Chiba Shusaku Narimasa
Encyclopedia
was the founder of the Hokushin Itto school of swordsmanship (Hokushin Itto Ryu Kenjutsu).
, which was in Chiba prefecture
and demonstrated his swordsmanship skill, Koemon was adopted by Kichinojo Chiba and given the new name Chiba Koemon (about 1800). Shusaku originally studied his father’s martial art, the Hokushin Muso Ryu, first from his father and then directly from Kichinojo Chiba.
In 1809 Koemon moved his family again, this time to Matsudo, near Edo
. This was where Shusaku studied the Itto school with Yoshinobu Matashichiro Asari and Tanemasa Chubei Nakanishi. Shusaku married Yoshinobu Matashichiro Asari’s daughter, changed his name to Shusaku Asari, and took charge of the Asari dojo. After a falling-out with his father-in-law, Shusaku hit the road and traveled extensively, visiting many dojos. He dropped the ‘Asari’ from his name.
.
In some ways the Hokushin Itto Ryu Kenjutsu is a simplification of the Itto Ryu forms, but one that concentrates on the essentials. Certainly Shusaku’s teaching methods were easier to understand, if not to master. He reduced the eight levels of the Itto Ryu system to three levels: sho-mokuroku, chuu-mokuroku, and dai-mokuroku.
Origins
Shusaku was the son of the swordsman Koemon (Ko-uemon), who was originally from Myagi Pref. Born as the second son in Kesen-Mura (currently Rikuzentakata, Iwate Pref.), Shusaku was named Narimasa Taira. His father Koemon then studied under Kichinojo Chiba (founder of the Hokushin Muso school of swordsmanship (Hokushin Muso Ryu Kenjutsu)). There has been some confusion about Shusaku’s ancestry and birthplace because after Koemon had moved his family to MitoMito, Ibaraki
is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location, moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture. As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 263,748 and a total area is 217.45 km², giving a population density of 1,212.91 persons per km²...
, which was in Chiba prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
and demonstrated his swordsmanship skill, Koemon was adopted by Kichinojo Chiba and given the new name Chiba Koemon (about 1800). Shusaku originally studied his father’s martial art, the Hokushin Muso Ryu, first from his father and then directly from Kichinojo Chiba.
In 1809 Koemon moved his family again, this time to Matsudo, near Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
. This was where Shusaku studied the Itto school with Yoshinobu Matashichiro Asari and Tanemasa Chubei Nakanishi. Shusaku married Yoshinobu Matashichiro Asari’s daughter, changed his name to Shusaku Asari, and took charge of the Asari dojo. After a falling-out with his father-in-law, Shusaku hit the road and traveled extensively, visiting many dojos. He dropped the ‘Asari’ from his name.
Hokushin Itto Ryu
After studying several other forms, Shusaku created his own form, and he called his school Hokushin Itto Ryu Kenjutsu. The name is a combination from Hokushin Muso and the Itto schools. In 1818 Shusaku opened his own dojo, the Genbukan, in Shinagawa, NihonbashiNihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
.
In some ways the Hokushin Itto Ryu Kenjutsu is a simplification of the Itto Ryu forms, but one that concentrates on the essentials. Certainly Shusaku’s teaching methods were easier to understand, if not to master. He reduced the eight levels of the Itto Ryu system to three levels: sho-mokuroku, chuu-mokuroku, and dai-mokuroku.