Kendoka shashin meikan

a.k.a. kendoka pictorial directory

Editors comment: what follows here is another great translation by Isaac which I believe will be useful to the researchers out there. This book – kendoka shashin meikan (剣道家写真名鑑) was published in 1925, and it attempts to catalogue the butokukai of that time. This includes not only various pictures but the names (and addresses… which I chose to omit!) of the leading kendoka within the organisation.

I’ve taken the files that Isaac gave me and edited/formatted them to the best of my ability, but I am sure there are some dodgy formatting and the odd transliteration error in there. Rather than sit and stare at the article by myself indefinitely in an attempt to perfect it, I decided to just publish it. Put it down to “sutemi” !!!

Published in the 5th Month of the 13th Year of Taisho (1925)

Preface

This thing called Kendō is the embodiment of the Japanese spirit; it is a method of training the body and mind that is unique to our country, and something that can be proudly shown to the rest of the world. 

Therefore, since the days of old, those who have studied this art have been many, and since the establishment of the butokukai in the 28th year of the Meiji, it has prospered even more, so much so that now, those who have achieved the Seiren-shō(1) level certificate number several hundred – it can be said that the art is truly thriving.

In order to make further efforts into investigating this art, and to spread goodwill to and to be of assistance to the Kendō practitioners in various parts of Japan, I have organized the committee to publish Kendōka Shashin Meikan.

When the Kendōka Shashin Meikan Publishing Group first organized we were not sure whether our work would be approved or disapproved of, but the various people in question here approved, with about 300 people offering their assistance with our activities, allowing a great number of pictures to be assembled for this volume. Despite the difficulties, the authors were easily able to meet the established day of publication. However, they are concerned as to whether they respected the wishes of those who contributed to the volume, so the deadline for editing was prolonged. At last this great record was concluded, fortunately recording the present conditions of this field of study. The great assistance provided by our comrades was invaluable. And thus we conclude this opening address.

13th Year of Taisho, 5th Month
Kendōka Shashin Meikan Publishing Group

(Editor: pictures of places that have a strong connection to kendoka and the Butokukai. To see more on Kashima and Katori jingu click here; for more on the Butokuden, click here.)

Kashima Shrine

Katori Shrine

Heian Shrine

It is worth mentioning that while we have here recorded influential people who rendered distinguished service, there are also those who were not photographed.

However, the ones recorded here had particularly strong relationships to the Kendō section [of the Butokukai] and because of that they were chosen to be recorded.

Names of the First Seiren-shō Recipients from the first Butokukai Enbu for Kendō (28th Year of Meiji)(3)

(Editor: see this article for more information including names of the first recipients.)

Participants in the First Greater Japan Butokukai Kendō Taikai (28th Meiji)(4)

(click to view larger)

It of course goes without saying that those who receive the honor of being called hanshi are those who have received the title of kyôshi. They must have been practicing for forty years past the age of majority(6), and continue to spend over 40 years refining their skills in bujutsu and must be a model person. After being screened, they receive the approval of The Honorable Greater Japan Butokukai President. Some of the small number still receive an amount of lifetime pension(7), but recently it was decided to discontinue that practice.

As the Taisho-jidai began, in special cases the term was not asked (unclear on the meaning). These days those receiving the title of Hanshi retain it until death. Since the beginning of the Taisho period, in special cases, it has been decided not to be strict about the number of years (that is, they don’t have to be 40 years past 20 years old), and in recent years, due to deaths among those who have the title of kyôshi, it has become possible to confer the title of jôhanshi(8) to select practitioners. However, even then, since the 36th year of the Meiji, there have only been fifty hanshi named in the last twenty plus years.  The title of the hanshi is truly the authority of Kendō.

