[Repost] Jinichi Kawakami: The *other* one true ninja soke

[eyebeams]

I have an unusual job. As part of my job, I research ninjas.

No, really. It's a long story.

Anyway, I've recently learned about the claims made by Jinichi Kawakami and I'm interested in them. Kawakami apparently claims to be the 21st lineage holder of the Kouka/Koka/Koga/Kouga/insert romanji here Ryu. Points to note:

* He apparently is listed as such by the Koga Ninja Museum, but that august authority is, well, not so august. He also apparently donated artifacts to them. Lest one see this as a comparatively bad thing, note that Hatsumi has done the same thing for "his" pet ninja museum in Togakushi.

* He was apparently featured in a Japanese documentary about ninjutsu. Clips of it, like this: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjFc2weuo4Y ) are floating around youtube. Wayne Muromoto commented about the documentary and Kawakami in this e-budo post: http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showpost...2&postcount=12

* The infamous Juan Hombre, who once claimed the Iga museum curator as a teacher, apparently went to visit and train with him. Muromoto mentioned his opinion about this, too. Hombre did, however take pictures of interest, posted here:

http://groups.msn.com/LasArtesMarcia...ii.msnw?Page=1

and has a page purporting to represent Kawakami, here:

http://www.jinichikawakami.com/

Hombre is totally unreliable as a source, though.

* Kawakami apparently is a consultant for the Kurondo theatrical ninja performance troupe.

* Lastly, here's what's apparently his webpage:

http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~bankeshinobi/navi04.htm

I'm curious on several fronts. First of all, the guy is, unlike several pretenders, actually Japanese and in Japan at the same time. He met with the dodgy Hombre, but I'm not sure what this means, and it muddies things because others have confused Kawakami with the Iga guy Hombre attached himself to before.

I've reached the limits of my competence for the simple reason that I can't read Japanese or Spanish. So this is why I'm posting. I think it's relevant because of Juan Hombre, because of historical interest and because hey . . . ninjas. Plus Kawakami himself seems to be taking students now where he didn't in the past.

Unfortunately, I don't trust anyone from the Takamatsuden to assess this stuff at all, because of their painfully obvious vested interest in being members of the One True Ninja School(s). That includes E-Budo, because E-Budo is partly a club for those guys to play at koryu. Don Roley said that Kawakami is considered a fringe individual and this may be true, but everybody who isn't in the Bujinkan says the same thing about Hatsumi.

I don't think Jinichi Kawakami will end up being proven a "true ninjutsu teacher," but he might be proven to be "true" in the ballpark of Takamatsuden claimants,w hcih would be interesting.

So basically, if you can read Japanese and/or Spanish and know more about the whole situation, please add your two cents.

[eyebeams]

Maybe this would get a better response if it moved to the JMA forum?

[El Neko]

hey, if you need anything translated from spanish, just let me know, I might not give it back right away, but it will be faster than using a dictionary

[eyebeams]

Well the Spanish is much less important than the Japanese, especially since Juan Hombre is a dodgy guy. I've reached the end of my competence in researching Jinichi Kawakami and am mainly interested in what he claims, what he teaches and where he stands in Japan. Unfortunately, the people most likely to respond (X-kanners) are pretty untrsutworthy when it comes to this.

The linked pages in Spanish would be interesting to see translations of. Babelfish/Google is mostly nonsense to me.

[El Neko]

I see what I can do about the linked pages

[eyebeams]

[Repost] Jinichi Kawakami: The *other* one true ninja soke

I moved this from MABS because nobody seemed interested. Maybe the JMA folks can do better.

I have an unusual job. As part of my job, I research ninjas.

No, really. It's a long story.

Anyway, I've recently learned about the claims made by Jinichi Kawakami and I'm interested in them. Kawakami apparently claims to be the 21st lineage holder of the Kouka/Koka/Koga/Kouga/insert romanji here Ryu. Points to note:

* He apparently is listed as such by the Koga Ninja Museum, but that august authority is, well, not so august. He also apparently donated artifacts to them. Lest one see this as a comparatively bad thing, note that Hatsumi has done the same thing for "his" pet ninja museum in Togakushi.

