Legend and Origins

二神正聴傳法之正流
FUTAGAMI MASAAKI DEMPO-NO-SHORYU

The legend of the founding of Sosuishitsu ryu dates back to 1650, to a one Futagami Hannosuke Masaaki. He was a district samurai living in the area of Bungo-Takeda which was in the domain of Kuroda during the era called Sho-o. (Kobayashi Shiro-Zaemon Kumi Oumamawari 200 Koku Futagami Kudayu Kanbun era). Masaaki was a master of the Takenouchi ryu and had founded his own school or ryuha, which was called Futagami-ryu.  However, he felt his techniques were imperfected, so in order to better them he decided to travel all over Japan and train himself (Musha Shugyo). At one point he went deep into the rugged valley of Mt.Yoshino in Yamato, where for  thirty-seven days he trained and sought enlightenment.  He refined the finer points of his ryuha and honed the secret techniques that he had studied. He then assembled them to what he believed were the ultimate techniques. One day, while he was gazing at the Yoshino river, he noticed the water flowing and swirling together steadily. The training of his mind, body and spirit converged at that one moment, giving him spiritual enlightenment. This event, called "satori" in Japanese,  prompted him to change the name of  Futagami ryu to Sosuishitsu ryu in honor of his encounter at the Yoshino River.

The Shitama Family

舌間喜兵衛 Shitama Kihyooe	福岡隻流館道場 Fukuoka Sekiryukan Dojo

1^st Generation
Shitama Matashichi was originally from the Bungo-Takeda area and likewise a friend of Masanori's.  It was Matashichi who extended an invitation to Masanori to come and stay with him  in the area of Chikuzen (Nagota area). Futagami accepted this offer and moved there for a while, where he disclosed the teachings of his school to Matahachi.  From that day forward, the Shitama Family has retained the teachings of Sosuishitsu ryu as they were taught to them by Masanori and passed them down in the manner of the  Japanese koryu tradition. 

Historical List of Instructors & Successive Teachers
* The amount of koku, (an old Japanese measures of land),  were quoted from “Kuroda Sampan Bungen Cho.�Eo:p>  This is an old system used to show one's position on society.

次ノ面々ニ相傳ス
(Sosuishitsuryu Koshinomawari was) instructed to the people below:

大野宮門
Oono Miyakado

伊丹九郎左衛門  直方藩  御家老  千三百石  
Itami Kuroozaemon: District of Nogata, minister of daimyo, 1,300 koku

廣瀬五大夫  直方藩  御足軽頭  弐百石
Hirose Godayuu:   District of Nogata, head Ashigaru, 200 koku     

伊木源八郎  
Imoto Gempachiroo

谷口左膳   直方藩  御納戸  百五拾石
Taniguchi : District of Nogata, in charge of warehouse, 150 koku

有元弥左衛門   直方藩  御中老  弐百石  
Arimoto Yazaemon: District of Nogata, vice-minister of daimyo, 200 koku

永島彦之允     直方藩  御旗奉行宗旨奉行兼�@百弐拾石  
Nagashima Hikonoin: District of Nogata, magistrate , 120 koku

森想右衛門     直方藩  御馬廻  百石  
Mori Soozaemon: District of Nogata, in charge of horses, 100 koku

田代清次郎
Tashiro Seijiroo

2^nd Generation 
第二代�@田代清次郎則忠�@寛文六年十一月十四日
Tashiro Seijiro Noritada, Kanmon year 6 (1666) Nov. 14th  

Served as the Shihan until a member of the Shitama family could take over.

3^rd Generation
第三代�@舌間新次郎宗督�@天和三年四月十五日
Shitama Shinjiro Munatoku, Tenwa year 3 (1683) April 15th

(Matashichi's grandson)

4^th Generation
舌間又七の孫
Shitama Kibei Muneichi 
(Great grandson of Shitama Matashichi, first son of Munatoku)

5^th Generation
則忠より傳受
Ono Yahei Munekatsu , May 7, 1718.

