Ittosai

[shotoblogger]

Have been looking for non-fiction works on Ittosai. Anyone know of a book or article-length biography in English? Thanks.

[Nanbanjin]

Have been looking for non-fiction works on Ittosai. Anyone know of a book or article-length biography in English? Thanks.

I don't think there are any. As far as I am aware Ittohsai is relatively neglected even by Japanese scholars. Why do you ask?

[shotoblogger]

I don't think there are any. As far as I am aware Ittohsai is relatively neglected even by Japanese scholars. Why do you ask?

I just enjoy reading about history. Maybe there's something about him in "Lives of Master Swordsmen," by Makoto Sugawara. I haven't been able to find this book, though. I can't find it listed on Amazon, which is a real surprise.

[nysamurai]

Check out an on-line bookseller called Alibris. I checked for you. They have it, several copies at various prices, and the descritpion notes Ittosai's name though to what extent he is covered I know not. Good luck!

[shotoblogger]

Check out an on-line bookseller called Alibris. I checked for you. They have it, several copies at various prices, and the descritpion notes Ittosai's name though to what extent he is covered I know not. Good luck!

Once when Alibris first opened I'd looked around there and had never been back. I was wondering why that was, if they have such a good selection, when I noticed Lives of Master Swordsmen is selling for $70-$160!! Oh well. Thank you, though, for your detective work. Maybe I'll get it for Christmas...

[Nanbanjin]

I just enjoy reading about history. Maybe there's something about him in "Lives of Master Swordsmen," by Makoto Sugawara. I haven't been able to find this book, though. I can't find it listed on Amazon, which is a real surprise.

Sorry, I got a little confused there.
I think the problem is that Ito Itosai Kagehisa never left a written legacy as was the case for Musashi, Yagyu and others.

Kotoda Yahei wrote "Ittosai Sensei Kenpo Sho" which roughly means "Ittohsai Sensei's Sword Method". I am not sure whether there is an English translation of this available.

The following URL has a little info on Ittohsai Sensei

http://www.sword.ne.jp/swordsmen/bushi/ittosai.html

[Hisham]

I ve read about Ittosai and his style of swordsmanship in The lives of master swordsmen, his style was mostly about technique ,no spiritual references whatsoever ,he was teaching the Tokugawa before Yagyu Munenori took his place .I don t remember who of the Yagyu s chalenged him to a friendly match up and backed off after seeing no opening in Ittosai s posture.I think his school is still alive, Itto ryu is its name if i m not mistaken.

[Bushidog]

That is correct, his Ryu is still alive and is called Ito Ryu (iai-jutsu). At our dojo in Holland we study his ryu.

[Masahiro]

his style was mostly about technique ,no spiritual references whatsoever ,he was teaching the Tokugawa before Yagyu Munenori took his place .I don t remember who of the Yagyu s chalenged him to a friendly match up and backed off after seeing no opening in Ittosai s posture.

Ittosai had only 2 students. He wasn't even alive during theTokugawa time. As for the spiritual intent of his technique, if you were to follow Ittosai's life, you would know that his technique does have a spiritual aspect to it just as all the other swordsmanship tend to do those days.

[Kingofmyrrh]

That is correct, his Ryu is still alive and is called Ito Ryu (iai-jutsu). At our dojo in Holland we study his ryu.

I didn't think it had any iai content..?

[Hisham]

Ittosai had only 2 students. He wasn't even alive during theTokugawa time.

I stand corrected it wasn't him that served the Tokugawa or encountered one of the Yagyu, it was Ono Tadaaki.
What little i know is that he was born in 1560, some say that he died in 1653 and some don't know when he passed away but he did live during the days of Yagyu Munenori and as far as i know he recomended his pupil Ono Tadaaki to serve the Tokugawa, which means that he did live at least till the beguining of the Tokugawa bakufu.

As for the spiritual intent of his technique, if you were to follow Ittosai's life, you would know that his technique does have a spiritual aspect to it just as all the other swordsmanship tend to do those days.

What i meant by no "spiritual" references is that there was no Zen (That aspect was added by Ono Tadaaki) and no esoterism to his practice but his own spiritual philosophy like the "Isshin Itto" or the one sword one spirit concept.

[Masahiro]

Actually, Ittosai didn't "recommend" Ono Tadaaki to the Tokugawa. if you were merely "restating" things posted on "http://www.sword.ne.jp/swordsmen/bushi/ono.html". Please note that the site serves only as a guide and not as absolute truth to the history. I recall reading somewhere that Ittosai walked into the mountains after overseeing the duel between Zenki and Tenzen. I've also done indepth research about Ittosai's life, and I haven't found a reference that stated Ittosai's recommendation. Rather, I found that Tadaaki was "appointed" the "kenjutsu shinan-yaku"(instructor in swordsmanship) by Tokugawa Hidetada himself. While Yagyu Munenori was also another instructor appointed by Ieyasu himself. Please correct me if i am wrong. The website you used is largely correct on their facts but sometime "vague". As for the spiritual part of Ittoryu, Ittosai spend many days and many nights meditating in the Temples of certain Deities waiting for some sort of "enlightened". Having no luck at all, in the final night he was at the temple. A few robbers attempted to kill him, and this is the time when he gained the profound insight to one of his "divine" techniques. Zen isn't the only channel through which one seeks "spiritual" advancements.

[Bushidog]

I didn't think it had any iai content..?

Correct (nowadays), but why not combine with Iai?
A sword should be drawn before use, right?
And why not practise Itto with a real sword (or Iaito)?

[Hisham]

Actually, Ittosai didn't "recommend" Ono Tadaaki to the Tokugawa. if you were merely "restating" things posted on "http://www.sword.ne.jp/swordsmen/bushi/ono.html". Please note that the site serves only as a guide and not as absolute truth to the history. I recall reading somewhere that Ittosai walked into the mountains after overseeing the duel between Zenki and Tenzen.

Actually no, most of what i said was what i recall from reading Lives of Master Swordsmen plus what i've read in a french website a while ago, but of course it's not something i would take for a final truth as to Ittosai's life.

I've also done indepth research about Ittosai's life, and I haven't found a reference that stated Ittosai's recommendation. Rather, I found that Tadaaki was "appointed" the "kenjutsu shinan-yaku"(instructor in swordsmanship) by Tokugawa Hidetada himself. While Yagyu Munenori was also another instructor appointed by Ieyasu himself.

Just for the record i haven't done an indepth research since i don't read japanese but i'm always curious to know that is why i tried to argue with what little info i had.
Back to the subject, so what you're saying is that Tadaaki served the Tokugawa at the same time as Munenori or am i mistaken?

Please correct me if i am wrong. The website you used is largely correct on their facts but sometime "vague".

I visited that website, and you're not wrong the info there isn't something that would quench the curiosity of someone who would want to know any of the swordsmen mentioned there in a detailed manner.

As for the spiritual part of Ittoryu, Ittosai spend many days and many nights meditating in the Temples of certain Deities waiting for some sort of "enlightened". Having no luck at all, in the final night he was at the temple. A few robbers attempted to kill him, and this is the time when he gained the profound insight to one of his "divine" techniques.

I did read about that.

Zen isn't the only channel through which one seeks "spiritual" advancements.

I mentioned Zen as an example of an already established spiritual "method", and there's no denying the fact that there are many roads leading to the same sumit.

It would've been great if Kenji Tokitsu included Ittosai in his "Studies on japanese master swordsmen" articles.

[Hisham]

I didn't think it had any iai content..?

Hey King, i did a google search about Itto ryu and i found this.