Morihei Ueshiba

He tied the nuptial knot with his childhood friend, Hatsu Itokawa after returning from his first visit to Tokyo in 1901.

The couple was blessed with three children, of which two failed to survive past adolescence. His third child, a son Kisshomaru Ueshiba was born in the summer of 1921.

In 1969, his health started depleting frantically. In the month of March he was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed to be suffering from cancer of the liver. He breathed his last on April 26, 1969.

Morihei Ueshiba was the fourth child and the only son born to Yoroku Ueshiba and Yuki in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. His family was financially affluent as his father was a trader of lumber and fishing apart from being a landowner.

As a child, young Ueshiba was weak and sickly. However, irrespective of his frail health, his father inspired him to become strong and robust by taking to sumo wrestling and swimming as a hobby.

It was an unfortunate incident during which his father was attacked by people of the opposition party that he understood the impetus of being tough and sturdy. The incident showed him how important it was to be strong and combatant.

He attended various institutions starting from the Jizoderu Temple where he was taught Confucian education. He them attended Tanage Higher Elementary School and Tanabe Prefectural Middle School. However, he left the same mid-way to enroll at Yoshida Institute, a private abacus academy.

At Yoshida Institute, he studied accountancy. Upon graduating from the same, he took up a job at the local tax office. However, lack of interest in the work profile led him to vacate the office soon.

In 1903, he was drafted for military duties but he failed in the initial exam due to his short height. Though he was depressed, he did not give up and instead looked for ways to enhance his height.

Interestingly, he attached heavy weights to his legs and suspended himself from the tree branches to stretch his spine and increase his height. The hard work paid off and he passed in the re-test successfully enhancing his height by half an inch to cross the mark.

He was first assigned to the Osaka Fourth Division at the 37th Regiment. Within a year, he reached the rank of a corporal. Post his active service at the Russo-Japanese War, he was promoted yet again to the post of a sergeant.

In 1907, relieved from his military duties, he returned to Tanabe and befriended Minakata Kumagusu. It was under the latter’s influence that he became involved in politics, opposing Meiji government's Shrine Consolidation Policy

Meanwhile, he sporadically trained himself at martial arts at the Goto-ha Yagyu-ryu under Masakatsu Nakai. It was only after a couple of years that he attained a diploma in the art. Furthermore, he also trained himself at Tenjin Shin'y-ryu jujutsu and judo.

In 1960, he was conferred with the prestigious Medal of Honor (japan).

In 1964, he became the proud recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

In 1968, he was bestowed with the prominent Order of the Sacred Treasure (Japan).