Yoshio Sugino
杉野嘉男
Japanese master of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu (1904–1998), judoka and aikido teacher, sword instructor for the Kurosawa film Seven Samurai.
Quick Facts
JapanBiography
Yoshio Sugino was a Japanese master of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, a judoka and aikido teacher, known as a sword instructor for the films of Akira Kurosawa. He was born on 12 December 1904 in the village of Naruto in Chiba Prefecture and died on 13 June 1998 at the age of 93.
From 1918 he studied at Keio University, where he was taught judo by Kunisaburo Iizuka. In judo he remained undefeated up to 4th dan and never accepted a higher grade, because in his view Kodokan judo had become a sport. On 15 September 1927 he first encountered Katori Shinto-ryu, and Kano Jigoro encouraged him to study the old martial arts. Around 1931 and 1932 he met Morihei Ueshiba, and in 1935 he received a teaching licence from him.
In Kawasaki he ran a dojo that became the second branch dojo of the Aikikai in Japan, and he also ran a clinic there for the treatment of bones. After the war he completed the new dojo in 1950. From May 1953 to March 1954, according to Aikido Journal, he was the only martial arts instructor during the filming of Seven Samurai, and he also worked on the films The Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo and on Miyamoto Musashi by Inagaki. He considered Toshiro Mifune the most talented actor he had taught.
In 1966 the Dai Nippon Butokukai awarded him the title hanshi, and in 1982 the Kokusai Budoin awarded him 10th dan in kobudo. From 1983 he taught in France, where in 1985 a branch dojo led by Alain Floquet was founded.
Early life
Yoshio Sugino was born on 12 December 1904 in the village of Naruto in Chiba Prefecture as the eldest son of Yutaro and Seki Sugino. According to Aikido Journal, the Sugino family had long been the main household of the village and from the Edo period was permitted to use a surname and carry a sword. The family later moved to the Minato ward of Tokyo.
In 1918 he entered Keio University to study business and joined the judo, kendo, kyudo and sumo clubs. After school he worked at the head office of the Kanan bank in Taipei. He had four sons and two daughters.
Training and teachers
Judo was taught to him at Keio University by Kunisaburo Iizuka, a holder of 8th dan. Kendo was taught to him briefly by Tadatsu Shingai, but Sugino concentrated on judo. According to Aikido Journal, he earned 1st dan after six wins in a row and remained undefeated up to 4th dan. He never accepted a higher grade, because in his view Kodokan judo had become a sport.
On 15 September 1927, at the age of 22, he first encountered Katori Shinto-ryu, which was then taught at the Kodokan, and Kano Jigoro encouraged him to study the old martial arts. At 24 he began jujutsu of the Yoshin koryu school. He first met Morihei Ueshiba around 1931 and 1932 at the dojo in Shinjuku, and in 1935 he received a teaching licence from him.
Contribution and innovations
His dojo in Kawasaki became the second branch dojo of the Aikikai in Japan, and Kisshomaru Ueshiba also came there to teach. In 1937 he led the sword training for a film about the Abe clan, and in 1941 he took part in a book on Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. After the war he had to hand over his swords because of the ban on martial arts, and he completed the new dojo in 1950.
In May 1953 he met Akira Kurosawa and led the filming of Seven Samurai until March 1954 as the only martial arts instructor. He taught the actors Seiji Miyaguchi and Toshiro Mifune, of whom he said that he was the most talented actor he had taught. He also worked on the films The Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo, on Miyamoto Musashi by Inagaki and on the NHK series Ryoma ga Yuku. In 1983 he visited France for the first time, and in April 1985 a branch dojo led by Alain Floquet was founded there.
Philosophy and principles
According to Aikido Journal, he held the view that budo is kata and that kata practice is everything in budo. In his notebook he wrote down the principle of being strict with oneself and lenient with others. From his refusal of higher grades in judo, which in his view had become a sport, we infer that he preferred a traditional conception of the martial arts.
Legends and documented facts
Wikipedia states that he led the sword training for Seven Samurai together with Junzo Sasamori. According to Aikido Journal, however, Sasamori left for Europe and Sugino remained the only instructor. The Wikipedia infobox gives Tokyo as the birthplace, while Aikido Journal and the Wikipedia text give the village of Naruto in Chiba Prefecture.
The website of the Tokumeikan club gives his study with Kano from 1918 and the start of Katori Shinto-ryu in 1930, while Aikido Journal gives Iizuka as the teacher and the first encounter with Katori Shinto-ryu on 15 September 1927. The age in the Aikido Journal articles varies, and according to the dates of birth and death he was 93 years old.
Legacy
In 1966 the Dai Nippon Butokukai awarded him the title kobudo hanshi, and in 1982 the Kokusai Budoin awarded him the title kobudo judan. According to Aikido Journal, his students included Sumie Ishibashi, Kazumasa Iwata, Alain Floquet and Tetsuzan Kuroda. His dojo is called Yushinkan, and one of his sons runs a clinic for the treatment of bones.
He died on 13 June 1998 at the age of 93, and only Wikipedia gives Naruto as the place of death.
Teachers, students and family
Associated Martial Arts
A Japanese art of throws and joint locks that Morihei Ueshiba developed from Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. It is practiced mainly in paired kata, and only some schools compete.
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryuMaster→Old Japanese school from Katori, founded by Iizasa Choisai Ienao. It teaches swordsmanship, iai, staff, spear and naginata, and is an intangible cultural property of Chiba Prefecture.
Quotes
Budo is kata. Kata training is everything in budo.
Attributed
Filmography
A screen role does not mean the person actually practises the art — that is listed above.