Toshitsugu Takamatsu

Toshitsugu Takamatsu (高松 寿嗣, Takamatsu Toshitsugu, 10 March 1889 – 2 April 1972) was a Japanese martial artist and teacher of Bujinkan founder Masaaki Hatsumi. He has been called "The Last Shinobi" by Bujinkan instructor[1] Wolfgang Ettig.[2][3]

Toshitsugu Takamatsu
Born(1889-03-10)10 March 1889
Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Died2 April 1972(1972-04-02) (aged 83)
StyleModern Ninjutsu
Notable studentsMasaaki Hatsumi, Ueno Takashi

Biography

Toshitsugu (Chosui) Takamatsu was born on 10 March 1889 (the 23rd year of Meiji) in Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture.[4] Also known as Mōko no Tora (蒙古の虎 Mongolian Tiger), he is attributed as a martial arts master by members of the Bujinkan organization.[5] Hatsumi reports that Takamatsu traveled through Mongolia to China at the age of 21, teaching martial arts and fighting a number of life or death battles.[6] He was married to Uno Tane. They adopted a girl named Yoshiko. His father (Takamatsu Gishin Yasaburo) owned a match-factory and received Dai-Ajari (Master) title in Kumano Shugendo (a type of Shingon Buddhism). His dojo was named "Sakushin" (Cultivating Spirit). His house was in front of Kashihara Shrine in Kashihara, Nara. Takamatsu died on 2 April 1972 of illness. His inheritor was Masaaki Hatsumi who founded the Bujinkan system and its art of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.[7]

Ninjutsu lineage

Takamatsu's claim to lineage in ninjutsu has been disputed by a few individuals. The 1963 version of the Bugei Ryūha Daijiten indicates of Takamatsu's Togakure-ryu: "this genealogy refers to various written records and oral transmissions and there are many points/places where embellishments have been added and people appearing in the genealogy are also made older than they actually are. Thus the genealogy can be considered to be something that [Takamatsu's teacher Toda] Shinryūken newly arranged around the end of the Tokugawa shōgunate."[8] The Iga-ryū Ninja Museum lists Jinichi Kawakami as the only legitimate inheritor of authentic ninjutsu[9] although this is likely to be a biased opinion as Jinichi Kawakami is also the honorary director of the Iga-ryū Ninja Museum, a commercial enterprise and tourist attraction. According to martial arts author Donn Draeger "The late Fujita Seiko was the last of the living ninja, having served in assignments for the Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras. Modern authorities such as T. Hatsumi are responsible for most research being done on ninjutsu."[10]

References
  1. "Bujinkan Dojo Frankfurt: Wolfgang Ettig". bujinkan-frankfurt.gmxhome.de. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. Ettig, Wolfgang (2006). Takamatsu Toshitsugu - The Last Shinobi. Tengu-Publishing. ISBN 3-924862-10-9.
  3. Jacob, Rob (2005). Martial Arts Biographies - An Annotated Bibliography. p. 75. ISBN 0-595-34861-0.
  4. Shinken Taijutsu web site article Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Adams, Andrew (1970). "Ninja: The Invisible Assassins". Ohara Press.
  6. 武神館DVDシリーズSpecial 最後の実戦忍者　高松寿嗣 (Translated)
  7. Gattegno, Ilan (June 1985). "Takamatsu: The Man Who Taught Ninjutsu To Today's Ninja Leader". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. p. 20.
  8. Kiyoshi, Watatani; Tadashi, Yamada (1963). Bugei Ryuha Daijiten. p. 293.
  9. "FAQ". iganinja.jp. Iga-ryu Ninja Museum. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  10. Donn Draeger, Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts, p130, 1969
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