Jiro Kimura is an 8 Dan Aikido Aikikai Shihan. He is in charge of the Osaka Buikukai that is considered to be one of the biggest organizations affiliated to the Aikikai.
Jiro Kimura started Aikido in 1963 when he was is a in Junior High School. He was a small child at the time and decided that he has to do something to be stronger. He saw Aikido in a magazine and never stopped practicing since.
Kimura Sensei had a chance to meet the O-Sensei a few times but his main teacher was Hirokazu Kobayashi Shihan right from the start.
Despite the other Aikido organizations like Osaka Aikikai and a group of the Abe Sensei, for example – Shihan is one of the main Aikido figures of the Kansai region and is a president of the Osaka Buikukai Association.
Osaka Buikukai is managed by the Shihan in Japan but the affiliates can be found in countries like the USA, Italy, Switzerland and many others.
Jiro Kimura received 8 Dan Aikikai rank in 2016 along with Tsuruzo Miyamoto and Christian Tissier.
And here’s a bonus video made in the Osaka Buikukai Dojo. Piotr Masztalerz from Wroclaw Aikikai is giving a short demonstration,