Risuke Otake
Risuke Ōtake (大竹利典, Otake Risuke) (born March 10, 1926), full name Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki (大竹利典源健之, Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki), is a Japanese martial artist. He is a long time shihan (Teaching Master) of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū bujutsu,[1][2] which he learned as a disciple of the previous teaching master Hayashi Yazaemon (1892-1964) from the time he entered the school at the age of 16, in 1942.[3] In 1967, when Otake-sensei was 42 years old, he received gokui kaiden, the highest level of attainment in the tradition, and at the same time became the school's teaching master.[4] He lives and teaches in rural location near Narita city, in Chiba Prefecture of Japan. The teachings of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū were designated an Intangible Cultural Asset of Chiba Prefecture in 1960, with Ōtake designated as guardian of the tradition.[5]
He has authored a book Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition as well as an earlier three-volume set of books on the tradition entitled, The Deity and the Sword: Katori Shinto-ryu.
He is a member of the Chiba Prefecture Board of Registrars and Appraisers for Muskets and Swords; a position he has held since 1979.[citation needed]
Books by Risuke Ōtake
- Ōtake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 1, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-378-8 (Original Japanese title for all three volumes in this series is Mukei Bunkazai Katori Shinto-ryu)
- Ōtake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 2, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-405-9
- Ōtake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 3, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-406-7
- Ōtake, Risuke (2007). Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition, Koryu Books. ISBN 978-1-890536-20-6 (A total revamp of the earlier The Deity and the Sword book)
- Ōtake, Risuke. Le Sabre et le Divin, ISBN 978-2-908580-82-2
Documentaries
- BBC Documentary, The Way of the Warrior, BBC, 29/6/1983
- John Wate, Le katana, sabre de samouraï, Arte Doc, 2005
- Nihon No Ken Jutsu, Gakken, 30/01/2008, (ISBN 4-05-605068-6)
- "REAL SAMURAI" NHK World TV22/06/2014
Further reading
The following books also mention Katori Shinto-ryū and Ōtake-sensei:
- Draeger, Donn F. (1973): Classical Bujutsu : The Martial Arts And Ways Of Japan, Vol. 1, Weatherhill. New York. USA.
- Draeger, Donn F. (1973): Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan, Vol. 2, Weatherhill. New York. USA.
References
- ^ Skoss, Diane (editor) (1999). Sword & Spirit, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 2, p. 67-69. ISBN 1-890536-05-9
- ^ Amdur, Ellis (2002). Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions, Edgework, p. 23-24
- ^ The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 2 p. 5
- ^ Skoss, Diane (editor) (1997). Koryu Bujutsu, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 1
- ^ Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition, Koryu Books. p. 22-23. ISBN 978-1-890536-20-6