There is a misconception that ninjutsu ceased to exist during the Edo Period. Some believe that after Oda Nobunaga’s decimation of the lands of Iga and Tokugawa’s pacification or subjugation of the rest of the nation, that the shinobi became unnecessary and quickly ceased to exist. The shinobi definitely did not cease to exist. Despite […]

(From Soke’s book Ninpo Taizen) For parts 1 through 20 please see my previous blog posts in the translations section. Enjoy! 忍長は攻撃をなす時は、目標付近に我が動き。目標の動き。 When the shinobi commander attacks, we move near the target. (Observe the) Target’s movements. 地形等を見、準備の太め一ヵ所または数ヵ所を置く事。よいな。このために右の事に心を付ける事。 Looking at the terrain, etc., make plentiful preparations at one or more places (in the area). Understood? For

I received an inquiry by email asking if I had any reason to believe that the Toda family of the Togakure Ryu had any real historical relationship to the Tozawa family. The question was being raised because Takamatsu Toshitsugu claimed to be a descendant of Tozawa Hakuunasai, the founder of the Gyokko Ryu lineage of ninjutsu. He claims this on his maternal grandfather’s side, via Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu. In my amateur opinion, yes