Hanshi Group (Presented in iroha order)(9)

Honma Saburō
Style(s): Nen-ryu, Araki-ryu
Born: 6th Year of Ansei, 3rd Month (1860)
Hometown: Gunma Prefecture
Current Location: Gunma Prefecture, Sawa-gun, Akabori-mura(10)
Training: Self-Taught: Sakakibara Kenkichi, Yamaoka Tetsutarō
Qualification: 10th Year of Taisho

Tomiyama Tsubura
Style(s): Jiki-Shinkage-ryu
Born: 4th Year of Kaei, 6th Month (1852)
Hometown: Unknown
Current Location: Hyōgo Prefecture, Itami Chuugakkō-mae
Training: Unknown
Qualification: Taisho 3rd Year

Kawazaki Zenzaburō
Style(s): Muto-ryu
Born: First Year of Man’en, 4th Month (1860)
Hometown: Kōchi Prefecture
Current Location: Kōchi -shi, Hokushin-machi
Training: Kawazaki Senho, Police Officer
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Takahashi Kyuutarō
Style(s): Muto-ryu, Tsushida Ichifu-ryu
Born: Ansei 6th Year 7th Month (1860)
Hometown: Hyōgo Prefecture
Current Location: Kobe -shi, Heiya Gomiya-machi
Training: Government Official and Police Officer
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Takano Sasaburō
Style(s): Onoha-Ittō-ryu
Born: Bunkyuu 2nd Year 6th Month (1863)
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo -shi Kōji-machi-ku, Iida-machi?, Nichōme 53
Training: By his grandfather Mitsumasa
Qualification: Taisho 2nd Year

Takano Shigeyoshi
Style(s): Onoha- Ittō-ryu
Born: Meiji 10th Year 1st Month 2nd Day (1878)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Dairen -shi, ??-machi, 2-3
Training: Tokyo Meishinkan
Qualification: Taisho 1st Year

Sō Shigetō
Style(s): Tsuda Ichifu-ryu
Born: Kaei 1st Year 5th Month 11th Day (1848)
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture, Kurume
Current Location: Tokyo -shi, Tononyuu Araichō, Araijyuku
Training: Kurume Clan Kendō Dojo of Kyōshi Tsuda Shō
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Naitō Takaharu
Style(s): Hokushin Ittō-ryu
Born: Bunkyuu 2nd Year 10th Month (1863)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Kyoto -shi, Niōmon, Shintakakura, Zenkōin
Training: Mito Tōbukan
Qualification: Taisho 2nd Year

Mizui Toshitane
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryu
Born: Ansei 6th Year 12th Month (1860)
Hometown: Kagoshima Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo -shi, Inside Yotsuyaka -ku, Sanchōme 46
Training: Kagoshima Prefecture (typo?)
Qualification: (date unknown)

Nakayama Hakudō
Style(s): Shintō Munen-ryu
Born: Meiji 6th Year (1874)
Hometown: Ishikawa Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo -shi, Hongō-ku, Masagochō 37
Training: Negishi Shingorō Hanshi, former director of Yushinkan, Hasegawa-ryu Iai Hanshi, Training with Shintō Musō-ryu
Qualification: Taisho 6th Year

Nagasaka Tadaya
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryu
Born: Kaei 5th Year 4th Month 12th Day (1853)
Hometown: Tokyo
Current Location: Tokyo Prefecture, Toyoshima District, ōko machi Ooaza ōko 1047
Training: Naganuma Kashōtō
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Noda Chōzaburō
Style(s): Shinkage-ryu
Born: 1st Year of Ansei, 10th Month (1854)
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Kumamoto Prefecture, Honzan-machi 661
Training: Koshaku Watanabe Noboru
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Nōtomi Kazuo
Style(s): Toda-ryu
Born: Ansei 5th Year 6th Month (1859)
Hometown: Saga Prefecture
Current Location: Saga Prefecture, Ogi Prefecture, Misato-mura
Training: Gorōjyōbu
Qualification: (date unknown)

