Aikikai - Doshu

Doshu (道主 / どうしゅ / Dōshu) literally translates as 'Master of the Way'. It is the title denoting the head of the Aikikai. (While the same term could potentially also be used as a title within other disciplines, in Japanese its most common meaning is specific to the Aikikai Foundation.)

The system of having the heir of a martial arts school be the previous headmaster's son (either natural or adopted for the sake of succession) was common in koryū (traditional schools) and is referred to as iemoto. Other arts commonly use the title Sōke for the headmaster.

• Founder (開祖 Kaiso) Morihei Ueshiba (lived 1883-1969) originated the art of Aikido. As such he was also the first doshu, but is more commonly referred to as O'sensei (grand teacher).

• Second Doshu (二代道主) Kisshomaru Ueshiba (lived 1921–1999) took over the leadership of the organisation and assumed the title of doshu in 1969 upon the death of his father Morihei Ueshiba. Kisshomaru was the first person in aikido to be widely referred to as Doshu. He was succeeded by his son Moriteru.

• Third Doshu (三代道主) Moriteru Ueshiba (born 1951) is the current doshu. He is grandson of the founder of aikido and assumed the title of doshu in 1999.

Moriteru is expected to be succeeded as doshu by his son, Mitsuteru Ueshiba (born 1980), who is currently referred to as "Waka(若) Sensei".