From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

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.

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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 suspicion in those days.

He ran afoul of the locals for a few reasons. First, he had a Japanese common law wife and child. He also had a fondness for horseback riding. But this was something that was reserved for the Samurai class. This really upset the Rōnin who disagreed with the Shōgunate and any attempt to open the country to foreigners.

暗殺 Ansatsu

One night, after he was returning from a party, a band of Rōnin called the 老士組 Rōshigumi ambushed him at the bridge. He was basically disemboweled, and he lay in the street for awhile before anyone came to his aid. He died later that night.

Visiting these crime scenes seems like a weird thing to do in Japan. What does it have to do with martial arts? If you understand the history of Japan, you know it is closely intertwined with Samurai and martial culture. Visiting these places helps me understand and connect to this history.  

That was a very chaotic period in Japan, and justice for Henry didn’t arrive until 3 years later. This was when 清河八郎 Kiyokawa Hachirō, one of the leaders of the Rōshigumi was hunted down in a second ansatsu. He was found in the same neighborhood, just a few blocks away.

Kiyokawa had aligned his group of Rōnin with the Emperor going against the Shōgun. But the Emperor did not want this alliance. This left the Rōshigumi as nothing more than a group of thugs and terrorists.

Another group of samurai loyal to the Shōgun and led by 佐々木只三郎 Sasaki Tadasaburō confronted Kiyokawa at 一之橋 Ichi no Hashi. All these men knew one another, so he might not have suspected anything as they approached. In fact, one witness said they called out to him, “Kiyokawa Sensei” and, as he acknowledged them, they cut him down. Was it a politcal ansatsu, some kind of justice, or just an act of vengance?

After that excursion we met up with Furuta Sensei who gave us a ride to his home dojo out in the countryside of Ibaraki. The dojo was cold so he turned on the heater. But we warmed up quickly with ukemi practice.

One drill we did was to start curled up at the intersection of the tatami, and then roll in eight directions. After each angle, the goal was to return to the starting point. These rolls had to be very small and controlled.

After that we studied some basic striking using a three part punch. It starts with a 指環拳 shikan ken that changes into a 不動拳 Fudō ken, then slides into 手起拳 shuki ken. As one strike becomes three, your other fist is hidden from the opponent. But it also does three strikes. Then, the foot delivers three kicks. This was all done in a flow to break the opponent down.

Furuta Sensei evolved this training to draw hidden weapons during the three part strike. And he extended this line of training into long weapons. He started with an 大太刀 Ōdachi.

With a long sword, you don’t hack away like mowing down grass. You still use the kissaki to cut. As the kissaki drives into the target, a small turn in your body creates the cut. Furuta Sensei told us it was born from sanshin no kata.

He did the same with the 薙刀 Naginata. He showed us how to balance it in our grip. Then he taught how to cut with the body.

Furuta Sensei then spoke about countering long weapons. He said that Bujinkan people always have 9 kunai or 9 shuriken. So you attack with these ranged weapons until you create a gap to close distance. Then at close range the long weapon is not as functional for your opponent.

We had a lot of fun in that class. And Furuta Sensei is very generous. After class he drove me all the way back to the curbside of my hotel. I said it was like a Bujinkan taxi. At home, I often do the same for some of my students who ride the metro to attend class. I still remember when I was a young man and had two hour bus rides to go to class. So it is good to pay it forward.

Up Next: Japan Report Four 令和6年

 
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