* He was apparently featured in a Japanese documentary about ninjutsu. Clips of it, like this: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjFc2weuo4Y ) are floating around youtube. Wayne Muromoto commented about the documentary and Kawakami in this e-budo post: http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showpost...2&postcount=12

* The infamous Juan Hombre, who once claimed the Iga museum curator as a teacher, apparently went to visit and train with him. Muromoto mentioned his opinion about this, too. Hombre did, however take pictures of interest, posted here:

http://groups.msn.com/LasArtesMarcia...ii.msnw?Page=1

and has a page purporting to represent Kawakami, here:

http://www.jinichikawakami.com/

Hombre is totally unreliable as a source, though.

* Kawakami apparently is a consultant for the Kurondo theatrical ninja performance troupe.

* Lastly, here's what's apparently his webpage:

http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~bankeshinobi/navi04.htm

I'm curious on several fronts. First of all, the guy is, unlike several pretenders, actually Japanese and in Japan at the same time. He met with the dodgy Hombre, but I'm not sure what this means, and it muddies things because others have confused Kawakami with the Iga guy Hombre attached himself to before.

I've reached the limits of my competence for the simple reason that I can't read Japanese or Spanish. So this is why I'm posting. I think it's relevant because of Juan Hombre, because of historical interest and because hey . . . ninjas. Plus Kawakami himself seems to be taking students now where he didn't in the past.

Unfortunately, I don't trust anyone from the Takamatsuden to assess this stuff at all, because of their painfully obvious vested interest in being members of the One True Ninja School(s). That includes E-Budo, because E-Budo is partly a club for those guys to play at koryu. Don Roley said that Kawakami is considered a fringe individual and this may be true, but everybody who isn't in the Bujinkan says the same thing about Hatsumi.

I don't think Jinichi Kawakami will end up being proven a "true ninjutsu teacher," but he might be proven to be "true" in the ballpark of Takamatsuden claimants,w hcih would be interesting.

So basically, if you can read Japanese and/or Spanish and know more about the whole situation, please add your two cents.

[Rubber Tanto]

On map, you can send a PM to Benkyoka to translate for you. (He's a cool guy, very unbiased, so he'll give you honest feedback if he has the time [he's wife was about to have a baby]) or maybe Shinbushi could tell us what they are saying in those clips.

The only true test would be to have him fight it out with the x-can sokes in a cage style battle-royale.

[eyebeams]

On map, you can send a PM to Benkyoka to translate for you. (He's a cool guy, very unbiased, so he'll give you honest feedback if he has the time [he's wife was about to have a baby]) or maybe Shinbushi could tell us what they are saying in those clips.

The only true test would be to have him fight it out with the x-can sokes in a cage style battle-royale.

Ask Ben Cole? Cole was a personal student of Hatsumi, a dedicated follower of the party line and categorically untrustworthy when it comes to this kind of thing. Like I said: One of the difficulties is that the people with expertise who are easiest to contact about this are the least trustworthy.

[Rubber Tanto]

Ask Ben Cole? Cole was a personal student of Hatsumi, a dedicated follower of the party line and categorically untrustworthy when it comes to this kind of thing. Like I said: One of the difficulties is that the people with expertise who are easiest to contact about this are the least trustworthy.

Huh!?
Who said anything about ben COLE? Look at my quote in your one post man.

I don't like Ben Cole. Ben Cole is all about Ben Cole and how the bujinkan revolves around Ben cole.....

I said BenKYOKA...thats a different person.

[eyebeams]

Huh!?
Who said anything about ben COLE? Look at my quote in your one post man.

I don't like Ben Cole. Ben Cole is all about Ben Cole and how the bujinkan revolves around Ben cole.....

I said BenKYOKA...thats a different person.

I assumed that the username was a pun on Ben Cole's name. Sorry! I haven't been on MAP in a while -- too dumb -- so my account got canned or something. In any event, a search turns up bis involvement in Kutaki.org and all kinds of Bujinkan-ness that I don't want getting involved in this, really.

