Itō Ittōsai

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Itō Ittōsai Kagehisa (伊藤 一刀斎 景久, c. 1560 – 1653),^[1] was a Japanese swordsman, originally named Itō Yagorō.^[2] He is attributed as the founder of the Ittō-ryū ("one sword" or "one stroke") school of sword fighting. ^[3]

According to legend, he floated across the

In order to become famous, it is said Itō Ittōsai fought 33 duels in a Musha shugyō without losing even once, which makes him second only to Miyamoto Musashi's over 60 duels.

His main sword was a katana crafted by the Ichimonji school, heirs of the great Emperor Go-Toba's investment in swordmaking. This sword was the one Ittōsai used in his 33 duels, and was later passed on to Grand Masters of the Ittō-ryū, starting with the 4th one, Kamei Heiemon.

In one of Ittōsai's duels, he defeated Mikogami Tenzen, who later changed his name to Ono Tadaaki, despite Ittōsai being armed with a wooden bokken and Tenzen using a traditional steel katana. Ittōsai wielded his weapon so precisely that he didn't harm Tenzen at all. Tenzen went on to be Ittōsai's disciple and became the second head of Ittōsai's ryu.^[4]

References