Yano Katsujirō
Style(s): Shintō Mukyō-ryu, Jiki-shinkage-ryu
Born: Ansei 4th Year 12th Month 10th Day (1858)
Hometown: Kyoto Prefecture
Current Location: Kyoto Prefecture, Muro-mura, Ebisu-kawa-kami
Training: Toda Einosuke, Takayama Minesaburō, Hayashi Ichidō(11)
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Yamane Masao
Style(s): Kanshin-ryu
Born: Tenpo 11th Year 12th Month (1841)
Hometown: Tokushima Prefecture
Current Location: Tokushima -shi, Tomita Ura chō
Training: Nanishi-gun, Takahara-mura Eimeikan dojo
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Kimura Nofuhite
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Kaei 6th Year 1st Month 15th Day (1854)
Hometown: Ishikawa Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo -shi, Hongō-ku, Masago-chō 37
Training: Kanazawa Yuuhikan, Tokyo Sakakibara
Qualification: (date unknown)

Miyawaki Danji
Style(s): Shinkage-ryu
Born: Kaei 5th Year 12th Month (1853)
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Kumamoto -shi, Kyō-machi, Honmachi House Number 70
Training: Kumamoto-han Teacher Yokota Seima
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

No School Given
Monna Tadashi
Style(s): (No School Given in the text but we know it was Hokushin Ittō-ryu)
Born: Ansei 2nd Year (1856)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Nagoya -shi, Chū-ku, Matsuki-machi, Yonchōme
Training: Tokyo
Qualification: Taisho 2nd Year

Kyōshi

The title of kyôshi is awarded to a select few from among those who have received the Seiren-shō certificate, and are superior in their skills and personal qualities. The title is granted by The Honorable President of the Greater Japan Butokukai.

Above the rank of kyôshi, there is the pinnacle of honor called the hanshi, but since there is an age requirement for the hanshi, the title of kyôshi is the one that is the highest available for practitioners under the age of sixty.

The title of kyôshi was established together with the title of hanshi in the 36th year of the Meiji; every year, only ten practitioners have been awarded the title of kyôshi to this day.

Kyōshi Group (Iroha Order)

Itō Ryōya
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryū
Born: Ansei 4th Year 7th Month 16th Day (1857)
Hometown: Tochigi Prefecture
Current Location: Miyazaki Prefecture, Miyazaki-gun, Muku-mura, Ooaza Yoshimura -mura aza Oomachi
Training: Sano-han retainer Hiraishi Tamon
Qualification: Meiji 42nd Year

Ina Moritaka
Style(s): Kyoshin mechi-ryu
Born: Kōka 3rd Year 1st Month (1846)
Hometown: Aichi Prefecture
Current Location: Matsuyama Prefecture, Nibanchō 4-1
Training: Matsuyama-han instructor Hashimoto Dojo, Osaka Momoi Haruzō
Qualification: Meiji 44th Year

Itō Seiji
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryū
Born: Meiji 15th Year 3rd Month 1st Day (1882)
Hometown: Arayu Prefecture
Current Location: 4th Infantry Group Commander
Training: Arayu Middle School, Imai Nobutaka, Umekawa Dojo, Toda School
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Takamoto Tōyō
Style(s): Shintō Munen-ryū
Born: Meiji 18th Year 8th Month 1st Day (1885)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo, Hongō -ku, Masagō-chō 37, Yushinkan Headquarters
Training: Yushinkan Tokyo Headquarters
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Futagawa Isamu Shōhei
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 10th Year 12th Month (1877)
Hometown: Tochigi Prefecture
Current Location: Kyoto -shi, Okazaki Irie-chō 89
Training: Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Horita Tokujirō
Style(s): Onoha Ittō Ryu
Born: Meiji 18th Year 6th Month 9th Day (1883)
Hometown: Aichi Prefecture
Current Location: Aichi Prefecture, Toyohashi -shi, Ooaza Asahi sanban-chō
Training: Greater Japan Butokukai Headquarters
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Tomita Chōtarō
Style(s): Ittō-ryū
Born: Meiji 18th Year 6th Month 9th Day (1883)
Hometown: Gunma-ken
Current Location:Gunma-ken, Gunma-gun, Motosōja-mura
Training: Tokyo Kuudanzaka Meishinkan
Qualification: Taisho 9th Year

