Bujinkan Santa Monica

Michael tries cola flavor Ninja gummies, a gift from 中川将志 Nakagawa Shōshi I went out to do some laundry and grocery shopping before training. Along the way, I stopped in at the bookstore to find some inspiration from Hatsumi Sensei’s painting. As I flipped through the pages, my eyes settled on a painting of 毘沙門天 Bishamonten riding a tiger. Support my work and watch the FULL video: https://www.rojodojo.com/ride-the-tiger-japan-report-seven-reiwa6/  Hatsumi Sensei gave the painting the title of 坂上 田村麻呂 Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. This historic figure was one of the first Shōgun in Japan. Legends around him grew over the centuries and he was considered an avatar of Bishamonten, a god of war, and warrior king. Hatsumi Sensei wrote some poetry from 虎倒流 Kotō Ryū on the painting. Soke said that when he visited Takamatsu Sensei, Takamatsu recited this poetry to him. The poem extols the virtues of a figure like Sakanoue, but I suspect Takamatsu Sensei was also honoring Hatsumi as h...

This morning in Japan, I got up early to visit 蛇窪神社 Hebikubo Jinja. “Snake Hollow” shrine was founded during the Kamakura period in 1323. The white snake has a close association with Benzaiten, and symbolizes living a life with a pure heart and dedicated to kindness. Since 2025 is the year of the snake, I thought it would be nice to pay my respects. I started by taking advantage of the 撫で白蛇 Nade Shirohebi. I’ll let you translate that one! But this feature of the snake hollow shrine was supposed to bring good fortune and health, so I held my wife in my thoughts since she has been struggling lately. Then I visited the 銭回し Zeni Mawashi and 銭洗い所 Zeni Arai-sho. This is where you bless your money and wash it to purify. The mawashi helps to circulate wealth more freely among people. And the washing cleanses in case there were any ill gotten gains. I guess it is a sort of spiritual money laundering! Of course I brought my 集印帳 shūin-chō and received a nice stamp for the year of the ...

The Dainichi effect happened around midday, but first this morning I went to the 大江戸骨董市 Oedo Antique Market with Peter Crocoll. This market is quite large with many collectibles, art, and weapons. Many people bought and even wore vintage clothing. Peter found a book of 春画 shunga full of erotic woodblock prints as an amusing gift for one of his students back home. From there we made a visit to 美術刀剣松本 Bijutsu Tōken Matsumoto . Peter brought another tsuka from home to be wrapped and restored. You may remember my trip last year when he had his first tsukamaki from Matsumoto. While we were there, a koshirae for a dagger caught his eye. The fittings had a rare decorative 海老鞘 ebisaya and Peter couldn’t resist adding it to his collection. The Dainichi Effect Later, seeking some inspiration, I returned to ponder the copy of Dojo Giga at the bookstore. When I randomly opened the pages, it fell open to Hatsumi Sensei’s painting of 大日如来 Dainichi Nyorai. Dainichi represents the center,...

Today I had class with Nagase and Furuta 先生方. I wake up early these days. So I made some coffee with an AeroPress in my hotel room. Then I went out to take a few street photographs. By the time I had to catch the train, I was ready for more coffee. I installed myself at the lunch counter of a cafe. A handsome elderly woman sat next to me, drinking tea, and eating pasta. Her hair was pulled tight, and a jacket draped from her shoulders. I noted her posture with tucked elbows and a delicate use of the fork and spoon. Holding a proper teacup. I was no match for her. Nagase and Furuta 先生方 I thought about her as I rode the train to go to Nagase Sensei’s class at the Bujinkan Honbu Dojo. I normally train with him at his own Dojo, but things are more convenient now with him having classes at the Honbu. When he arrived, I helped him unload his bags from the car. Nagase Sensei started class with a 手解 tehodoki technique leading to both 武者捕 musha dori and 武双捕 musō dori. But these techn...

I rose early to catch a train. First I boarded the Jōban line, then transferred to the Toei subway to catch the Ōedo line. I warmed to the early morning sunlight because my trip had a dark destination. I was up to investigate the sites of two assassinations, or 暗殺 ansatsu. If you would like to support my Japan reports, get the FULL video of this Japan Report here: https://www.rojodojo.com/ansatsu-japan-report-three-reiwa6/ I wandered the neighborhood following a hand drawn map from the 幕末 Bakumatsu era. The map actually marked with red ink where blood was found on the street at the site of the murders. The first ansatsu was at 中ﾉ橋 Naka no Hashi. Henry Heusken was born in Holland, but his family moved to the United States. He learned many languages and was asked to travel with the American Legation to act as a translator for the first Consul to Japan, Townsend Harris. He really took to Japan, dating women, and traveling freely even though foreigners were regarded with great s...

I began this day by catching a train to the Bujinkan Honbu Dojo for a class with Furuta Sensei. In the past few years I’ve been able to train with him quite a bit. And each class gives me a little more insight into the gokui of 雲隠流 Kumogakure Ryū and Ninjutsu. Furuta Sensei began class using 乱勝 Ranshō as a springboard to explore many ideas. He would use a dramatic drop or lean in his body to evade and upset his opponent’s balance. He also shifts this way to hide within the opponent’s movement. When he called me to be his uke, he blocked my attack, but the way he held his other hand gave me the impression that I could attack again. Then Furuta Sensei encouraged me to hit him. I said, “are you sure?” But this was intentional because he was baiting me. So when I went for it, I fell into the space as he hit me with an unseen strike. He used this same feeling to access hidden weapons. If you’ve trained with Furuta, you know he always has a couple of knives on him. One mo...