Hatsu Ueshiba 植芝はつ, the wife of Morihei Ueshiba, played a vital role in supporting her husband’s martial arts journey and the establishment of Aikido. Born in 1885 in Wakayama Prefecture 和歌山県, Japan, Hatsu was originally named Hatsu Itokawa 糸川はつ. The Itokawa family descended from the Kai Takeda 甲斐武田 clan, whose lineage traces back to Emperor Seiwa 清和天皇, the 56th emperor of Japan. Morihei’s mother, Yuki ゆき, also hailed from the Itokawa clan. Hatsu was two years older than Morihei, and they grew up together as childhood friends. Morihei married Hatsu when he was only 18, shortly before enlisting in the army. The timing of their marriage seems unusual, and the…