The next IAF Congress is planned to take place in Tokyo on 17 - 24 September, 2012. The location will be the same as for the 8th and 9th Congresses, namely, the Olympic Memorial Youth Centre in Yoyogi, Tokyo.

At the most recent meeting, in Moscow last year, the IAF Directing Committee confirmed the decision of the 10th Congress, held in Tanabe in 2008, that the 11th Congress would be held in Japan. Accordingly, I sent a letter to the Chairman of the All-Japan Aikido Federation and to Doshu requesting the support of the said federation and the Aikikai, respectively, in organizing the Congress.

The recent earthquake and devastating tsunami led members of the Directing Committee to ask whether the decision should not be changed, in view of the problems of radiation affecting the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Again I wrote to the All-Japan Aikido Federation and had a meeting with Doshu, stating that the Directing Committee were considering three possibilities: to ask the All-Japan Federation to hold the Congress in another part of Japan; to postpone the Congress; to hold the Congress outside Japan.

The All-Japan Aikido Federation admitted that the situation in Fukushima was grave and also that there was great concern about the effects of radiation, especially overseas. On the other hand, it was argued that Fukushima was some distance away from Tokyo and the radiation levels were not excessive in Tokyo. It was also likely that the situation in Fukushima would stabilize further, as time went on.

The All-Japan Demonstration was held successfully in Tokyo on May 28 and I myself attended. Attendance levels were not so different from previous years, though there was a noticeable drop in the number of participants from overseas. The intended message was very clear: despite the earthquake and tsunami, aikido training in Tokyo and also in Tohoku was continuing and Japan needed the active support of overseas visitors.

At present scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are visiting Japan and the IAEA will issue a report about the Fukushima power plant at the end of June. After this report is published, I will communicate directly with IAF member federations about the forthcoming Congress. As matters stand now, the Directing Committee has accepted the strong request of the All-Japan Aikido Federation and of Doshu and the Aikikai to go ahead and hold the Congress as planned.

Peter A Goldsbury

IAF Chairman