stage to Tamura Sensei and Madame Tamura, led by Jacques Bonemaison. Organizer: PUC Paris Aïkido. [report](https://puc.paris/rencontre-aikido-en-hommage-a-tamura.html)
11. **7–8 November 2025** **Wevelgem, Belgium**: 15-year memorial seminar for Tamura Sensei and Sugano Sensei (listing). Organizer: Belgian dojos. [listing](https://allevents.in/wevelgem/15-year-memorial-seminar-for-tamura-sensei-and-sugano-sensei/200029022320119)
12. **28 February 2026** **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). Organizer: FFAB clubs. [Saint-Denis](https://akdstdb.over-blog.com/2026/02/stage-transmission-tamura-shihan-dirige-par-robert-dalessandro-et-richard-duffours-samedi-28-fevrier-2026-a-saint-denis-les-bourg.html) · [Saint-Dizier](https://aikido-st-dizier.fr/stages/stage-hommage-a-tamura-sensei-2)
13. **28 Feb – 2 Mar 2026** **Bordeaux, Montmélian, Évreux and Manom, France**: Tribute stages led by Mickaël Martin (Bordeaux), Gilbert Milliat and Gilles Ailloud (Montmélian), Youlika Michalski (Évreux) (announced). Organizer: FFAB leagues and clubs. [Bordeaux](https://aikido-nouvelleaquitaine.fr/hello-world/) · [Montmélian](https://www.aikido-chambery.fr/articles/actualites/stage-en-hommage-a-me-tamura-2110941) · [Évreux](http://www.aikido-noyelles.fr/tag/maitre-tamura/) · [Manom](https://www.aikidomanomyutz.net/Blog/?p=2273)