Nobuyoshi Tamura (1933-2010) was an 8th dan Aikikai Shihan and a direct student of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei.

His father was a kendo teacher, and he began training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1953 as an uchi-deshi (live-in student) of Master Morihei Ueshiba.

He was one of O'Sensei's favorite pupils and often used as an uke to receive the techniques. He married Rumiko and they had three sons.

He knew macrobiotic founder George Osawa, and after moving to France, he friended zen master Taisen Deshimaru, whom Osawa considered his successor.

He took over from Tadashi Abe as the Aikikai representative and finally decided to remain there. The Aikido teachers in France included Minoru Mochizuki Sensei, Masamichi Noro Sensei, Mutsuro Nakazono sensei.

Since 1964 Tamura Sensei greatly contributed to the development of aikido all over Europe and particularly in France. He was the National Technical Director of the FFAB (French Federation of Aikido and Budo).

Throughout his teaching career he trained many instructors in various countries, but mostly in Western Europe. In 1999, he received a prestigious medal from the French government in recognition of his work there.

The French Aikido Federation split in the 1980's. Students who decided to stay loyal to Tamura created an independent aikido federation, while others remained at the Judo federation, then became independent under Christian Tissier.

Tamura was an honorary citizen of the town of Lesneven, France, where every year he gave week long summer seminars with fellow aikido sensei Yoshimitsu Yamada. He also conducted several other summer seminars.

He published several books on aikido in French, and among his former students were Toshiro Suga and Pierre Chassang.