| It was in January, 1921 when Kuki Takaharu, the 26th Soke, established
Kodo Senyokai Shobukyoku in an effort to restore Shintoism and martial
arts handed down in the family. It was a time when the Kukis had a house
in Minami machi 1-2, Aoyame, Akasaka ku, Tokyo. Takaharu instructed
Shintoism (Oonakatomi Jingi Shinpo Girei Kyoshu) in a course called "Kodo
Daigaku Tokka Koza." As for martial arts, Kukishin Ryu was instructed
at several Dojo in Osaka; the leading Dojo was Ryubukan supervised by
Iwami Nangaku, located in front of the west gate of Shitennoji temple in
Osaka.
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| Publications by Kodo Senyokai
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| Shobukyoku itself had been set up two years before in the spring of
1919. Iwami Nangaku and Takamatsu Chosui performed Bojutsu at the summit
of Mt. Unebi in Nara to commemorate the inauguration of the organization.
Supposedly, there was increased enthusiasm in the organization. On the
nominal list of the members of the organization were Shigematsu Matsutaro,
head of the organization (also he was the director), Takamatsu
Kikaku(pseudonym Takamatsu used in the early period), head of the
screening committee, Iwami Nangaku, head of Judge committee of Judo,
Akimoto Fumio (a student of Chosui), head of martial arts committee. After
Takamatsu Chosui left the organization, Iwami Nangaku played a major role
in the organization. In a letter dated November 26, 1931 Iwami Nangaku
wrote to Kuki Takaharu, Nangaku asked the Soke to confer certificates on
eleven members of the organization and give them endorsement for the
appointment; he made a pledge that the twelve members including himself
would become "fellow members who strive for the same goal and would like this to be confirmed… we have thus decided to make an
application for certificates and would be most grateful if we are
acknowledged as executive of Shobu Kyoku." In a letter dated December
15, 1931, there are names of the eleven members cited. The followings are
the names. (four applications for the certificates of Judo are made in
this letter, which are omitted here 1.)
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| Applicants for Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu and Jujutsu
Kaiden Menkyo and Shobukyoku Kyohan: |
| 1 |
Kodera Takeshi |
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| 2 |
Matsubara Kahei |
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| 3 |
Yoshida Jinshiro |
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| Applicants for Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu and Jujutsu
Kaiden Menkyo and Shobukyoku Kyoran: |
| 1 |
Usutani Riichi |
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| 2 |
Fujiwara Tojiro |
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| 3 |
Watanabe Daikichi |
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| 4 |
Shiozaki Katsuo |
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| 5 |
Kiba Koshiro |
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| 6 |
Ureshino Choichi |
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| 7 |
Miki Magotaro |
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| 8 |
Matsumoto Ihei |
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| These members became executives of Shobu Kyoku and contributed for the
preservation and development of Kukishin Ryu for 15 years until the end of
the World War II. Iwami Nangaku, 2nd head of Shobu Kyoku, played an active
role in the introduction of Kukishin Ryu to the public; he performed
Bojutsu at Butokuden in Kyoto. He got ill in the spring of 1934 and died
of a stroke of apoplexy. Before his death, Nangaku wrote to Chosui,
expressing the state of illness, entrusting the future of Shobukyoku to
him. Chosui, however, did not comply with his wishes and Matsubara Kahei
was appointed as the third head of Shobu Kyoku. An Ogawa Reiko,
fortunteller, attended a martial arts meet "Enbuhajimeshiki Budo
Taikai" sponsored by Akashi police station on New Years Day, 1935 and
was greatly impressed by Bojutsu performance by Kiba Koshiro and Taijutsu
performance by Matsubara Kahei. He wrote up a composition titled
"Looking at Kukishin Ryu." We are going to quote part of it:
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Bojutsu performance
by Iwami Nangaku and Takamatsu Chosui
at the inauguration ceremony of Shobukyoku
in the spring of 1919.