Was instructed by Noritada  

6^th Generation
Shitama Sakugoro Munekane , January 27, 1725
(Second son of Munatoku)

7^th Generation
Enomoto Kyuzaemon Tadanao , October 5, 1730

8^th Generation
Shitama Hichiro Munemasu 

神吉宗範�@直方藩�@御醫師�@弐拾五人扶持

神吉宗範 :�@District of Nogata,  Doctor, had 25 people

高屋平四郎�@直方藩�@御納戸詰切�@弐拾石四人扶持

Takaya Heishiroo: District of Nogata 御納戸詰切 20 koku had 4 people

9^th Generation
Usuki Kujuro Munenao, September 13, 1774

10^th Generation
第十代舌間眞次郎宗章（城代組　春吉中洲　拾三石四人）
Shitama Naojiro Muneaki  
(Jodai group, 春吉中州, 13 koku,�@4 people)
(3rd son of Munenao) Munka Year 15 (1818) Jan. 13th

 Son of 9^th generation Munenao, and a successor to the Shitama family.  He not only mastered the secret techniques of several ryu but also dedicated his heart to Sosuishitsuryu.  He carefully selected life-or-death techniques among those from several ryu so that his ryu becomes undefeatable,  He is the Master of 中興 of this ryu. He was also a mastered long sword. Kuroda Nagahiro, the head of the area, liked watching his technique and training and he grew famous throughout his district. His name attracted more attention and fame after he calmed violent samurai in Shoronoshima. You can see the name of a samurai from the district of Aizu, Kurokoochi Dengoroo (uncle of Takeda Sokaku), in Sosuishitsuryu instruction-history book during this period as well.

11^th Generation
第十一代舌間弥五郎宗綱（城代組　中洲　三人六石）
Shitama Yagoroo Munetsuna 
(Jodai groups, Nakasu 3 people 6 koku)

Named himself Bota he was 2nd son of Shibata family in Fukuoka.  He was adopted by the Shitama family when he was 15 years old. Munetsune  was not only a student Sosuishitsryu, but also was a student of Ogasawararyu Yabusame, 扱心流体術, Oginosasakiryu Hijutsu, Hozoin Yari jutsu, Bajutsu, etc.  With Ishikawa (扱心流) and Kubo (Kasahara ryu), he coached  the Kuroda family and had many students. He had Menkyokaiden from Munaaki in Sosuishitsuryu, Oginoryu, and SasakiryuHijutsu.

12^th Generation
第十二代舌間真吾宗継（柔術　春吉中洲　十二石）
Shitama Shingo Munetsugu 
(Jujutsu Shunkichinakasu 12 koku)

Was born as the 3rd son of Ushihara Masanori in the district of Fukuoka, in Tempo 14 (1843).  He trained under Shitama Munetsuna and eventually was adopted into his family via marriage. He became the  Shihan of  Sosuishitsuryu and opened his own dojo named "Seirensha". In Meiji year 1 (1868) he founded the practice of "Senbondori" (1000 matches), a stern and exhausting training method which is still practiced at the Sekiryukan in Fukuoka to this very day*. He was a good friends with the members of Saigo Takamori's group, who wanted to restore the Shogun  to power and had planned to rise up against the Emperor and overthrow them. Munetsugu was devoted to his friends and his beliefs, so fought with Saigo Takamori's men in the Seinan War during the year Meiji  10, (1877) and  died  along side them on April 2nd, at age 34 . In contrast to Kirino Toshiaki from Satsuma (The same area where Saigo Takamori was from), he was regarded as a brave warrior from Fukuoka that fought and died with honor and with respect.
*Negami, Masaru (2003). Sekiryukan no Chosen (The Challenge of the Sekiryukan). Published by the Shadan Hojin Sekiryukan. Page 72.
13^th Generation
第十三代舌間忘多宗綱�@再継
Shitama Bota Munetsuna 

The 11^th headmaster was forced to come out of retirement upon the death of his son Munetsugu, the 12^th headmaster,  in 1877.

