Amir Hyuga demonstrates an aikido technique on a student, left, in Sapporo’s Kita Ward, Feb. 26, 2026. (Mainichi/Daiki Kobayashi)
SAPPORO — Amir Hyuga from Galicia in northwestern Spain runs an aikido dojo in Sapporo’s Kita Ward where he teaches about 30 students ranging from children to adults. With his language skills he teaches foreigners as well.
As students rushed toward him, the 44-year-old chanted “Ei!” and “Yoi!” while smoothly applying techniques that sent them down one after another.
Training sessions begin with exercises incorporating aikido movements, followed by breakfall and techniques conveyed through gestures, concluding with breathing exercises.
“I must go to Japan.”
From childhood, Hyuga often dreamed this inexplicable dream. Those dreams sparked his interest in Japanese culture, including anime and films.
Around the age of 18, he organized an event in Spain to introduce Japanese culture, which led his attention to aikido. Immersing himself in aikido, Hyuga felt, “It’s neither a religion nor a philosophy. It’s a sense of becoming one with the universe.”
Hyuga came to Japan in 2007. Despite challenges in obtaining a visa, he settled in the city of Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, the birthplace of aikido. While working as an English teacher and other jobs, he trained under a master who was a direct disciple of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.
In 2019, Hyuga acquired Japanese citizenship. After traveling around the country, he chose to establish his dojo in Hokkaido, his most favorite place. However, the timing coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult to attract students at first. To make ends meet he took on other jobs.
Hyuga’s dream is to build a stay-type exchange center called “Aiki Village” on the outskirts of the city of Sapporo. Through aikido and natural farming, he hopes to build a place where people of various nationalities can practice a healthy lifestyle.
Hyuga is looking for sponsors to realize his dream, expressing his determination, “I want to acquire land and construct the first building within this year.”
(Japanese original by Daiki Kobayashi, Hokkaido News Department)
AloJapan.com