Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Grandmaster

 

Inheriting Soke of 9 Ninjutsu Traditions and
Founder of the Bujinkan Dojo

 

Born in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture on December 2, 1931. 
Warrior names: Yoshikai, Tetzusan, Hisamune. 
Started martial arts at about age 7.  

 

Grandmaster Hatsumi is the founder and International Director of the Bujinkan Dojo with its Hombu Dojo, the Bujinden (Divine Palace), residing in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan and has an administration office attached to his downtown home. He is married to his lovely wife, Mariko, a famous Japanese dance teacher and 10th dan director of women's training for the Bujinkan. Dr. Hatsumi is the inheritor of nine Ninjutsu traditions from the late O'Sensei Toshitsugu Takamatsu (the last true living Ninja) in the early 1970's just before Soke Takamatsu's passing in 1972. It is said that Dr. Hatsumi was the only one receiving indepth training with the great Takamatsu during the last 15 years of his life.  

He graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo, with a major in theater studies, and osteopathic medicine (bone doctor). Soon after graduation he opened a bone clinic in his home town and his practice continued on a steady basis until about 1990 when his travel and movie schedule seemed to take over all his time. 
                     

Grandmaster Hatsumi is the author of over a dozen books and 40+ video tapes on the art of Ninjutsu. He has been featured in almost every magazine relating to this subject in Japan, and throughout the entire world. He has authored countless magazine and newspaper articles on Ninjutsu and on living a productive life. He wrote, directed and acted in 50 episodes of a television series called 'Jiraya' which was the number one watched kid's program in Japan. He is now what is called a historiographer of martial arts for various plays and movies, acting as a consultant to ensure that what is being portrayed is done correctly based on true history.

 

(info taken from ninjutsu.com)