This demonstration had a great impact on foreign dignitaries. Although Morihei never was a supporter of this kind of exhibitions, he realized that Japan entered in a new era and that was why he let it take place. On 7 August 1952, a great festival was held at the Iwama Aiki temple to celebrate the sixty years of practice of Morihei , and in 1964 he received a special award from the Emperor Hirohito in recognition of his outstanding contribution to martial arts.
On 14 March 1967, the first stone of a new Hombu dojo, three-storey building , was placed. It will be completed on 18 December of the same year. Morihei Ueshiba kept the use of only one piece, to work and to sleep.
The Aikikai today enjoys a privileged position in the aikido world. More than half of the national organizations of aikido remain affiliated with the Aikikai Tokyo which acts as the International Aikido Federation.
Other forms of aikido are practiced today:
- Yoshinkan Aikido created by Gozo Shioda, which focuses on a powerful style dating from before the war.
- Shinshin Aikido Koichi created by Tohei Toitsu, is a method of health care that includes aikido techniques based on the concept of KI.
- Tomiki Aikido, developed by Kenji Tomiki, involves some form of competition.
- Aikido Yoseikan, created by Minoru Mochizuki, is a set of techniques where there are mixed elements of aikido, judo, karate and kenjutsu.
