Many books about Aikido have been written by experts covering a range of topics, such as technical aspects, history, philosophy, conflict resolution, and more. Yet one topic has not been addressed: how Japanese culture has influenced the very foundations of Aikido. Although born in Japan to Japanese parents, author Kei Izawa spent his formative childhood years overseas. Returning to Japan at age 11 required him to reintegrate into Japanese society and norms. With this fresh perspective, he became curious about the many differences that Japanese culture had to offer. In Balance in Motion , Izawa taps into his curiosity, appreciation, and understanding of Japanese culture – including movement, apparel, footwear, and etiquette – to explore this void and present the notion of the cultural background of Japanese body movements and its social background that are an inseparable part of Aikido.