Numata Yasusaburō
Style(s): Suifu-ryū
Born: Meiji 19th Year 4th Month (1884)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location:Ibaraki Prefecture, Hanasaki -shi Sanchōme 413
Training: Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Ochi Tomoichirō
Style(s): Kyoshin mechi-ryu
Born: Meiji 13th Year 9th Month (1880)
Hometown: Ehime Prefecture
Current Location: Matsuyama -shi, Debuchi-Machi Ichichōme
Training: Kyoto Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: (date unknown)

Ogawa Kinosuke
Style(s): Hokushin Ittō-ryū
Born: Meiji 17th Year 5th Month (1884)
Hometown: Aichi Prefecture
Current Location: Kyoto -shi, Niōmon, Kawabata, Higashi Kōmyōji, Hiromichikan
Training: Aichi Kaneichi, Butokukai Headquarters
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Ozawa Aijirō
Style(s): Onoha Ittō ryu
Born: Bunkyu 3rd Year 12th Month 2nd Day (1863)
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Current Location: Saitama Prefecture, Kitasaitama-fu, Iwashige-mura
Training: Student of Kyūoshi-han Kendō Instructor Matsuda Juugorō Sadayoshi
Qualification: (date unknown)

Watanabe Sakae
Style(s): Naokiyo-ryū
Born: Meiji 10th Year 10th Month 13th Day (1877)
Hometown: Kagawa Prefecture
Current Location: Kobe -shi, Futatabisuuji-chō 122
Training: Greater Japan Butokukai Headquarters
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Kadono Hidetada
Style(s): Shinten-ryū
Born: Ansei 1st Year 4th Month 12th Day (1853)
Hometown: Akita Prefecture
Current Location: Akita Prefecture, Akita–shi, Hodonohacchō, Shinmachi, Shitamachi
Training: Shinten-ryū Home Dojo, Tokyo Sakakibara Kenkichi Dojo
Qualification: Taisho 4th Year

Kaichō Kurō
Style(s): Chikanobu-ryū
Born: Meiji 8th Year 6th Month 13th Day (1875)
Hometown: Okayama Prefecture
Current Location: Shizuoka -shi, Umaba-machi, Fujimi Lane 125
Training:Ooe Iemitsu, Butokukai Headquarters, Judo Iai Seiren-shō shō
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Takeuchi Manbē
Style(s): Onoha-Ittō-ryū, Ryūgō-ryū
Born: Meiji 6th Year 2nd Month 15th Day (1873)
Hometown: Miyagi Prefecture
Current Location: Sengō-shi, Koshiji 35-2
Training: Miyagi Kenbusha
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Nakano Sōsuke
Style(s): Tetsunaka-ryū (editor: Tecchu-ryu maybe)
Born: Meiji 18th Year 7th Month (1885)
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Current Location: Fukuoka -shi, Nishiyajin-Machi 7-5
Training: Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 5th Year

Nakayama Chikakata
Style(s): Shinkage-ryū(12)
Born: Bunkyu 2nd year 2nd Month 3rd Day (1862)
Hometown: Kagoshima Prefecture
Current Location: Kagoshima Prefecture, Kajiki-machi,
Training: Hokushin Ittō-ryū, Jiki-shinkage-ryū, Kyoshin mechi-ryu
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Nakashima Shūichirō
Style(s): Suifu-ryū
Born: Meiji 21st Year (1888)
Hometown: Saga Prefecture
Current Location: Kyoto -shi13
Training: Member of Sasaki Kyōshi?, Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Murata Chōichi
Style(s): Tamiya-ryū
Born: Meiji 7th Year 2nd Month 18th Day (1874)
Hometown: Yamaguchi Prefecture
Current Location: Yamaguchi Prefecture, Toyora District, Utsui Machi
Training: Shōkawa Katsumei of Eirinkan, in the same location as his current address
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year 9th Month