[Rubber Tanto]

I assumed that the username was a pun on Ben Cole's name. Sorry! I haven't been on MAP in a while -- too dumb -- so my account got canned or something. In any event, a search turns up bis involvement in Kutaki.org and all kinds of Bujinkan-ness that I don't want getting involved in this, really.

No worries, mate. That's up to you. Look at his posts on MAP though and you'll see he is as far from a nuthugger as you can get. As I said he is quite fair and open minded.

In the end though I wasn't talking about you asking Syd for his opinion. I Thought you wanted those clips etc... translated. Considering he is a school teacher in Japan and his Japanese wife (I believe) is a teacher also, this would have been suitable to your needs/request.

Anyway...
No mind.

~Nick

[Tom Kagan]

Threads merged.

eyebeams,

Cross posting is a no no. Use the "report post" button or PMs.

[Gustard]

I have an unusual job. As part of my job, I research ninjas.

No, really. It's a long story.

Anyway, I've recently learned about the claims made by Jinichi Kawakami and I'm interested in them. Kawakami apparently claims to be the 21st lineage holder of the Kouka/Koka/Koga/Kouga/insert romanji here Ryu. Points to note:

* He apparently is listed as such by the Koga Ninja Museum, but that august authority is, well, not so august. He also apparently donated artifacts to them. Lest one see this as a comparatively bad thing, note that Hatsumi has done the same thing for "his" pet ninja museum in Togakushi.

* He was apparently featured in a Japanese documentary about ninjutsu. Clips of it, like this: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjFc2weuo4Y ) are floating around youtube. Wayne Muromoto commented about the documentary and Kawakami in this e-budo post: http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showpost...2&postcount=12

* The infamous Juan Hombre, who once claimed the Iga museum curator as a teacher, apparently went to visit and train with him. Muromoto mentioned his opinion about this, too. Hombre did, however take pictures of interest, posted here:

http://groups.msn.com/LasArtesMarcia...ii.msnw?Page=1

and has a page purporting to represent Kawakami, here:

http://www.jinichikawakami.com/

Hombre is totally unreliable as a source, though.

* Kawakami apparently is a consultant for the Kurondo theatrical ninja performance troupe.

* Lastly, here's what's apparently his webpage:

http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~bankeshinobi/navi04.htm

I'm curious on several fronts. First of all, the guy is, unlike several pretenders, actually Japanese and in Japan at the same time. He met with the dodgy Hombre, but I'm not sure what this means, and it muddies things because others have confused Kawakami with the Iga guy Hombre attached himself to before.

I've reached the limits of my competence for the simple reason that I can't read Japanese or Spanish. So this is why I'm posting. I think it's relevant because of Juan Hombre, because of historical interest and because hey . . . ninjas. Plus Kawakami himself seems to be taking students now where he didn't in the past.

Unfortunately, I don't trust anyone from the Takamatsuden to assess this stuff at all, because of their painfully obvious vested interest in being members of the One True Ninja School(s). That includes E-Budo, because E-Budo is partly a club for those guys to play at koryu. Don Roley said that Kawakami is considered a fringe individual and this may be true, but everybody who isn't in the Bujinkan says the same thing about Hatsumi.

I don't think Jinichi Kawakami will end up being proven a "true ninjutsu teacher," but he might be proven to be "true" in the ballpark of Takamatsuden claimants,w hcih would be interesting.

So basically, if you can read Japanese and/or Spanish and know more about the whole situation, please add your two cents.

I work as a Spanish English translator. I can't be bothered translating the whole site (unless you pay me !) but if you like I could translate something from one or two of the following titles :

General Index

Our arrival

Welcome

Our House

Out training temple

Endurance

Weapons

Ninja Food


KAJUTSU

SUIJUTSU

TAKE SUGYO

ONGYOTONSHIN

TENGU BASHIRI

TENGU SOTEN

Konans Ninja house

Goodby meal

Interview with the Grandmaster

[Gustard]

Way I see it ninjas were like medieval James Bonds. They would change and use the most up to date technology available. So today a real Ninja would be pretty high tech.
Is this guy the real thing ? Well he certainly LOOKS like a Ninja :icon_quee

[eyebeams]

How about that interview?