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The Present grandmaster of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu, Miura Takeyuki Hanshi, was born January 5, 1922 in Shimane-ken,
Japan. At the age of eleven, he entered the Budo Senmon Gakko, a martial arts training school, where he began his study of
Kendo, the modern art of Japanese fencing which has its roots in Samurai swordmanship.
Although it is probable that he studied elements of Iaido during his Kendo training or under other instructors, Miura
Hanshi began his study of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu in 1959 under Narise Sakahiro who was the president of the Dai
Nippon Iaido Yaegaki-kai and who became the 19th grandmaster of the style. Miura Hanshi also received instruction from the
18th grandmaster, Masaoka Kazumi. One year later, Miura Hanshi began his training in Shindo Muso-Ryu Jodo under Nakajima Asakichi,
who was then the most senior disciple of the 25th grandmaster of the style, Shimizu Takatsugu, under whom he also trained.
Following this, Miura Hanshi began studying Koryu Kakushu Bujutsu (Ancient Samurai Weapons) in 1965 under the 3rd grandmaster
of Enshin-Ryu, Kobashi Nikkan. This system includes a variety of traditional Samurai weapons.
In May 1970, Miura Hanshi undertook the study of Kukishin-Ryu Bojutsu under the instruction of Kano Takehiko, the 11th
grandmaster of Yanagi-Ryu.
In May of 1975, culminating more than forty years of martial arts training, including over fifteen years of Iaido and
other Samurai weapons, Miura Hanshi founded the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-kai. He established the Hombu dojo (headquarters) for
Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-kai on the grounds of Yasaka Jinja, in the Yasaka district of Neyagawa City in Osaka.
Among the rankings currently held by Miura Hanshi are 8th dan in Koryu Kakushu Bujutsu from the Zen Nippon Kobudo Sogo
Renmei (awarded May, 1975) and 10th dan Hanshi in Iaido, conferred in 2004 by the Dai-Nippon Butoku-Kai. Miura Hanshi is held
in such high esteem that in 1977 he received an 8th dan in Toyama-Ryu Batto-Jutsu (the modern military form of swordsmanship)
without having requested such ranking or even joining the organization.
In addition to being its highest ranking living member as 10th dan, the Dai-Nippon Botuko-Kai has designated Miura Hanshi
as Iincho (Executive Director) for Kobudo Shinsa (rank testing in weapons), Kobudo Kenshu (weapons seminars) and Taikai (championships).
In April, 1985, the Butoku-Kai named Miura Hanshi Yushusho (Most Valuable Member) and he has served on Board of Directors
since April, 1990.
During his many years of teaching, Miura Hanshi has also been recognized for his community contributions with such awards
as Honorary Mayor of Kyoto City in April 1988 and Honorary Governor of Kyoto-fu in April, 1993.
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Summary Timeline of Acheivements and Rankings
1955-59 Trained under 17the grandmaster Masaji Oe and 18th grandmaster Hiromi Masaoka Hanshi Kyudan of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu.
1970 Receives Iaido Kyoshi 7th dan, All Japan Iaido Federation
1975 Recieves Iaido Hanshi 8th dan, All Japan Kobudo Federation
1975 Established Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai for Iaido, Kenjutsu, Jiujutsu, Suemonogiri and Jojutsu
1977 Receives Hanshi 8th dan, Toyama-Ryu Batto-jutsu Association
1984 Receives Iaido Hanshi 8th dan, Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
1985 Receives Highest Excellence Award from All Japan Butoku Sai
1989 Receives Kyoto Mayors Cup Award, All Japan Butoku Sai
1993 Receives Kyoto Governors Cup Award, All Japan Butoku Sai
1993 Receives Iaido Hanshi 9th Dan, Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
2004 Receives Iaido Hanshi 10th Dan, Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
Priest of Yasaka Shinto Shrine
Past Vice President and current Advisor Emeritus for the Board of Directors of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
Entrevista con el Maestro Miura Hanshi
The Iaido Journal July 2001
Copyright Kim Taylor © 2001. All rights reserved.