(at the summit of Mt. Unebi in Nara)
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a commemorative photograph of Shobukyoku in 1930
(from the left in the front row: the Soke, Kuki Takaharu,
Iwaminangaku. From the left in the rear row:
Matsubara Kahei, Kodera Takeshi)
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Shirahadori by Iwami Nangaku at Kobukan Dojo
in front of the west gate of Shitennoji temple |
| Bojutsu is getting to be regarded as important not only by the Police
Department, but the common people in modern times・・・・ Bojutsu
performance by Kiba Koshiro is fabulous. His bar swirls as if it were a
water mill. Everyone would be convinced of the effectiveness of the secret
techniques, which would overwhelm enemies for sure; they were tested on
battle grounds in ancient times.
Moreover, there is a big difference between other Taijutsu
schools and Kukishin Ryu Taijutsu performed by Matubara Kahei,Ozaki
Kuzusaburo, Matsubara Kazuro and Tsuzaki Konomu. Unlike other Taijutsu
that is popular in modern times, Taijutsu techniques of Kukishin Ryu
clearly stem from real experiences on battlefields. Like Bojutsu
techniques of Kukishin Ryu, every movement is carefully organized to beat
enemies, which is incredible. Taijutsu techniques of Kukishin Ryu are for
killing, not just for throwing down. They hurl themselves at the opponents
--- the techniques in Kukishin Ryu are based on the truth in Kenpo
techniques: "Better stab than slash." The name "Shin Ryu"
(the school of martial arts with Shinto background) is really appropriate
for the school. |
| It is unclear how deeply the writer Ogawa Reiko understood martial arts,
but as the descriptions "hurl themselves" and "Better stab
than slash" show, he grasped the characteristics of Kukishin Ryu at a
glance, which is great. In 1935, the construction of Shusai
Dojoin Narui, Nishishikata, Hyogo 2 and Shobukyoku Honbu Dojo
was completed with efforts by students of Iwami Nangaku. Lumbers used in a
living room of the Emperor were given to them as an exception, and part of
the Dojo was constructed with the lumber. The grandeur of the Dojo then is
beyond imagination.
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A commemorative photograph in front of Butokuden in Kyoto
(From the left in the front row: Kodera Takeshi, Nagashio Yoshiaki(a
butler of the Kukis),
the Soke,Kuki Takaharu, Matsubara Kahei, Kiba Koshirou)
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A picture showing how they used to practice in the Kodo Senyokai Shobukyoku period.
（the rightmost person: the Soke Kuki Takaharu. The leftmost person is Tatsuta Yasuichiro when young)）
−At Takamikura Dojo ・ Kodo Senyokai Shobukyoku−
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| Kiba Koshiro, who became the fourth head of Shobu Kyoku after Matsubara,
was a person with inventiveness. With some corrections to old techniques,
he established the standardized Kata "Shobukyoku Seitei Kata"
and published a book "Japanese Self Defense
Techniques vol. 1: Bojutsu" in 1936 (Sanseido Pub.) 3,
making the name Kukishin Ryu well known. Kiba Koshiro also studied under
Takamatsu Chosui; besides Taijutsu and Bojutsu, he mastered every field of
Kukishin Ryu.
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A flier advertising the publication of
"Japanese Self Defense Techniques vol.1: Bojutsu"
by Kiba Koshiro
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| Notes |
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| 1 |
Shobukyoku supervised Dainihon Butokukai for a short period during World
War II. There are list of members together with related documents
preserved by the Kukis. |
| 2 |
Like activities in Tokyo, instruction of ancient Shintoism was made
apart from martial arts. And this section of the organization was called
Kodo Senyokai Jingikyoku. |
| 3 |
It is said Kiba planned to publish the second volume of the book
concerning Taijutsu, which was not materialized. There is, however, a
brochure expounding on "16 Taijutsu techniques of Shobukyoku Taijutsu
Kata." |
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