DAISUKE TOGAKURE

Born Daisuke Nishina into a family of samurai heritage, in the village of Togakure around 1161. During his early life, Daisuke studied the Tendai Shugendo sect of Buddhism at the Tendai monastery on Togakure Mountain [Mount Hiei-zan] that centres on the purity of one’s self by trial and hardship.

While in Iga, was discovered by Kagakure Doshi, the third Soke of Hakuun Ryu, one of the original Ninjutsu systems. Daisuke Togakure studied Doshi’s warrior teachings, and added them to his own Shugendo beliefs. The beginnings of Togakure Ryu were forged.

Daisuke was not alone studying under Kagakure Doshi. Another fellow student was Shima Kosanta Minamoto no Kanesada, a high-level samurai retainer who had also fought at the battle of Awaza no Kassan. Shima had been wounded in battle, and was saved by Daisuke. Shima, after Daisuke’s death, became the second Soke of Togakure Ryu re-naming himself Daisuke Togakure II.

His son Goro Togakure, the third Soke, is recognized as being the person who actually named and formalised the teachings of Togakure Ryu. Daisuke Nishina’s father, Yukihiro Nishina, was a highly ranked samurai in the service of Lord Yoshinaka Minamoto, the cousin of the first Shogun of Japan.

The battle of Awaza no Kassan, fought in 1184, claimed both the lives of Yoshinaka Kiso and Yukihiro Nishina. The conflict between Yoshinaka and his half-brother took place near Kyoto.

Daisuke, master less and fatherless, was forced to flee into far-away Iga to escape persecution. He hid in the mountains and thick forests, changing his name to Daisuke Togakure.

Mark Lutman
Shinobi Kai Ninpo Bugei Dojo (Instructor)

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