On June 17th, 2008 Shimabukuro Hanshi and Long Shihan were officially appointed as Representaive and Coordinator for the International Iaido and Batto-Do divisions of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai by Dr. Hiroyuki Hamada, Vice President of DNBK Hombu and Chairman of the DNBK ID. They will be serving the DNBK ID as the official representatives for all sword styles under the direction of the Japan Hombu and the DNBK International Division outside of Japan. The DNBK is chaired by Japans Prince, Higashi Fushimi Jigo. These appointments are an extention of the authority of the DNBK Hombu and it’s governing body.
Martial arts throughout the Japanese Empire fell directly under the jurisdiction of the Dai Nippon Butokukai, which in turn was accountable only to the Emperor and his administration. As the sole agency in charge of budo in Japan, originally the Butokukai was supported in large part by Meiji bureaucrats, the Ministry of Education (Mombusho,) and the military. As such, any and all ancient and modern martial arts or related activities in the country were reported to, and invariably scrutinized by, the Butokukai. These arts included all Kenjutsu, Kobudo, Jujutsu, Karatedo, Aikido, Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, etc…
Branches of the Dai Nippon Butokukai are now being established throughout the Western world in an effort to (re-)introduce the profound teachings of the ancient Japanese warrior and his unique philosophy of living in harmony with nature and his fellow man. Martial arts master Dr. Hiroyuki Hamada (Hanshi), the international chairman of the Dai Nippon Butokukai, is the principal force behind the campaign to establish foreign branches outside of Japan.
Organizations, schools, and or individual disciples of the Japanese Martial arts seeking more information regarding the DNBK can find it here: http://www.dnbk.org/index.cfm
To learn more about Japan’s first and foremost fraternity of classical and modern martial arts are invited to write to Dr. Hamada c/o College of Education HPER, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA 23508 or contact Shimabukuro Hanshi or Long Renshi at hq@jikishin-kai.com or clong@jikishin-kai.com
