Gosho-ha Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū
After the creation by Miyamoto Musashi, it is believed that the branch "Santô-ha" of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū kept unchanged the techniques created by the founder.
In 1961, Aoki Kikuo named one of his closest disciples, Gosho Motoharu, as Shihan[1] (master responsible for teaching the techniques of the ryū) and Soke Daiken (adjunct successor) of the 9th generation, and other disciple, Kiyonaga Tadanao, as 9th Soke,[1] with the goal to make sure that the techniques of the style were passed to the future generations.
Before, in 1955, Gosho Motoharu had received Menkyo kaiden, the license of total transmission in Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū and Sekiguchi-ryū, the two schools that Aoki Kikuo was headmaster.
Gosho Motoharu taught to Imai Massayuke and Kiyonaga Fumiya all the curriculum of the ryū in the following months and years, and remained as the main responsible for the techniques teachings.
In November 2003, Imai Massayuke decided that the title soke would no more be used in the ryū, and that there would be three 11th generations successors,[1] who would be named as dai juichi.
[1] Imai-soke put the Jisso Emman no Bokuto, the wooden sword made by Miyamoto Musashi and traditional symbol of his successor, in guard of the Usa Jingu Shrine.
So was founded the branch Gosho-ha Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū in 2004, with members in Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Hawaii and Chile.
[5] Iwami Toshio, one of the three daijuichi successors, disputes the sole representation of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, not recognizing the two other seito lines.
His group alleges that Imai Massayuke changed his mind about having three successors after the decision of Kiyonaga Fumiya to follow without further contact with him and Iwami Toshio.
In 2003 Imai Massayuke, the 10th Soke, decided to end the use of this title in the ryū, a fact recognized by Nihon Kobudo Kyokai.
[1][6] In September 2007 the Kendo Nippon, the most important publication of Japan about the Sword Arts made an extensive report covering the succession by Yoshimoti.
[7] Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin (Miyamoto Musashi) 宮本 武蔵 藤原 玄信 Terao Kyūmanosuke Nobuyuki 寺尾 求馬助 Terao Gouemon Katsuyuki 寺尾 郷右衛門 Yoshida Josetsu Masahiro 吉田 如雪 Santō Hikozaemon Kiyohide 山東 彦左衛門 Santō Hanbē Kiyoaki 山東 半兵衛 Santō Shinjūrō Kiyotake 山東 新十郎 Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu 青木 規矩男 Kiyonaga Tadanao 清長 忠直 Imai Masayuki 今井 正之 Kiyonaga Fumiya 清長 忠直 Yoshimoti (Yoshimochi) Kiyoshi (10th successor Gosho-ha Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū) 吉用 清 Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin (Miyamoto Musashi) 宮本 武蔵 藤原 玄信 Terao Kyūmanosuke Nobuyuki 寺尾 求馬助 Terao Gouemon Katsuyuki 寺尾 郷右衛門 Yoshida Josetsu Masahiro 吉田 如雪 Santō Hikozaemon Kiyohide 山東 彦左衛門 Santō Hanbē Kiyoaki 山東 半兵衛 Santō Shinjūrō Kiyotake 山東 新十郎 Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu 青木 規矩男 Gosho Motoharu 五所 元治 Yoshimoti (Yoshimochi) Kiyoshi (12th successor Seito line) 吉用 清 The ryū is famous for its two-sword techniques.
Today in possession of the Usa Shrine (宇佐神宮) in Ōita, where the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū members annually perform embu (demonstration) at the commemoration of the new year.
In 2002[9] and 2007[1][10] he represented the ryū in the Kyoto Taikai, one of the most important events of martial arts in Japan, held every year in the Kyōto Butokuden.