The following is an interview with Miura Hidefusa sensei, the headmaster of the Jikishinkai. It was conducted by email
and regular mail through professional translators May to June 2001.
With regard to your initial questions, here is my personal history.
My name is Miura Takeyuki (Hidefusa is my kenshi name.)
I was born on the 11th year of the Taisho era on January the 5th (1922) in the prefecture of Shimane. My family is from
the Fujiwara Ason Sakyonnosuke (Fujiwara Michinaga) bloodline we are of the 35th generation of this bloodline. The family
line of Fujiwara Michinaga is a shinto priest lineage. Now as a shinto priest myself I work on the grounds of Yasaka shrine
in Neyagawa-shi Osaka. On the 50th year of the Showa era on June 8th (1975). I founded the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin Kai. As
the president of this organization I value our ancestral ways.
Inside our organization we practice sword arts (iaijutsu, kenjutsu, suemonogiri), jojutsu and jujutsu. On the first year
of the Heisei era we built the Jikishin Kan dojo on the grounds of Yasaka shrine. We put strong emphasis on continuous practice
in order to improve our total ability and better understand the true essence of kobudo, to improve our daily lives and the
world around us, as well as continuing our ancestral ways. This is our ultimate goal.
On the first year of the Heisei era the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai appointed me as the chief official on the senior board of
examination. On the 6th year of the Heisei era (1994) I was appointed to the title of sub director of the Dai Nippon Butoku
Kai.
Martial curriculum.
Can you tell us a bit about your training please?
On the 8th year of the Showa era (1933). When I was 11 years old I was studying kendo under Ishitobi sensei who graduated
from the Budo senmon gakko. During the wartime I studied Jukendo. On the 34th year of the Showa era (1959) after the war we
where allowed to practice budo again. In Osaka Narusei Sakahiro was the president (Hanshi) of the Kendo Renmei Yaegaki Kai
and I started iaido with Narusei Sakahiro. At the same time Narisei sensei gave me the chance to meet Masaoka Kazumi a direct
student of Oe Masamichi and I received instruction in koryu from him. This is how I started Eishin ryu.
On the the 35th year of the showa era (1960) I started Shindo Muso ryu jojutsu with Nakajima Asakichi who was a direct
and personal student of Shimizu Takatsugu. On the 40th year of the showa era (1965) I learned Enshin ryu Iai Suemonogiri Kenpo
from the 3rd soke Kobashi Nikkan. On the 44th (1969) year of the Showa era when the Kendo Renmei made the Seitei Iai, I was
chosen to be the representative for the Osaka region. I practiced and taught Seitei Iai in Osaka.
From the 45th (1970) year of the Showa era, I chose to concentrate on koryu only . I then taught only Eishin ryu, while
in the same year I studied Kukishin ryu bojutsu under the 11th headmaster of the ryu Kano Takehiko. On the 48th year (1973)
of the Showa era I received 8th dan from the Zen Nippon Kobudo Sogo Renmei. On the (1976) 51st year of the Showa era I received
the title of hanshi from the Zen Nippon Kobudo Sogo Renmei. On the 52nd year (1977) of Showa I received from the Toyama Ryu,
the title of hanshi 8th dan. On the 59th (1984) Showa I received the title of hanshi 8th dan from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai
in Kyoto. On the 5th year of the Heisei era (1993) I received 9 dan from Dai Nippon Butoku Kai.
The main purpose within our ryu, the Seito Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai Heiho, for achieving mastery of the koryu, is to
train very hard (Shugyo) in order to be able to answer any type of threat. In order to understand martial arts (Bugei) at
our dojo we also teach Shinto Muso ryu Jojutsu and Yanagi ryu Jujutsu as well.
Which organization does your dojo currently belong to?
Our dojo Belongs to the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and the Nippon Kobudo Shinko Kai. We do not belong to any other federation
or organization. As kaicho of the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin Kai I issue gradings from within the dojo to our own students. Also,
our students that are members of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai can be graded upon my recommendation to that group.
Do you still teach the ZNKR iai set in your organization?