Umekawa Ryūtarō
Style(s): Hokushin Ittō-ryū, Shintō Munen-ryū
Born: 14th Year 4th Month 8th Day (1881)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Keishikei Bujutsu Kyōshi-han
Training: Student of Naitō Takaharu, Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: (date unknown)

Umekawa Miyukishirō
Style(s): Shintō Munen-ryū
Born: Ansei 2nd Year 5th Month (1855)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Ibaraki Prefecture, Shinji-gun, Ishioka-chou, Motoshin-chi
Training: Suzuki Sōhachirō, Sōjutsu: Ogasawara Tamaki
Qualficiation: Taisho 3rd Year

Ueda Heitarō
Style(s): Shintō-ryū
Born: Meiji 10th Year 10th Month (1875)
Hometown: Kagawa Prefecture
Current Location: Takamatsu -shi, Uchimachi
Training: Home dojo Shinbukan as well as the Butokukai
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Inoue Tōjuurō
Style(s): Shiten-ryū
Born: Kaei 5th Year 12th Month (1852)14
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Kumamoto Prefecture, Kitatsuboi-machi 2-0
Training: Hisatake Shira, Instructor for the House of Hosogawa
Qualification: Meiji 44th Year

Inoue Hirata
Style(s): Kumo-kō-ryū
Born: Kaei 1st Year 9th Month 17th Day (1847)
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Kumamoto Prefecture, Houtaku-gun, Ikegami-mura, Aza Tanigakushi
Training: Dojo of Tatabe Seiichirō
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Inoue Daishirō
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 23rd Year 6th Month 7th Day (1888)
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Hiroshima -shi, Senda-machi, Nichōme, 652 no 8
Training: Kumamoto Noda Saburō Martial Art Academy
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Nōtomi Itsuo
Style(s): Toda-ryū
Born: Meiji 16th Year 12th Month (1883)
Hometown: Saga Prefecture
Current Location: Sasebo -shi, Orihashi-men 84
Training: Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: (date unknown)

Ōkouchi Tomozō
Style(s): Mutō-ryū, Jiki-shinkage-ryū
Born: Kaei 1st Year 10th Month (1847)
Hometown: Chiba Prefecture
Current Location: Fukushima Prefecture, Heimachi, Otsuchi, Komichi 4
Training: Home, Yamaoka, Sakakibara
Qualification: Taisho 7th Year

Ootsuka Matusjirō
Style(s): Shintō Munen-ryū
Born: Unknown
Hometown: Gifu Prefecture
Current Location: Gifu Prefecture, Anpachi-machi,Nakakawa-mura
Training: Shimizu Kan
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Ookusu Yubio?
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 20th Year (1885)
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Current Location: Kumamoto -shi, Kuro??machi, Tsuboi 2-3-6
Training: Budō Senmon Gakkō
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Ōsawa Tōshirō
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryū, Ōnoha-Ittō-ryū
Born: Unknown
Hometown: Tochigi Prefecture
Current Location: Hokkaido Territory
Training: Tokyo Meishinkan Dojo
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Ōshima Jikita
Style(s): Butokukai-ryū
Born: Meiji 22nd Year 10th Month (1887)
Hometown: Saga Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo-fuka, Takinogawa, Aza Nishigahara 989
Training: Greater Japan Butokukai Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Okamura Torikichi
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryū
Born: Meiji 11th Year 2nd Month 10th Day (1878)
Hometown: Okayama Prefecture
Current Location: Kyōto Muromachi, Above New Imadegawa, Hatayamamachi
Training: Imperial Police, Butokukai
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Kubo Toshio
Style(s): Yagyu Shinkage-ryū
Born: Keio 3rd Year 1st Month 5th Day (1867)
Hometown: Tokushima Prefecture
Current Location: Miyagi Prefecture, Miyakoshiro-machi
Training: Shikoku, Kyūshū15
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Yanagida Motojirō
Style(s): Ittō Shōtoku Mutō-ryū
Born: Genji 1st Year 3rd Month 10th Day (1863)
Hometown: Miyagi Prefecture
Current Location: Sengo -shi, Tsuchitoi 199
Training: Tokyo -shi, Shitani District, Chuumachi, Shuunfuukan, Yamaoka Tetsutarō
Qualification: Taisho 9th Year

