Description

Japanese right-wing student activist, first-generation member of the Tatenokai and its second student president. Born in Yokkaichi and orphaned in early childhood, he was educated at the Catholic Kaisei schools and entered Waseda University in 1966, joining its karate club; he met Mishima on 19 June 1967 through the Nichigakudo student league and joined the Tatenokai at its establishment in October 1968, taking part in the first GSDF experience-enlistment camp at Takigahara. As one of the society's elite nine-man "kesshitai" he learned iai from May 1969 - practising at the Itabashi police station dojo and the Saineikan - and was given a nihonto by Mishima; with the society's core group he also trained in karate under Nakayama Masatoshi at the Japan Karate Association. Appointed student president in October 1969, he accompanied Mishima into the Ichigaya garrison on 25 November 1970 and died by seppuku after him, his kaishaku performed by Hiroyasu Koga.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Masatoshi Nakayama

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  The Tatenokai article states that from autumn 1968 about ten core members began karate under Nakayama Masatoshi's instruction; Morita was a first-generation core member and later student president, but the article does not itemise the ten names and attendance was voluntary for members, hence probable rather than confirmed.

  sports_kabaddiJKA Honbu Dojo badge (1968-1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The Tatenokai article states that from autumn 1968 about ten core members began karate under Nakayama Masatoshi's instruction; Morita was a first-generation core member and later student president, but the article does not itemise the ten names and attendance was voluntary for members, hence probable rather than confirmed.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "この秋から主要会員約10名が中山正敏の指導で空手の稽古を始めた。"

  — 楯の会 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) linkinfo

  "He first met Mishima on 19 June 1967, and joined the Tatenokai at its establishment in October 1968."

  — Masakatsu Morita - Wikipedia EN. Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Trained here, teacher unidentified (1)

• Iaido

  sports_kabaddiSaineikan (1969-1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Both the Tatenokai and Morita articles state that on Mishima's instructions seven-eight senior members began learning iai in May 1969 and that Morita was among the nine-man kesshitai each given a sword, with practice at the Itabashi police station dojo and the Saineikan; the individual instructor is not named, so teacher_id remains null.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "幹部級の7、8名に居合を習わせ始め、板橋警察署の道場や皇宮警察の済寧館で稽古を行ない始めた。"

  — 楯の会 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) linkinfo

  "同年5月頃から、三島の指示により楯の会の7、8名が居合を習い始め、9名に日本刀が渡され、持丸博、倉持清、小川正洋、小賀正義らと並んで、必勝もその「決死隊」メンバーの中にいた。"

  — 森田必勝 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) linkinfo

Sources