Tanemura on his Leaving the Bujinkan

**Fitz** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 1:54pm

Posted to the Genbukan Website May 8, 2007
http://www.genbukan.org/cgi-bin/site.pl?25&fileID=790

Hatsumi Yoshiaki (Masa-aki / Byakuryu)
Former-Teacher of Shoto Tanemura

Tanemura Shoto (Tsunehisa) was training in Takamatsu martial arts from April of
1963 (15 years old) to November of 1984 (37 years old) under Hatsumi Yoshiaki (given
name), the president of Bujinkan Dojo and President of Bujinkan Shidoshi Association.
At the time, Tanemura was also the Vice President of the Bujinkan Shidoshi
Association.

In March 1984, one of Tanemura’s highest ranked students had to resign and drop
out from Tanemura’s Dojo and the Bujinkan Shidoshi Association, because of serious
problems he had caused.

On the 1st of November 1984, Tanemura found out that Hatsumi had taken care of
this problem student, without Tanemura’s knowledge.
There were many reasons for Tanemura’s decision to leave Hatsumi but the final
decision to separate was a result of being disappointed by Hatsumi’s decision to look
after this problem student. Tanemura decided on the 13th November 1984 to resign
from Hatsumi and the Bujinkan Shidoshi Association. On that day Tanemura sent a
letter by registered post to his teacher Hatsumi, explaining his reasons for resigning
and his wish to become independent.

Tanemura went on to establish the Genbukan Ninpo Bugei Dojo on November 28th
1984. He started teaching the Takamatsu Budo that he had mastered and been given
Menkyo Kaiden from his former teacher Hatsumi, as Tanemura-Ha. Tanemura decided
that he will preserve the true spirit and teachings of Takamatsu as Tanemura-Ha
(Tanemura-line).

This was a very hard and sad time for Tanemura to leave Hatsumi. However, it was
important for Tanemura to follow his heart and keep alive the martial arts of
Takamatsu.

After leaving Hatsumi, Tanemura was fortunate to learn and receive
Grandmasterships and Masterships from Takamatsu’s highest ranked students;
Kimura Masaji, Sato Kinbei and Ueno Takashi’s line Masters.
He has also learned from many other Grandmasters/Masters of different types of
Ryu-Ha and martial arts. And he has received many other
Grandmasterships/Masterships.

**Joe Doggs** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 3:21pm

Interesting find. I wonder what Hatsumi's take on the split would be? If this is accurate I could interpret it two ways.
1. It was bad form for Hatsumi to go behind Tanemuras back and in effect overstep Tanemura regarding this problem student. It would show how inconsequential and powerless Tanemuras decision to allow the resignation was and cause major loss of face in the organization. Since seppuku is pretty much out of the question Tanemuras leaving would be the most logical choice. When he received Grandmasterships and Masterships from Takamatsu’s highest ranked students afterwards that showed they at least gave tacit approval to Tanemuras actions otherwise I believe they would have stonewalled or blackballed him

2. Looking at this with a Machiavellian view perhaps Hatsumi saw a rising threat in Tanemura for control of the organization. A direct attack on Tanemuras character and actions not being possible caused Hatsumi either to set up Tanemura with this problem student or quiclkly and cleverly capitalize on the situation when it occured. Hatsumi would know Tanemura would leave and voila problem solved. How ninja-esque.

I wonder what the otherr easons Tanemura had for leaving and what happened to the problem student once Tanemura left.

**shmuel** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 3:34pm

It's a shame Tanemura has only really shown us what is effectively no more than the covering letter.

Letter of Resignation
To Hatsumi Yoshiaki Sensei
I don’t wish from my heart, but I had to resign Bujinkan Shidoshi Association to wish going my believing way and had to independence from you.
The reason why, I will explain for you with the documents included in this letter.
Showa Era 59th Year (1984) 13th November
From Tanemura Tsunehisa

I'd be more interested in seeing the documents that he refers to as being enclosed.

P.S. I think the guy who translated the letter was the same person who wrote All Your Base are Belong to Us.

**Fitz** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 3:59pm

Originally Posted by shmuel

I'd be more interested in seeing the documents that he refers to as being enclosed.

I'm a bit more interested in knowing who the individual was whose removal by Tanemura and reinstatement by Hatsumi it was that set things into motion. What ever happened to him?

P.S. I think the guy who translated the letter was the same person who wrote All Your Base are Belong to Us.

Yeah, it seems a bit out of character. Most of Tanemura's English is decent though not fully fluent. Sometimes there are a few oddities, such as the text titling of his Kenjutsu Kyu disks having information on using "Weeden Sword."

**shmuel** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 4:17pm

Originally Posted by Fitz

I'm a bit more interested in knowing who the individual was whose removal by Tanemura and reinstatement by Hatsumi it was that set things into motion. What ever happened to him?

There's a rumour floating around on MAP that it was actually Tanemura's boss at the police department.

**Fitz** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 4:48pm

Originally Posted by shmuel

There's a rumour floating around on MAP that it was actually Tanemura's boss at the police department.

Aside from direct links posted on this site I've managed to avoid MAP like the plague.

**BackFistMonkey** · Posted On: 5/12/2007 5:12pm

Originally Posted by Fitz

Aside from direct links posted on this site I've managed to avoid MAP like the plague.

Mostly just asinine train wrecks around that neck of the wood . You're not missing all that much if you miss class , unless you count the bondage , story telling and drama ...

much like the Bujinkan .

Which reminds me ... Why the **** does everyone seem to have a bad case of the ninjers lately ? I mean I know this is the ninjitsu place to be , but that in no way excuses the 35 threads on the new posts page .