14^th Generation
第十四代宗家青柳喜平師範
Aoyagi Kibei Masatoshi

He was born on October 18 in Meiji year 4 (1871) to a merchant family in Hakata.  As a boy he was regarded to be very strong and he grew up to be a tall man for his day and age, reaching about 5 shaku 6 sun.  He became Shitama Bota Munetsuna's student when he was a boy and remained under Munetsuna's tutelage for 18 years. Aoyagi worked days and evenings as a merchant and in his free time trained himself sternly. After Munetsuna's death, in Meiji year 28 (1895) Aoyagi took Munetsuna's place as head of the School, awaiting a successor to take over the family lineage. In Meiji Year 38 (1905), he and twenty teachers from other ryu formed the committee to establish Judo Kata at the Butokukai Headquarters Kyoto, where he made history as one of the founder fathers of Judo in Japan. Aoyagai became an instructor of Judo at Fukuoka Teacher's school and Commercial school in Kyushu as well as the the Dojo in Fukuoka, the Sekiryukan. He was given the title of Hanshi on May 7th in Taisho year 15 (1926) and officially recognized throughout Japan. Under Aoyagi's hand, coaching Judo and teaching Sosuishitsuryu, his dojo then grew to have over 2000 students. He passed away on August 15th in Showa year 4 (1929), at age 59.

15^th Generation
^{第十五代宗家舌間修三宗聴師範
Shitama Shuzo Munetada}

He was from Yokkaichi in Mie prefecture, the 5th and youngest son of Yamanaka Manbei. Shuzo graduated from the Budo Semmon Gakko, which was located on the Butokukai grounds in Kyoto. He  married into the Shitama family and becoming a "Yoshi" or "adopted son" he gave up his birth name. Shuzo moved to Fukuoka in August of Taisho year 14 (1925) to run the Sekiryukan and to continue on the Shitama birth right of Sosuishitsuryu. After the defeat of Japan in the Pacific war theater,  the US occupied and controlled Japan through the US Military General Head Quarters (GHQ). In the first few months of the occupation, the GHQ issued an edict which temporarily suppressed the practice of martial arts. Shuzo's alma mater, the Budo Semmon Gakko and various other dojo were formally dissolved as a result. The Sekiryukan, however, was not abolished nor was it dissolved. In fact, Shuzo was even able to teach Judo to the US occupying forces. 

16^th Generation
“ñ�_”¼”V�•�³’®�\˜Z‘ã�@�ãŠÔäÝŽO�@—˜Žt”Í
Shitama Manzo

Born on December 3rd in Showa year 22 (1947), as the third baby boy of 15th generation Sosuishitsuryu  inheritor Shitama Shuzo.  He was instructed in Sosuishitsuryu and Judo by his father Shuzo when he was a child.  In addition to this, he was also personally instructed by Tomiki Kenji the founder of Tomiki Aikido, student of Ueshiba Morihei and Kano Jigoro and former professor at Waseda University. After the death of his father in Showa year 41 (1966), he became the 16th generation inheritor of Sosuishitsuryu and is currently the manager of the Sekiryukan Hombu Dojo, which instructs in Judo, Tomiki Aikido and Sosuishitsuryu.

萬三先生高校生の時の演武 Demonstration with Shitama Manzo during his high school years

双水執流松井派（東京)
SOSUISHITSURYU MATSUI HA (TOKYO)

Munetada was born on February in Meiji year 1 (1868), in Fukuoka, where as a boy he was fascinated with jujutsu. His family seeing this, he began training under his uncle Matsui Kokichi, who was student of Sosuishitsuryu under Shitama Munetsuna.  In Meiji year 13 (1881) he trained under Tekigo Hiji and in later years recieved a Menkyokaiden. In Meiji year 20 (1887), when he was 19 years old, he completed the Senbondori (1000 matches) in Fukuoka. In the following year Meiji year 21 (1888), he was invited by the Metropolitan Police Board to come and work for Akasaka Police, where he remained for over 30 years until retired his position. In Meiji year 38 (1905), he was given "Seiren sho" (recognition of good training) and was given a "yoshi go" (instructor title)  in June of Meiji year 42 (1909). He later dedicated himself to Seifukuutsu, where he was recognized officially by being nominated as vice-chairman of the committee in Tokyo.  He then set up Shobukan in Fukuyoshi-cho, Akasaka. He was given the title of Hanshi in the Butokukai during May of Showa year 2 (1927).

