top of page

TOMO RYU GUNGAKU DENSHO

464287281_8929972790380562_6402505919784356699_n_edited_edited_edited.jpg

A copy of the Tomo-ryu Gungaku Densho, written by Tomo Shitokorozaimon in 1682, kept in the Budo Ryu Kai Hombu Dojo. 100%, the Tomo-ryu is found in Traditional Ninja/Samurai History...

The Tomo-ryu (伴流; also called Ban-ryu) was originally called Otomo-ryu (大伴流), then changing their name to Tomo-ryu (伴流).

A historical document that proves this name change is called: "Historical Families of the Koka Samurai” (伴党水党并甲賀侍由緒書) written by Takemura Shujin Iemoto in 1767. This document was found by Antony Cummins in the Japanese national Archives and giving to me. I had this document professionally translated and I published this within the Budo Ryu Kai handbook.

According to kuden, in 1894 the 17th Soke, changed the name from the family name (Tomo-ryu; 伴流) to a poetic name Tomo-ryu (戸猛流; Door of the Fierce). I have always stated (from the beginning) that the Tomo-ryu (戸猛流) is the existing lineage from the Tomo-ryu (伴流) samurai family. A historical look at this samurai family would look like this:

Otomo-ryu (大伴流)

Asuka Period (538-710) – Kemmu Period (1333-1336)

↓↓↓

Tomo-ryu / Ban-ryu (伴流)

Kemmu Period (1333-1336) – Meiji Period (1868-1912)

↓↓↓

Tomo-ryu Shinobijutsu (戸猛流忍術)

1894 - Current

This name change at this time period seems to be a very popular thing, as many koryu schools has changed their name through out history. Maybe it was because the samurai arts were not allowed to be openly taught after a specific date in Japanese history? However; we also see something similar from the family name Toda (a.k.a Toda-ryu) to poetic name Togakure-ryu (Hidden Door) from Toshitsugu Takamatsu within the same time period.

bottom of page