Kenji Tomiki Visited the United States

In 1953 Tomiki went to the United States as part of a Judo delegation to instruct the U.S. Air Force in 15 US states.

In 1954, Kenji Tomiki became a professor at Waseda University (in Tokyo) and placed in charge of the university's Physical Education Department. He published the Judo Taiso - an instruction book on Judo.

Two years after that, Tomiki published a book in English called Judo with Aikido (later re-named Judo and Aikido). This helped bring Aikido to the Western world. A French translation was published in 1960.

In 1958, he founded the Waseda University Aikido Club and was the club's first Director. He published Aikidonyumon which is still in print today. At about this time he began to develop Aikido Kyogi (Sport Aikido).

In 1964 Tomiki Sensei published The New Aikido Textbook, and in 1967 he opened the Shodokan Dojo - the first Dojo established exclusively for the study of Aikido.

In 1970 Kenji Tomiki retired from Waseda University and published Taiiku To Budo (Physical Education and Budo). He also presided over the First All Japan Students' Aikido Tournament.

Tomiki received 8th Dan in Kodokan Judo in 1971, and founded the Japan Aikido Association in 1974. Kenji Tomiki was appointed its first President.

1975 - he became Vice President of the Nippon Budo Gakkai (Martial Art Society of Japan), and in 1976 the new Shodokan Headquarters and Main Dojo of the J.A.A was established in Osaka, with Tomiki Shihan as its Director.

In 1977, Kenji Tomiki visited Australia at the invitation of John Gay Sensei, founder of the Australian Aikido Association.

Tomiki Shihan died on 25th December (Christmas Day) in 1979. He was 79 years old.