It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Kubota Toshihiro, the shihanke of the Yagi Torajirō lineage of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū and Kōdōkan 7th dan.
As many amongst you know, Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū is one of the parent schools of Kōdōkan jūdō. Kubota-sensei was a student of Sakamoto Fusatarō, Kōdōkan 9th dan and TSYR menkyo kaiden. Sakamoto-sensei is known in jūdō as one of the key figures behind the development of the women’s self-defense kata, joshi jūdō goshinhō.
Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū (TSYR) is the jūjutsu school that has maintained the closest links with Kōdōkan jūdō.
In 1973, Kubota received the highest TSYR credential of menkyo kaiden from Sakamoto-sensei, and in 1978 he became the head of this lineage of the school (there existed two other branches, one lead by my late sensei, and which ceased to officially exist with her death, and the so-called Miyamoto Hanzō-lineage which continues to be led by Shibata Koichirō-shihan).
In the past, Kubota-sensei sometimes was invited to instruct kappō or resuscitation techniques during the Kōdōkan International Summer Kata Seminar. I had the pleasure to receive instruction from him in this discipline the last time he performed this duty during the Kōdōkan, which was in 2005. He was invited to do so again in 2007, but had to cancel due to health reasons.
Kubota-sensei has tireless put effort into distributing and maintaining the tradition of TSYR and has over the years mentored several students in this art. Since the passing of my sensei more than a quarter century ago, he was without any doubt the most energetic teacher of this ryūha to appear and demonstrate during numerous events organized by the leading koryū organizations in Japan. Kubota-sensei will be remembered as an inspiring figure who has left his spirit in many of his past students.
At this moment no news is known yet about funeral arrangements or his succession as head of the ryūha’s lineage. Kubota-sensei was born in 1937, and died at the age of 76.
Below are a number of clips showing Kubota-sensei demonstrating techniques from the school he devoted his life to:
As many amongst you know, Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū is one of the parent schools of Kōdōkan jūdō. Kubota-sensei was a student of Sakamoto Fusatarō, Kōdōkan 9th dan and TSYR menkyo kaiden. Sakamoto-sensei is known in jūdō as one of the key figures behind the development of the women’s self-defense kata, joshi jūdō goshinhō.
Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū (TSYR) is the jūjutsu school that has maintained the closest links with Kōdōkan jūdō.
In 1973, Kubota received the highest TSYR credential of menkyo kaiden from Sakamoto-sensei, and in 1978 he became the head of this lineage of the school (there existed two other branches, one lead by my late sensei, and which ceased to officially exist with her death, and the so-called Miyamoto Hanzō-lineage which continues to be led by Shibata Koichirō-shihan).
In the past, Kubota-sensei sometimes was invited to instruct kappō or resuscitation techniques during the Kōdōkan International Summer Kata Seminar. I had the pleasure to receive instruction from him in this discipline the last time he performed this duty during the Kōdōkan, which was in 2005. He was invited to do so again in 2007, but had to cancel due to health reasons.
Kubota-sensei has tireless put effort into distributing and maintaining the tradition of TSYR and has over the years mentored several students in this art. Since the passing of my sensei more than a quarter century ago, he was without any doubt the most energetic teacher of this ryūha to appear and demonstrate during numerous events organized by the leading koryū organizations in Japan. Kubota-sensei will be remembered as an inspiring figure who has left his spirit in many of his past students.
At this moment no news is known yet about funeral arrangements or his succession as head of the ryūha’s lineage. Kubota-sensei was born in 1937, and died at the age of 76.
Below are a number of clips showing Kubota-sensei demonstrating techniques from the school he devoted his life to:
Last edited by Cichorei Kano on Fri Oct 04, 2013 7:04 am; edited 2 times in total