|As for the past. One of the Menkyo holders Kiyonaga Fumio left the hombu to start his own group separate to Imai Soke back in 2004. Within that group was also the Taiwan representative and menkyo holder Chin Kin. Kiyonaga Fumio died in November 2008 preceding Imai Soke. The group then leaderless could not return to Imai Soke and sought recognition elsewhere. They turned to Gosho Motoharu a Shihan of the Sekiguchi ryu. The Sekiguchi Ryu who had previously been connected with the 8th Sohke Aoki Kikuo. Gosho Motoharu like many of us had previously assisted Imai Sohke. He can be seen on old Nippon Budokan video with Imai Sohke. He also assisted Soke on an Australian seminar. Over the years many of us have had the priviledge to assist Soke myself included. But this does not automatically make me a successor. Obviously the only person that can designate a 12th successor is the 11th one. If every assistant became a Soke? We would have 50 Soke by now. Gosho Motoharu then passed away in October 2012. The next person to follow him was a Yoshimochi Kiyoshi who was inuagerated by the Oita Ken Kendo Federation. Yochimochi Kiyoshi died this past January leaving the group leaderless as stated on his own Internet bio 後継者の指名はなかった. So hopefully this saga has now come to and end unless someone will try to make up yet another line to try and claim credibilty.

At that particular time I was Koho Bucho of the ryu. I feel that I should post details online to make the matter clear being one of the only people that was privy to to what took place. My other reason for doing so is remembering how devastated Soke was when his trusted Menkyo kaiden left the hombu. Also I am disgusted at the disrespect that has been shown to Soke since he passed away. A distinct lack of Budo Seishin that leaves one wondering why some even bother to practice and study Musashi's philosophy.

Succession in the Hyoho Niten Ichiryu, the name designated by Musashi towards the end of his life does not follow a hereditary pattern. It is attested by artifacts, Scrolls of the ryu and the Jisso Enman no Bokuto. And above all a lifetimes teaching of the physical attribute and education in Buddhism and deep understanding of Musashi's mu. Throughout the generations certain students have also been acknowledged by previous Soke during their life leading towards the final choosing of a successor. They have perhaps gone away or the Soke has moved on with contact being broken. In some case this group can remain as a 'ha" or family group of the original ryu. This has no bearing as to who is chosen in finality to continue a line.

To this day the area is has been used for embu and ceremonial purpose of the Ryu. With relation to the above picture on 24th of November 2013 a new succesor and 12th Soke was appointed. The new and official 12th Soke is now Kajiya Takanori.

With relation to establishing a Ha: I had been taught exclusively by the 10th Soke along with the 11th.The 11th soke told me I could continue on my own with my own Ha if I wished to practice as the 10th Soke had taught me. I respectfully declined for various reasons. Over the years a Ha can become fragmented until it no longer resembles the original ryu and lacks authenticity As it is I see few people, even in Japan that have an interest in Koryu. Why split thing even more. First and foremost is giri, ones duty and obligation to ones chosen leader. If that goes out of the window in koryu I see little point in continuing. Most of all a ryu is living tradition. To be promulgated by both juniors and seniors alike. After all its not something we can do on our own!