Message from the Director
At the age of eleven, by fortunate happenstance I came across a book on Aikido for just 99 cents, a book which led to spending most of my adult life living in Japan and exploring its cultural roots. More than 10,000 kilometers from where I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, I found myself deeply engaged in Japanese culture. With the help of amazing Master teachers and countless people who supported me on my journey, I reached to the roots of Aikido, Shodo, and many elements of Japanese language and culture, and became a professor of Japan Studies at Yamanashi Yakuin University International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA). To recognize and convey this wonderful legacy, we established Wa no Mori to revalue Japanese culture and revitalize local culture. I hope to achieve this with the dual perspective of having grown up in a foreign culture and deep initiation into Japanese culture. Thank you for your support!
William Reed
24899785_10155811366970353_5406734718808394699_n

William Reed

Born in 1952 in the United States, William Reed came to Japan as a college student in 1972, completing a year of foreign study at Waseda University, and later a Masters Degree in Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Aikido 8th-dan, Shodo 10th-dan, Professor at Yamanashi Gakuin University, International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA).

profile

Professor of Japan Studies at Yamanashi Gakuin University, International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA) since 2014, teaching Presentation, Debate, Kanji Shortcuts, Career Design, Shodo, Aikido,and Samurai Culture.
From the United States of America, State of Missouri. Aikido 8th-dan, Shodo 10th-dan, Judge at Zen Nihon Kyoiku Shodo Renmei, Columnist for Gekkan Hiden Martial Arts Magazine. Director at Japan Creativity Society and Mandala Chart Association. Graphology Advisor. Commentator for Yamanashi Broadcasting Tetete TV ad Radio, Navigator for programs on Japanese Culture for numerous NHK and BS Channel documentaries.

work

Author of a book in Japanese on World Class Speaking, published by Kadokawa Books,
which was a number one bestseller in Non-Fiction books on Amazon for several months running.
PAGE TOP