Kōtarō Yoshida

Description

Japanese Daitō-ryū aikijūjutsu master and representative instructor (kyōju dairi) under founder Takeda Sōkaku. He introduced Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikidō, to Takeda in 1915. After World War II he taught Daitō-ryū in Tokyo, training students including Masutatsu Oyama, Richard Kim, and Choi Yong-sul.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Takeda Sōkaku

  sports_martial_artsDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Multiple sources confirm Yoshida began studying Daito-ryu under founder Takeda Sokaku in Hokkaido in 1915 and received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1915)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Multiple sources confirm Yoshida began studying Daito-ryu under founder Takeda Sokaku in Hokkaido in 1915 and received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title

  “In 1915, Yoshida apprenticed himself to Takeda Sōkaku, head of the Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu school”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Kōtarō Yoshida (martial artist) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “He began his study of DAITO-RYU JUJUTSU under Sokaku TAKEDA in 1915.”

  — Gold, Josh. (2011). Kotaro Yoshida 吉田幸太郎 - Aikido Journal Encyclopedia. Aikido Journallink history info

  “Yoshida started training in Daitō-ryū aikijūjutsu in the early 1910s under the founder Takeda Sōkaku in Hokkaidō, and eventually he was awarded the kyōju dairi (representative instructor) title by Takeda”

  — Gottner, Richárd Gábor. (2025). The Self-Defence Scroll of Kyokushinkai Karate: Analysing the Mokuroku Ōyama Masutatsu Received from Daitō-ryū Aikijūjutsu Master Yoshida Kōtarō link history info

Students (2)

• 
  Richard Kim

  sports_martial_artsDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all identify Kotaro Yoshida as Richard Kim's principal teacher in Daito-ryu, who granted him the menkyo kaiden

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1939)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all identify Kotaro Yoshida as Richard Kim's principal teacher in Daito-ryu, who granted him the menkyo kaiden

  “In 1939, in addition to continuing to train under Sawai, Kim began studying Daito-ryu aikijujutsu, and Japanese and Okinawan weaponry under Kotaro Yoshida, who he came to regard as his primary Sensei.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Richard Kim continued his martial arts training while in Japan with Yoshida Kotaro, this time in daito ryu.”

  — Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen Bei Butoku Kailink history info

  “1945 Richard Kim started studying Daito Ryu and Kobudo under his principal teacher Yoshida Kotaro. From Kotaro he received the award Menkyo Kaiden.”

  — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukailinkhistory info
• 
  Mas Oyama

  sports_martial_artsDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Confirmedbalance

  Confirmed – conflicting evidence resolved

  Oyama called Yoshida 'the greatest of all my teachers' in 'This is Karate' (1965), and the relationship is confirmed by Yoshida's student registry and Kondo Katsuyuki's testimony (Gottner 2025). The training dates are contested between sources; the relationship itself is not.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1943–1945) balance (1954–1966)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Oyama called Yoshida 'the greatest of all my teachers' in 'This is Karate' (1965), and the relationship is confirmed by Yoshida's student registry and Kondo Katsuyuki's testimony (Gottner 2025). The training dates are contested between sources; the relationship itself is not.

  “C´est Richard Kim qui présente Mas Oyama à Kotaro Yoshida en 1943. Bien que la relation entre les deux hommes ait été relativement courte (deux ans), elle n´en sera pas moins intense.”

  — Ashura (Overblog). (2013). Kotaro Yoshida, Mas Oyama et Daito-Ryulink history info

  blockdisputes search_offNegative

  “Nevertheless, there is no evidence of the connection between Ōyama and Tokimune, nor Yoshida during the war—and in the absence of circumstantial evidence, most likely it never occurred.”

  — Gottner, Richárd Gábor. (2025). The Self-Defence Scroll of Kyokushinkai Karate: Analysing the Mokuroku Ōyama Masutatsu Received from Daitō-ryū Aikijūjutsu Master Yoshida Kōtarō link history info

  “While Tokimune sensei used the name Aikibudo when generally referring to the art, the name Aikijujutsu would always be used for densho and later koryu demonstrations held by national organizations. Most importantly, it suggests that Oyama probably practiced between 1954 and 1966.”

  — Trudel, Marc. (2025). The Next Generation: Yoshida Kotaro, Mas Oyama, and cultural influenceslink info

  blockdisputes

  “C´est Richard Kim qui présente Mas Oyama à Kotaro Yoshida en 1943.”

  — Ashura (Overblog). (2013). Kotaro Yoshida, Mas Oyama et Daito-Ryulink history info

Honours (1)

• receipt_longKyōju Dairi (representative instructor) Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Aikido Journal and the Gottner 2025 article both confirm Yoshida received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title from Takeda Sokaku

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Title

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Aikido Journal and the Gottner 2025 article both confirm Yoshida received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title from Takeda Sokaku

  “Yoshida started training in Daitō-ryū aikijūjutsu in the early 1910s under the founder Takeda Sōkaku in Hokkaidō, and eventually he was awarded the kyōju dairi (representative instructor) title by Takeda”

  — Gottner, Richárd Gábor. (2025). The Self-Defence Scroll of Kyokushinkai Karate: Analysing the Mokuroku Ōyama Masutatsu Received from Daitō-ryū Aikijūjutsu Master Yoshida Kōtarō link history info

  “He later received the KYOJU DAIRI certification from Takeda and was one of those who accompanied him as an assistant instructor.”

  — Gold, Josh. (2011). Kotaro Yoshida 吉田幸太郎 - Aikido Journal Encyclopedia. Aikido Journallink history info

Sources

Identifiers