Having resided in Japan for more than 10 years, Juerg Steiner was a student of Hikitsuchi Sensei 10th Dan (now deceased) and Anno Sensei 8th Dan the current dojo-cho of the Kumano Juku Dojo in Wakayama Ken Japan. Juerg has been active in Aikido for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge in the art form due to his very close exposure to O'Sensei's uchideshi. Anno Sensei's contribution for his work to spread & embody the spirit of Budo was recently acknowledged by the Nippon Budokan. We understand this to be a very high honour as the annual citation is provided to only one person in the nine arts (Judo, Kendo, Sumo, Karate, Aikido, Shorinji, Naginata and Jukendo). Hikitsuchi Sensei was also acknowledged 18 years ago. It has been commented that it is not usaul for citations to be offerred to members of the same dojo, perhaps this is indicative of the respect given to the Kumano Juku Dojo.