Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: swordsman

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Ito Ittosai

伊東一刀斎伊藤一刀斎
alternative words: Ittosai Ito, Itou Ittosai, Ittosai Itou, Ittosai
keywords: famous person , swordsman
related topics: Sengoku period
related web sites: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Bookend/4591/novel.html
explanation: Famous swordsman of late Sengoku period and early Edo period. Born at Ito in Izu peninsula around 1560 and learned the sword tactic alone then Shinkage school from Kanemaki Jisai. He founded then Ittoryu (school of one stroke) and allowed Ono Tadaaki to succeed him. According to a legend, he carried out 33 combats during his travel to find adversaries all over Japan and never lost. He died in 1628 (according to some source in 1632).

Miyamoto Musashi

宮本武蔵武蔵二刀流
alternative words: Musashi Miyamoto, Musashi, Nitoryu, Nitouryu, Nito ryu, Nitou ryu
keywords: famous person , swordsman
related topics: Sengoku period , Edo period , Gorinnosho , Sasaki Kojiro
related web sites: http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~itoh/musashi01.htm , http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~square_a/musasi/index.htm
explanation: Famous swordsman, lived between Sengoku and early Edo periods. A legend said that he would have fought simultaneously against more than 100 experienced swordsmen and at that moment he invented a method of combat with 2 swords. Finally he had to challenge a duel with another skillful swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro, at Ganryujima island near Shimonoseki. Advanced in years, he left many pictures. He wrote a famous philosophy book, "Gorin no sho", too.

Sarutobi Sasuke

猿飛佐助
alternative words: Sasuke
keywords: famous person , ninja , swordsman
related topics: Ninja , Ninjutsu , Sengoku period , Sanada Yukimura
related web sites: http://www.sanada.or.jp , http://www.islands.ne.jp/imabari/sasuke/
explanation: Famous legendary ninja of Sengoku period. He learned Ninjutsu from Tozawa Hakuunsai of Koga school. Engaged in Sanada Yukimura's battalion as "Sanada Juyushi" (10 heroes of Sanada), he should have died in 1615 during the summer battle of Osaka castle (Osaka natsunojin).

Sasaki Kojiro

佐々木小次郎佐々木厳流小次郎厳流岸柳
alternative words: Kojiro Sasaki, Sasaki Kojirou, Kojirou Sasaki, Sasaki Ganryu, Ganryu Sasaki, Kojiro, Kojirou
keywords: swordsman
related topics: Miyamoto Musashi , Sengoku period , Edo period
related web sites: http://www.tip.ne.jp/stca/hito/kozirou/
explanation: Famous swordsman of Sengoku and early Edo periods. Born in Fukui prefecture but birthday unknown. A legend says that by trying to cut off flying swallows with a sword at Kintaibashi bridge, he would invent "Tsubamegaeshi" tactic, i.e. "return back (sword stroke) as swallows". Finally he challenged Miyamoto Musashi at Ganryu islet near Shimonoseki in 1612. A legend says that in order to fight against Kojiro's long sword, Musashi would use an oar of his boat and Kojiro died.

Tsukahara Bokuden

塚原卜伝
alternative words: Bokuden Tsukahara, Bokuden
keywords: famous person , swordsman
related topics: Sengoku period
related web sites: http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/data/people/bokuden.htm
explanation: Famous swordsman of early Sengoku period. Born in 1489 as a son of shintoist priest at Kashima shrine in Ibaraki prefecture. He learned first spear combat from Iizaki Choisai then sword combat from Kamiizumi Nobutsuna to become later an instructor of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. A legend says that he ridiculed his adversary by leaving him alone on an islet when Bokuden was challenged by him. It was called "Mutecatsu ryu" (how to win without hands). He died in 1571.

Yagyu Munenori

柳生宗矩
alternative words: Munenori Yagyu, Munenori
keywords: famous person , swordsman , war lord
related topics: Sengoku period , Toyotomi Hideyoshi , Tokugawa Ieyasu , Battle of Sekigahara
related web sites: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~me4k-skri/han/kinki/yagyu.html
explanation: Bon in 1571 as son of Yagyu Muneyoshi, a local seignior near Nara but they lost soon the feud because of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. By showing how to grip the opponent's sword with bear hands, he was accepted along with his father in Tokugawa Ieyasu's troops. Thanks to a contribution in Sekigahara's battle, he got back the old fief. He was not only a sword instructor of Ieyasu's child, Hidetada and grandchild, Iemitsu but a general inspector (Ometsuke) of Tokugawa regime. He died in 1646.
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6 articles extracted from postgresql database.