Matsuishi Wataru
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 12th Year 8th Month 5th Day (1879)
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Current Location: Fukuoka Prefecture, Hachijō-gu, Mikawa-mura, Hikari
Training: Greater Japan Butokukai Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Matsuura Sentarō
Style(s): Tamiya-ryū
Born: Kaei 5th Year 3rd Month 7th Day (1852)
Hometown: Aichi Prefecture
Current Location: Nagoya -shi, Eastern Disctrict, Chigusa-machi, Aza Deguchi House # 4-5
Training: Former Inuyama-han Enbujo(16)
Qualification: Taisho 4th Year

Fujita Kusōyoku
Style(s): Hokushin Ittō-ryū
Born: Ansei 1st Year 7th Month 15th Day (1853)
Hometown: Osaka Area
Current Location: Nara Prefecture, Takashi-gu, Imai-machi
Training: Former Asada-han house
Qualification: (date unknown)

Fujita Shinji
Style(s): Shinkage-ryū
Born: Meiji 9th Year 8th Month 7th Day (1876)
Hometown: Aichi Prefecture
Current Location: Greater Japan Butokukai Aichi Branch Headquarters Kendō Building
Training: Shinjō-gun, Shinjō-mura, Okajoukan-shu
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Fujisaki Gosaburō
Style(s): Jiki-Shinkage-ryū, Ittō-ryū
Born: Keio 1st Year 4th Month 19th Day (1864)
Hometown: Chiba Prefecture
Current Location: Chiba Prefecture, Azuma-machi
Training: Former Matsuo-han Kyouyoukan, Chiba Prefecture Patrol Officer
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Kondō Tomoyoshi
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 19th Year 11th Month (1886)
Hometown: Okayama Prefecture
Current Location: Kyoto Budo Senmon Gakkō
Training: Budō Senmon Gakkō
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Aoki Shichirō
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Unknown
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Current Location: Saitama Prefecture, Oozatō-gu, Shinzawa-mura, Ooaza, Atoshinzawa-mura, 76
Training: Ueda Umanosuke of Tokyo (the same?), Henmi Sōsuke
Qualification: Meiji 44th Year

Omi Sakurō ?
Style(s): Kanshin-ryū
Born: Meiji 3rd Year 2nd Month (1870)
Hometown: Tokushima Prefecture
Current Location: Tokushima Prefecture Teacher’s School Faculty
Training: Tokushima Prefecture, Awa-gu, Katsumyō-mura, Eimeikan, Yamane Masao
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Asano Shōta
Style(s): Tsuda Ichifu-ryū
Born: Koka 4th Year 6th Month 27th Day (1847)
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Current Location: Osaka Area, Nakakawachi-gun, Higashi Mutsuzawa-mura, Ooaza Nakakawa
Training: Kurume Tsuda and Home Dojo
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Zaitsu Tanezō
Style(s): Shinnen-ryū, Shintō Munen-ryū
Born: Bunkyu 3rd Year 8th Month 15th Day (1863)
Hometown: Nagasaki Prefecture
Current Location: Seoul, Tōdaimon Police
Training: Itsushima-han Oomori Tetsunosuke, Oomura Shibae and Oomura Unhachirou
Qualification: Taisho 6th Year

Saimura Gorō
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 20th Year 5th Month 4th Day (1887)
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo -shi, Practice Hall of Nukita Tanikuni
Training: Bujutsu Teaching Faculty, Greater Japan Butokukai Headquarters
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Sawa Tomohiko
Style(s): Shinkage-ryū
Born: Meiji 10th Year 6th Month 27th Day (1875)
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Kumamoto Prefecture Hachidai-gu, Hachidai-machi
Training: Kumamoto Prefecture Tatsuhachidai Middle School
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Satō Yonoyori
Style(s): Jiki-shinkage-ryū
Born: Meiji 6th Year 4th Month 16th Day (1873)
Hometown: Yamagata Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo Area, Shimoomori San’ō 2-3-3-5
Training: Imperial Household Department Hinreikan
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Sakai Seitarō
Style(s): Hokushin-Ittō-ryū
Born: Keio 3rd Year 4th Month 15th Day (1867)
Hometown: Ibaraki Prefecture
Current Location: Gohoku-shuu, Gohoku-shi, Minamimon-mae, Rokuchoume, Ichibanchi
Traning: Kasamachō Murakami Dojo
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Kitamura Yoshinao
Style(s): Shinkage-ryū
Born: Ansei 6th Year 5th Month (1859)
Hometown: Saga Prefecture
Current Location: Uwajima -shi, Naka-no-machi
Training: Unknown
Qualification: Meiji 45th Year

Miyagawa Girei
Style(s): Shinkage-ryū
Born: Bunkyu 2nd Year (1862)
Hometown: Tokyo Area
Current Location: Aomori -shi Butokukai Branch Office
Training: Koide Seirokumon
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Shiga Nori
Style(s): Kandō-ryū
Born: Meiji 14th Year 6th Month (1881)
Hometown: Kagoshima Prefecture
Current Location: Osaka -shi, ōtside Sumiyoshi -mura 2-5-8
Training: Kandō-ryū Instructor Kawakami Shirō, Strategy/Tactics from Greater Japan Butokukai Headquarters
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Shinozaki Ninbei
Style(s): Onoha Ittō-ryū, Musashi-ryū
Born: Genji 1st Year 5th Month 30th Day (1863)
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Current Location: Korea, Sotoku-fu, Police Training Institute
Training: Police
Qualification: Taisho 10th Year

Shimatani Yasohachi
Style(s): Hokushin Ittō-ryū
Born: Meiji 3rd Year 12th Month (1870)
Hometown: Satsuma-han
Current Location: Nara, Kangoku-machi
Training: Kagoshima Enbukan Bujutsu Teaching Faculty
Qualification: Taisho 5th Year

Mochida Moriji
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 18th Year 1st Month (1885)
Hometown: Gunma Prefecture
Current Location: Chiba -shi
Training: Greater Japan Butokukai Headquarters Bujutsu Teaching Faculty
Qualification: Taisho 8th Year

Ishiyama Kumahiko
Style(s): Onoha Ittō-ryū(17)
Born: Meiji 14th Year 7th Month (1881)
Hometown: Kōchi Prefecture
Current Location: Kōchi -shi
Training: Butokukai Headquarters, Kōchi Butokukai Branch Office
Qualification: (date unknown)

Yoshiura Yasumasa
Style(s): Shintō Munen-ryū
Born: Meiji 17th Year 4th Month (1884)
Hometown: Miyayama Prefecture
Current Location: Arayu -shi, Shimoasahi-machi, Nibanmachi
Training: Tokyo Yushinkan
Qualification: Taisho 11th Year

Tsuruta Mitsuo
Style(s): (No School Given)
Born: Meiji 17th Year 1st Month (1884)
Hometown: Kumamoto Prefecture
Current Location: Tokyo -shi, Shiba District, Koro Ginzō Hikarichō 7-1
Training: Bujutsu Kyōin Yōseijō
Qualification: Taisho 12th Year

Seiren-shō(18)

Certification of Seiren-shō-akashi began in the Fall of the 28th Year of Meiji when, from the mass participants in the Greater Japan Butokukai First Enbu(19) , the first rate masters of this discipline were chosen and received the blessing of the The Honorable President. This pattern continued with each Taikai, using that first Enbu as an example.

