Yoshimitsu Yamada was a Japanese-American aikido teacher. He was ranked eighth dan in the Aikikai. He was chief instructor at the New York Aikikai, and president of the United States Aikido Federation

Mitsunari Kanai was an aikido and iaido teacher born in Japan, who spent most of his teaching career in the United States. He was an 8th dan teacher with the title shihan in the organisation Aikikai.