The Lineage of Iwata Sensei's Koryu Iai
Tosa Jikiden Eishin Ryu Beikoku Shigetsu Kai Iaido

Iwata Sensei is, at present, the most important instructor of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido. He represents an unbroken, undeniable and clear lineage to the founder of MJER Iaido, Oe Masamichi, Roshu. At the age of 97, Iwata Sensei actively teaches anyone who genuinely wishes to learn, despite his advanced age, and his week long seminars in the cold mountains of Iyo Ozu, Matsuyama, Japan often exceed five hours without a break. He teaches annual seminars that run five days of continuous, demanding training. Iwata Sensei unapologetically teaches the old way, and demands perfection from those who would learn from him. It is the way he was taught, and it is the only way to truly study Iai.

Iwata Sensei was born Iwata Norikazu in September of 1913. He trained in the local kendo and iaido, accomplishing his third dan in 1933 at the age of twenty. He joined the army at the end of 1933, and in 1935 was active in the military police. From 1936 to 1945, he was an instructor for the military police. At the end of the war, since Japan had lost, he served in a Soviet prisoner of war camp for four years, located in Siberia. In 1949, he was released and permitted to return to Japan.

On his return from the way, he studied the iai of the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei under Koda Morio Sensei for eight years and earned godan rank. On a chance encounter returning from a tournament, he had a long conversation with Yamamoto Takuji Sensei on the train home. Yamamoto Sensei studied the old way of iai directly under Oe Masamichi, and with his fellow instructors, known as the Tosa Sensei (the instructors of Kochi prefecture), continued to teach and train students in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. Intrigued, in 1957, he committed himself fully to iaido, and petitioned the Tosa Sensei to accept him as a student. Ignorinig their refusal, his persistance succeeded after several months, when Yamamoto Sensei accepted him as a student.

For twenty years, he trained with Yamamoto Sensei as a private student, eventually receiving his Menkyo Kaiden. During this time, he often had the opportunity to learn from the other Tosa Sensei - Fukui Harumasa, the 19th Soke of MJER, Mori Shegeki, Shimazaki Teruyuki, and Taoka Tsutau.

In 1972, after the death of Yamamote Sensei, he trained with Mori Sensei until 1988, and also received Menkyo Kaiden from him.

Of the four Tosa Sensei given Menkyo Kaiden from Oe Sensei, Iwata Sensei has Menkyo Kaiden from two, and the other two died before giving anyone their Menkyo. Often also teaching and training, were Shimazaki Teruyuki, Suzue Yoshige and Fukui Harumasa, also direct students of Oe Sensei.

Of all people alive, none has more expertise in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu than Iwata Norikazu, nor does anyone beside Iwata Sensei have the right to claim and teach proper waza. In 1976 he was awarded Hachidan. In 1983 he was awarded the Hanshi title. In addition, he also holds Kyoshi Nanadan and Renshi Rokudan in Kendo. For over thirty years, he has held these ranks and continued to teach students from all over the world.

Training under the Tosa Sensei was always demanding, usually for five hours at a time. Between classes and training, the other sensei would take the opportunity to give advice and provide further training. Of Yamamoto Sensei, Iwata says he was very independent and strong willed, always treating his own injuries and never consulting a doctor. Fukui Sensei was a very strict teacher, but calm and kind. He was a very close friend to the 18th soke Hokiyama Namio. Mori Sensei was highly intelligent and had beautiful and precise calligraphy. Shimazaki Sensei owned a martial arts shop and was always with Oe Sensei as much as he could.

During the course of his life, Iwata Sensei has extensively studied the classics of Japanese strategy and warfare, as well as the writings of influential figures of Iaido. He has written and published three books on iaido, written many articles for Nippon Budo Shinbun, and produced two videos.

He teaches an annual seminar for Westerners in November at the Iyo Ozu Youth Center, in the mountains on Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. He also teaches the Eikoku Roshu Kai as he was taught in Tosa Prefecture, Tosa Jikiden Eishin Ryu.

The twofold Way of the pen and the sword

"It is said that the warrior's is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should have a taste for both ways.Even if a man has no natural ability he can be a warrior by sticking assuredly to both divisions of the Way."
- Miyamoto Musashi, Go Rin no Sho, 1644

In the course of his life, Iwata Sensei wrote several books on Iaido, in order to pass along the traditions of his masters, especially that of Oe Masamichi Sensei. His first book, called the Red Book, was written in his fifties. He held it back from publication because he felt it would not be received well and accepted as it was written at such a young age. His second book, called the Blue Book, is a commentary at random on Iaido training. From 1963 to 1967, he wrote monthly articles to the Nippon Budo Shinbun magazine.

At age 70, he wrote his third book, Shi Den Kai Ko - Tosa No Eishin Ryu. He re-wrote it five times over 20 years, and by the time of it's publication, he was respected and the book was (and still is) well received.

During the research of his books, he had access to much of the hidden documents and published articles of Oe Sensei and his students. He also was able to study unreleased film footage of the Tosa Sensei. At several times, family members and students provided him the personal research and commentaries of the Tosa and other respected sensei.

His most recent book, Koryu Iai no Hondo Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu also has two companion DVDs, demonstrating the core tecchnique and curriculumn of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu.