Fukakusa Shihan
Fukakusa Shihan , Mr.Motohiro Fukakusa, or by his Thai name, Mr.Somchai, is known as the Father of aikido in Thailand. This is because he was one of the first faculty teaching and demonstrating Aikido throughout Thailand. He never expected any payment from students. He bore all expenses for places and accessories in practicing aikido as well. He has been in Thailand since 1964 and, since then, has been a pioneer furthering aikido, first introduced to Thailand in 1961.
He is not only a pioneer but also a leader who had to overcome a variety of difficulties in order to make aikido in Thailand survive until the Aikido Association of Thailand was established in 1975. All of his students have rights to be members under the Aikido World Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan and the International Aikido Federation (IAF) ever since. Furthermore, he sent many students to study aikido more in depth at the Aikido World Headquarters, Japan.
Fukakusa Shihan holds the rank of 8th dan Aikikai. He also holds the office of President of Aikido Association of Thailand and is appointed by the Aikido World Headquarters to be a caretaker controlling teaching techniques throughout Southeast Asia. To this end Fukakusa shihan frequently travels abroad to teach and to conduct seminars.
His motto in teaching students is that “Discipline and system are sources of unity which lead into love”. Thus, Fukakusa Shihan is regarded as "the Father of aikido in Thailand".