Listen - Snow 

Cho/kiku refers to the sense of hearing, "to listen". Setsu/Yuki means snow. This was done by Saotome Sensei's calligraphy teacher.

Bu
Mitsugi Saotome

Bu is used in many words relating to the military and martial arts. Saotome sensei translated the underlying meaning of the kanji skillfully in the dedication of Aikido and the Harmony of Nature, which is reproduced below.

"Aikido is not philosophy. Aikido is the true expression and revelation of the ever-evolving functions of the universe. Thus is derived the goal of Takemusu Aiki - experiencing the mechanisms of nature's truth in training and applying the theories in our daily life.

"In Asia the word Bu means to halt the danger of the thrusting blade. Since the beginnings of human culture , this concept of Bu has implied a global advancement toward the construction of a peaceful society. "Bu is love," proclaimed O Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of Aikido an my mentor. Yet no simplistic understanding of Budo can in any way measure the life of unfathomable devotion and dedication O Sensei led in the Way of the true samurai. He strove for a human revelation of spiritual truth, and for world harmony through daily prayer and total unselfish concern for others. We must train hard for the attainment of wisdom, for harmony and an unselfish love for all humankind. Such is the path the Founder of Aikido has cultivated for us to follow.

"I dedicate this book to the Founder of Aikido and to all Aikido followers.

Shihan M. Saotome