In the Kendō Group, 15 people were nominated during the 1st and 2nd Taikai. Up to the 10th Taikai only between 5 and 10 people were selected each time. However, during the 14th Taikai during the 42nd Year of Meiji the number lept to over 60 people, and soon became over 100, with all the members today numbering over 500.(20)

Furthermore,, the Seiren-shō was originally not a title nor a qualification, but since kyôshi are chosen from among those who have received the Seiren-shō,  today we consider the Seiren-shō to be a type of qualification.

[ Editor: what followed was 31 A4 pages of names like the above with around 7 or 8 people/page. I have chosen to omit them. If you are interested in a particular person, then please get in touch with their name and I can look into it for you. ]

[ The remainder of the book lists the names of those who contributed information to the profiles presented therein and is not presented here ]

Notes

1. Seiren-shō is a special designation for talented Kendō practitioners during this time. It will be discussed more thoroughly during the last half of the text. See here.
2. Also read “Kanetake”
3. 1895
4. 1895
5. 範士. Rōghly translated, “an exemplar.”
6. 20 years of age.
7. From secondary sources, we know the value of this pension to be roughly 50 yen of 1920′s currency.
8. 上範士, a posthumous variant of the title. Since only living hanshi are recorded in this text, no jōhanshi practitioners appear.
9. The Pre-Modern Japanese equivalent of alphabetical order. Iroha ordering is based off a poem of the same name from the Heian Period (794-1179 CE). The poem uses each of the syllables of the Japanese language once, and the order the syllables appear in the poem was used for the next 1,000 years as a form of “alphabetical” organization. During the Meiji Period the modern gojūon (Fifty sōnds) became the standard, but Iroha ordering retained a traditional appeal.
10. Japanese addresses are extremely complicated and different in form from the American style. For ease of reference, addresses have been Romanized and remain untranslated.
11. Final Kanji is illegible
12. 心陰流, instead of the more usual新陰流
13. Illegible beyond this point.
14. This date is preceded by the kanji 月目. The meaning of this usage is unclear.
15. This is most likely a typo. Shikoku and Kyūshū are two separate sections of Japan.
16. Synonym of dojo
17. Marked with 以下追加
18. Seiren-shō was the first award established by the Butokukai, dating back to the 1896 Enbu. Up until the 1930s the three highest ranks of kendō were hanshi, kyōshi and Seiren-shō. However, the Butokukai renamed the rank in 1934 to renshi. This system was preserved by the All Japan Kendō Federation and remains in use today as a system for ranking teachers.
19. 演武 , “Combat Excercises.” Often refers to older Gendai Budo such as Kendō and judo.
20. As there are only 238 Seiren-shō recorded here, this number must include deceased recipients of the title.
21. The meaning here is unclear as there is no context regarding the school itself.
22. An older term equivalent to heihou
23. A term equivalent to High School
24. There are only two characters in this name, making it possible (but not certain) that he is from a Chinese family.
25. A type of martial arts higher educational school, similar to the modern International Budo University.
26. Not specified which han
27. Like most names, this is a two character compound. However, the first character is illegible.
28. This is a typo. It should read Takano Sasaburō-hanshi
29. There appears to be some text damage here, so the characters are somewhat illegible.
30. The first kanji in the personal name is too blurred to read
31. The character prior to “gawa” is illegible.
32. “Kansha” means “official residence” or “government residence.”
33. A sort of junior officers school that could be applied to in place of a Middle School. Graduates were guaranteed placement in to officer academies.
34. Nōtomi Kazuo-hanshi also has a record in this text, but Tsujima Taira-hanshi does not, meaning most likely that he was dead as of the publication.
35. The characters written here are 揚武館 (yōbukan), most likely a typo of武揚館 (buyōkan), a type of training school maintained by the various han prior to the Restoration.
36. Sainenkan was the name of the dōjō of the Imperial Household Department, responsible for training policemen to protect the imperial family and its associated properties.
37. Beyond this point, the text is too faded to read
38. A horticultural school.