According to BUGEI in Taisho year 4 (1915), the Shobukan Dojo was located in Fukuyoshi-cho in Asakusa under the guidance of Matsui Hyakutaro Munetada, a master of Sosuishitsu ryu and head instructor to the Metropolitan Police Board. According to the record of Shiai at the Metropolitan Police Office, Matsui Hyakutaro and Yamashita Judan engaged in a friendly contest of skill which ended in a draw after three consecutive matches. The Shobukan Dojo, under Matsui Hyakutaro Munetada, grew to be the 3rd largest dojo in Tokyo under the Kodokan and the Fukada dojo. He had an extraordinary amount of students, which included women and children who studied Sosuishitsuryu and Naginata. According to other records, at Meiji jingo 10th memorial Budo competition�Eon November 3rd and 4th  in Showa year 5 (1930),  he demonstrated with Matsumoto Fukujiro, a student of his that would eventually succeeded to Hyakutaro at the Shobukan. It is noteworthy to mention that Kano Jigoro of the Kodokan attended this embu where he performed the kata of the Kitoryu Takenaka branch.


THE LEGACY OF MATSUI HYAKUTARO

故佐藤昇
Sato Shoichiro

故佐藤昇一郎師と三輪文四郎師範による演武
Sato Shoichiro		Sato Shoichiro&Miwa Bunshiro

Sato Shoichiro was a senior student of Matsui and inherited most of his teachings.  Sato, who after recieving Kumiuchi Mokuroku in Sosuishitsuryu, entered the Kodokan and received his 3rd dan in Judo.  Eventually he attained an 8th dan in Kodokan Judo and so it seems that he  primarily learned the Kumiuchi of Sosuishitsuryu in Tokyo.


杉山正太郎師
Sugiyama Shotaro

Sugiyama was born in Meiji year 25 (1892).  He had studied and was proficient in  Shibukawa Ryu when he was a child and was very knowledgeable in taijutsu. He entered the Matsui school and became his student in  Showa year 2 (1927).  He was proficient at Kumi Uchi, however his specialty lay in the Koshinomawari ; he was also renowned in Kenjutsu.  It seems Matsui instructed Sugiyama mainly in Koshinomawari, which was in fact Sugiyama's primary source of interest.

After Matsui Sensei passed away about Showa year 12 (1937), Sato and Sugiyama both traveled to Kyushu and learned under Sosuishitsuryu fifthteenth generation headmaster, Shitama Shuzo, at the Sekiryukan in Fukuoka.  

Special thanks goes to Mr.  Daniel Lee of Australia and Tokyo  for providing this picture.
References: Shizu Ryuji Katsuyasu sensei wo omou�E(Showa yaer 59 (1984) Tokyo: Seijokai Pg. 84: the picture was offered by Mr. Aoki and it seems to have been taken in around Showa year 12-13 (1937-38),  as there is Mr. Katsumi besides Shimizu Sensei (at the very right end of the front row)

北島胡空師範
Kitajima Koku

Around Showa year 27 (1952), Kitajima Koku who was to later succeeded to Sugiyama Shotaro.  Kitajima was a master of Judo and Kendo and was genius at Iai Tameshigiri. Among the honors he received, he was awarded Okuiden from the Hon-ami family as a connoisseur and expert of Japanese swords. Around this time, Kitajima was approached by Sugiyama as how to estimate Japanese swords. Sugiyama found Kitajima had talent in Budo, and was very well founded.  Eventually he had him succeed Sosuishitsuryu line in Tokyo. After Sugiyama passed away in Showa year 39 (1964), Kitajima (by this time he had set up the Kosonkai dojo, where he instructed Iai Tameshigiri) he began teaching Sosuishitsuryu to Kosonkai members until his passing away in Heisei year 10 (1998).

臼木良彦
Usuki Yoshihiko

He was born born in Tokyo during Showa year 31 (1956). 
During Showa year 42 (1967) he became a student of Kitajima Koku, and studied with him until Showa year 60 (1985). He started learning sword polishing under Fujishiro Matsuo, a Master Japanese sword polisher who was recognized as Living Human treasure by the Japanese government. Usuki sensei is a collector and researcher of information about Sosuishitsuryu;  by trade he is a professional sword polisher. Usuki Sensei is now recognized as a Living National Treasure as well for his sword polishing efforts along with being the head of Sosuishitsuryu in Tokyo.