ImpakuImpaku

Nakayama Hakudo

中山博道

Japanese swordmaster (1872–1958), founder of the iaido style Muso Shinden-ryu and holder of hanshi rank in kendo, iaido and jodo, teacher of Mochizuki Minoru.

Quick Facts

Date of Birth2/11/1872
Date of Death12/14/1958
Country of OriginJapanJapan
OccupationWriter
Also known asNakayama Hiromichi

Biography

Nakayama Hakudo, also known as Nakayama Hiromichi, was born on 11 February 1872 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and died on 14 December 1958. He founded the iaido style Muso Shinden-ryu. He was also a poet and calligrapher.

He studied kenjutsu under Negishi Shingoro in the Shindo Munen-ryu style, gaining menkyo kaiden and becoming the school's seventh headmaster. At the Shinto Muso-ryu school he earned an instructor's license and mastered the Shimomura-ha branch of Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu iaijutsu.

In 1932 he founded his own iaido style, Muso Shinden-ryu, unifying, according to one source, the forms of drawing the sword across Japan. He helped compile the Nihon Kendo Kata and led the sword committee at the Toyama military academy. On 10 July 1934 he publicly cut through an iron bar with a sword. His students included Mochizuki Minoru, founder of Yoseikan, Nakakura Kiyoshi, and Tsuyoshi Chitose; he also taught Funakoshi Gigo, son of Funakoshi Gichin.

After the Second World War he helped found the All Japan Kendo Federation, from which he received the rank of hanshi in kendo, iaido and jodo.

Teachers, students and family

Student

Associated Martial Arts

Muso Shinden-ryuFounder→

An iai school that Nakayama Hakudo organised in the nineteen-thirties from the Tosa lineage of Eishin-ryu. One of the largest iaido schools, technically close to Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu.

Kata and forms

Nihon Kendo Kata· added to the syllabus

Ranks and titles

  • HanshiKendo