Passing of Kiyoshi Yoshimochi Sensei

 

Kiyoshi Yoshimochi, 12th Sōke of the legitimate lineage of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, passes away

17 January 2020, 03:01

Kiyoshi Yoshimochi, aged 71, a resident of Kuzuhara in Usa City and the 12th Sōke of the legitimate lineage of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, a school founded by the renowned early-Edo-period swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, has passed away. Since succeeding as sōke in 2007, he had devoted himself to preserving the legitimate forms handed down through the tradition in Higo-Kumamoto.

Yoshimochi was born in Usa City. From his high-school years, he began receiving serious instruction from his father, Gosho Motoharu. After graduating from university, he found employment outside the prefecture and returned to his hometown in his early thirties. While working for a company in the city, he continued his rigorous training and in 1998 received menkyo kaiden in the school.

According to his wife, Michiko Yoshimochi, 66, in addition to studying the Gorin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings), he frequently visited bookstores to purchase books concerning Miyamoto Musashi and studied them diligently. Between teaching commitments, he continued his own studies and took part in technical research activities. Practitioners came to train with him not only from within the prefecture, but also from overseas.

He retired at the age of 70. Just as he was looking forward to devoting himself entirely to the sword and travelling outside the prefecture to teach, cancer was discovered. The 13th successor had not yet been determined.

Yoshimochi died from illness at 9:09 a.m. on 4 January at a hospital in Beppu City. A private family funeral had already been held. A farewell ceremony was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on 19 January at the Shūhei Funeral Usa Hall in Ishida, Usa City. His wife, Michiko, would serve as the chief mourner.

Note: This article was published on page 15 of the morning edition of the Ōita Gōdō Shimbun on 17 January.

Photo caption:
Kiyoshi Yoshimochi (right), 12th Sōke of the legitimate lineage of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, circa 2015, Usa City.

Obituary Notice — Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū — Kiyoshi Yoshimochi Sensei

24 February 2020

Kiyoshi Yoshimochi Sensei, of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, passed away on 4 January, at the age of 71.

In recognition of his profound dedication to the study and refinement of kobudō, as well as his many years of contribution to the traditional martial arts, we express our deepest condolences and sincerely pray for the repose of his soul.