Hyoho Niten Ichi ryu History

 

Usa Jingū

In the final months of Miyamoto Musashi's life (1584–1645), the succession of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū school (the name he gave it toward the end of his life) was decided among three of his disciples: Terao Magonojo, his brother Kyumanosuke, and Furuhashi Sozaemon. Only Terao Kyumanosuke accepted the position as the second successor.

To trace the lineage directly related to the teachings of Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū and its evolution to the present day, we must look back to its 8th successor, Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu (1886–1969). He was taught by Santo Shinjuro Kiyotake (1824–1909), the 7th successor of the school, before becoming its 8th successor. At the same time, he held the title of 14th successor of the Sekiguchi Ryū school.

After completing his studies at the Kumamoto Commercial School and teaching in the city, Aoki moved to Taichung Commercial School in Taiwan, where he became a professor and a prominent Kendo competitor.

Mr. Aoki at the Taiwan Commercial School

During the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), Kiyonaga Tadanao (1919–1976), a Japanese soldier stationed in Taiwan, became Aoki’s student in both Niten Ichi Ryū and Sekiguchi Ryū in 1938. After the war, Aoki returned to Kumamoto, while Kiyonaga moved to Usa to work as a high school teacher.

Gosho Motoharu (1919–2012), also a high school teacher in Usa, was invited by Kiyonaga to practice Niten Ichi Ryū and Sekiguchi Ryū under Aoki. Both men frequently traveled to Kumamoto to train with Aoki in these arts.

During the turmoil of World War II, the red oak wooden sword (bokuto) carved by Musashi in 1633—a symbol of the school's lineage—was safeguarded in Taiwan by Aoki's student, Huang Huanbin (1923–2002), for 13 years. This bokuto was returned to Aoki, the 8th successor, on July 9, 1957.

"This is a cherished sword. After bringing it back to Japan, I will allow my descendants the opportunity to admire it, and I will pass it down from generation to generation forever." (Aoki Kikuo, 8th successor of Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū).

Aoki Kikuo, 8º Shihan - Soke Hyoho Niten Ichi ryu

In 1967, at the age of 81, Soke Aoki appointed Kiyonaga Tadanao as the 9th successor and Gosho Motoharu as adjunct successor (Soke Daiken) and master (Shihan) of the 9th generation. He awarded them the highest teaching certification, Menkyo Kaiden, in both Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū and Sekiguchi Ryū.

Additionally, Aoki relocated the school from Kumamoto to Usa and commemorated the event by erecting a monument at the Usa Shrine, marking the new location and the legitimate succession. He also appointed Yonehara Kameo as the 15th successor of Sekiguchi Ryū.

This moment was immortalized with an inscription, Miyamoto Musashi - Seishin Jikido no Hi, written by Aoki Tesshin, the 8th successor, alongside the names of all generations of Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū, from Musashi to the 12th successor, Yoshimochi Kiyoshi.

Seishin Jikido no Hi

In 1975, the 9th successor, Kiyonaga Tadanao, passed away unexpectedly. His son, Kiyonaga Fumiya (1954–2004), was too young to assume the role of successor. While Gosho Shihan could have become Soke, he chose to remain as master (Shihan) of the school for professional reasons.

Due to these circumstances, in 1976, the Kiyonaga family appointed Imai Massayuki (1915–2006), an elderly Kendo practitioner, as the 10th successor until Fumiya could eventually take on the role. In the meantime, Gosho Shihan, Menkyo Kaiden of the 9th generation, taught Imai and Fumiya the school's teachings.

Imai departed from the teachings of Gosho Shihan. Lacking proper training and never achieving Menkyo Kaiden, he assumed the role of instructor, participated in events, and performed demonstrations. He also introduced significant changes to the school’s techniques, curriculum (Seiho), and traditional transmission (Seito).

Instead of appointing a clear successor, Imai named three representatives: Kiyonaga Fumiya, Kim Chin (a student of Aoki in Taiwan), and Iwami Toshio (one of Imai's students). Shortly before his death, he issued a questionable "Soke appointment" written on a piece of paper with a ballpoint pen.

In the years that followed, some of the most highly trained students (Menkyo Kaiden) resumed teaching the original, unaltered methods of Gosho Shihan and Kiyonaga Fumiya.

Gosho Motoharu (1919–2012) Adjunct-successor, Soke Daiken, and master, Shihan, of the 9th generation of Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū. Menkyo Kaiden, Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū and Sekiguchi Ryū

Restoring the Orthodox Lineage

In 2007, the Japanese Kendo Federation in Oita formally requested Gosho Shihan and the Kiyonaga family to restore the main and orthodox line (Seito) of Hyōhō Niten Ichi Ryū. Gosho’s son, Yoshimochi Kiyoshi, was appointed the 12th successor, ensuring the continuation of the legitimate teachings of Aoki Kikuo and Miyamoto Musashi.

This appointment upheld the correct location for training (Usa), the traditional curriculum (Seiho), and the authentic lineage (Seito), preserving Musashi's teachings through an unbroken line of succession to the 12th Soke, Yoshimochi Kiyoshi.

Proclamation ceremony in the year 2010 of Yoshimochi Kiyoshi as the 12th Soke of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu in front of the "Succession Stone," and the presentation of the Jisso Emman, Miyamoto Musashi's bokuto, as a symbol of recognition.