Discover the Hidden Treasures of Japan's Legendary School of Samurai Swordsmanship
Yabuki Yuji, the 18th Soke of Ono-ha Itto-ryu and Kendo 8th Dan, opens the secret vaults of the Reigakudo, the headquarters of the mainline school of Ono-ha Itto-ryu, and presents heretofore hidden swords, letters, calligraphy, and other treasures passed down from headmaster-to-headmaster within Japan's most prestigious school of kenjutsu.
This groundbreaking book offers an exclusive glimpse into:
- Authentic Ono-ha Itto-ryu Licenses - see original documents at the core of this school of kenjutsu.
- Unearthed Letters - revelations from kendo icons Takano Sasaburo, Naito Takaharu, Ogawa Kinnosuke, Saimura Goro, and Sasamori Junzo, never before published.
- A Rare Muromachi Period Sword - a newly discovered short sword crafted by the legendary Kaneie swordsmiths.
- Masterpieces by Nigara Kunitoshi - a Living National Treasure and Mukansa swordsmith, whose craftsmanship transcends appraisal.
- The Secrets of Kenjutsu Practice - detailed insights into how these treasured swords are used in actual kenjutsu practice at the Reigakudo.
- Introduction to Shin Muso Hayashizaki-ryu - learn about the influential school that fathered many iaido styles in Japan.
- Itto-ryu Kendo's Sixty-Six Moves for Certain Victory - techniques that Sasamori Junzo and Takano Sasaburo adapted from Itto-ryu for use in modern kendo.
Including over 50 stunning color photos, this book is a must-have for martial arts enthusiasts, sword collectors, and anyone fascinated by Japan's rich warrior heritage.
A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book will go to the Reigakudo Foundation in Japan, an organization committed to preserving Ono-ha Itto-ryu and other martial arts for future generations.
Hague, Mark: - Internationally published author and translator. Mark Hague's martial arts career has spanned over 42 years, 19 in Japan. He started training in Ono-ha Ittō-ryū in the Reigakudō under Sasamori Takemi in 2002 and was awarded a Kana license in 2009, making him the highest-ranking practitioner of Ono-ha Ittō-ryū outside of Japan. He continues to practice under the school's current headmaster, Yabuki Yuji, and regularly teaches in Japan, the U.S., and Europe. Additionally, he holds licenses in Daito-ryū Aikijujutsu and dan rankings in several styles of karate.
Yabuki, Yuji: - Yuji Yabuki is the 18th Generation Headmaster of Ono-ha Itto-ryu, a four-hundred-year-old school of samurai swordsmanship. Born in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, he entered the Metropolitan Police Department in 1992. In 1995, he studied kendo and Ono-ha Itto-ryu at the Metropolitan Police Department's Martial Arts' Specialty School. He held positions as assistant kendo instructor in the Kitazawa Police Station, the Police Academy, the 7th Riot Squad, and the General Education Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. In 2019, he was promoted to instructor in the Kendo Instruction Office, a position he holds to this day. Promoted to Kendo 8th Dan in 2024.
