from intro (Japanese and English)

The origin of Japanese gungaku heiho, that is, classical martial strategy, is traceable back at least as far as the Nara period (AD 645-794). The development of Japanese martial strategy was much influenced by Buddhism, the latter which was founded in India and brought to Japan by way of China, and also by Shinto, the indigenous Japanese religion. Japanese martial strategy also incorporates many ideas from Chinese philosophy, in particular the concepts of Yin and Yang, and those pertaining to the art of incantation and spells. The highly synthetic nature of Japanese martial strategy enabled the Japanese to produce an excellent tactical standard for use in the art of war.

In this book I introduce the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. This organization is the source from which most classical Japanese martial ryu (martial traditions) have evolved; and, consequently, from these ryu many kinds of bujutsu (martial arts) have appeared.

The techniques have, since the time of their codification almost six hundred years ago, been kept secret.

The fact that the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu has been able to continue in its pure form to the present day is the reason why it has become an important Japanese cultural asset.

According to Otake sensei, today's budo has losts its original flavor and has become simply a recreative pastime for the general public. He states: 'One of the major causes is that today's exponent of budo are familiar with only a small part of the traditional classical teachings. They view budo, and teach it, from the standpoint of modern physical education criteria, and furthermore, base this fractional-part of the more important whole on a framework of Western-style game and sport organization and values. This is being done only to make their interpretation of budo more attractive to an international audience.

Moreover, what is undesirable about this present situaiton is that the original spirit of classical martial teachings are not being adopted as the disciplines of our daily life, and that as a result, classical martial values are on the decline. When we discuss Japanese history we cannot validly overlook the fact that the warrior form of government constitutes the major portion of that history. But it is saddening to see the proud traditions of the warrior culture disappear little by little, but surely, year after year. Under such circumstances it is natural that I should feel an urgent need to hand down the teachings of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, as an important Japanese cultural property, in their correct form for posterity'.

As you might know,Tenshin shoden katori shinto-ryu is designated as intangible cultural asset and is said to be the oldest exsisting koryu bujutsu in Japan.Bokuden tsukahara,who is one of the most famous master swordsmen in sengoku period,is said to have learned katori shinto-ryu.

We have seldom seen this book even in Japan.The scarcity is mainly because it is a self-published book and has small circulation.This book is becoming hard-to-come by here in Japan.

This book is written both in Japanese and in English.So even if you don't understand Japanese,you'll enjoy this book through many photos and English text.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu is one of the oldest existing martial arts in Japan, an exemplar of koryu bujutsu. The Tenshin Shoden Katori Shintō-ryu was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village (present day Takomachi, Chiba Prefecture), who was living near Katori Shrine (Sawara City, Chiba Prefecture) at the time. The ryū itself gives 1447 as the year it was founded, but some scholars claim circa 1480 is more historically accurate

Contents

Frontpiece, Foreword, Preface
Chapter One The Origin of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu and its Teachings
A History of the Katori Shrine
B The Origin of 'Tenshin Sho'
C The Lineage of the Headmasters
D The Teachings of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Rkyu
Chapter Two Iai-jutsu
A Iai-jutsu and the Practical Sword
B Omote-no-Kai--Explanation of Iai-jutsu Fundamentals; Etiquette (rei-shiki); The Techniques (Kusa-nagi-no-ken, Nuki-tsuke-no-ken, Nuki-uchi-no-ken, Uken, Saken, Happo-ken)
C Tachi-ai Batto-jutsu Techniques--Yuki-ai Gkyaku-nuki-no-tachi; Zengo Chidori-no-tachi; Yuki-ai Migi Chidori-no-tachi; Gyaku nuki no tachi; Nuki-uchi-no-tachi
Chapter Three Bojutsu
A The Techniques--Seri-ai-no-bo; Sune-hishigi-no-bo; sayu-no-bo; Kasa-hazushi-no-bo; Hane-tsurube-no-bo; Tate-nami-no-bo