Inside our organization we only teach and practice koryu. We do not teach or practice the iai kata from the Zen Nippon
Kendo Renmei, but in the past, 23 years ago, we used to teach Seitei Iai.
How is your organization set up?
The head dojo of our organization (Hombu) is in Neyagawa-Shi (Osaka) Japan. At the present moment we have only two branches
outside of Japan which are two separate entities. The United States of America is headed by Shimabukuro Masayuki. In Canada
the branch is headed by Kinoshita Kuniko.
Those two branches, which where authorized by myself, have the responsibility to manage their own organization in all
aspects. If any of those two branches wishes to expand internationally it is the choice of the branch chief itself and not
the hombu dojo in Japan. Now at the hombu dojo in Japan we have many foreigners living in Japan that are practicing Iaido
with us. When they go back to their country they might also be allowed to open their own dojo, so because we have more international
students no precise boundaries were set for the two existing branches.
Our Lineage
In Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu iaijutsu.
Founder- Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu
2nd Tamiya Heibei Shigemasa
3rd Nagano Muraku Nyudo Kinrosai
4th Momo Gumbei Mitsushige
5th Arikawa Shozaemon Munetsugu
6th Banno Danoemon no Jo Nobusada
7th Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin Hidenobu
8th Arai Seitetsu Kiyonobu
9th Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa
10th Hayashi Yasudayu Seisho
11th Oguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu
12th Hayashi Masu (Masa) no Jo Masanari (Seishi)
13th Yoda (Manzai) (Manzo ; Sanasho) Yorikatsu
14th Hayashi Yadayu (Seiki) Masayori (Masataka)
15th Tanimura Kame no Jo Yorikatsu (Sugio)
16th Goto Magobei Masasuke (Seiryo)
17th Oe Masamichi (Shikei)
18th Masaoka Kasumi
19th Narisei Sakahiro
20th Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa
Have you selected a successor to your lineage yet?
As far as my successor, nobody has been selected yet. When I have made a decision a formal announcement will be made.
Could you comment on the kata of the MJER with particular reference to those practiced in your school please?
Oe Masamichi lived at the time of the Meiji restoration when the haitorei (the ban on the wearing of the sword) was implemented,
therefore creating a very big obstacle to the continuation of iai. Oe sensei rearranged Eishin ryu in order to expose this
tradition to a wider audience and preserve it as well. These are the waza that are now practiced in Seito Muso Jikiden Eishin
Ryu today.
Seiza no bu 11 kata
1- Mae
2- Migi
3- Hidari
4- Ushiro
5- Yaegaki
6- Ukenagashi
7- Kaishaku
8- Tsukekomi
9- Tsukikage
10- Oikaze
11- Nukiuchi
Tatehiza no bu 10 kata
Yokogumo
Tora no Issoku
Inazuma
Yukigumo
Oroshi
Iwanami
Urokugaeshi
Namigaeshi
Takiotoshi
Makko
Okuiai Iwaza 8 kata
Kazumi
Sunegakoi
Tozume
Towaki
Shiogiri
Tanashita
Ryozume
Torabashiri
Okuiai Tachiwaza 13 kata
Yukizure
Tsuredachi
Sommakuri
Sodome
Shinobu
Yukichigai
Sodesoregeashi
Moniri
Kabezoe
Ukenagashi
Itomagoi1
Itomagoi2
Itomagoi3
Tachi uchi no kurai 7 kata
1- Deai
2- Kobushitori
3- Zetsumyoken
4- Dokumyoken
5- Tsuba dome
6- Ukenagashi
7- Makko
Could you outline the reason why we should study the sword arts?
Since ancient times the existence of budo has depended on one ultimate state, of killing or being killed in a combat situation.
In order to face critical situations such as battlefields or duels the proper training of the body and spirit would enable
a sincere practitioner to be able to face such
critical situations.
Sensei could you tell us how you perform those cuts on newspaper? Is your sword a special shape or is it polished in a
special way?
Now as far as using a special sword or special way of polishing to do the newspaper cut there is nothing other than perfect
technique.
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