In a recent post, I shared my experience in Hiroshima, along with a suggested one-day itinerary for travelers short on time.A city that embodies resilience and rebirth, Hiroshima still bears the marks of humanity’s darkest capabilities—yet stands today as a powerful...
In the world of Japanese martial arts—and particularly within the discipline of Iaidō—mastery is not a destination to be reached, but a lifelong process of refinement. It is an ongoing evolution of body, mind, and spirit. This journey is elegantly expressed through...
Living in the Shadow of Fuji: A Personal Reflection on Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha There’s something quietly profound about living near a place that has been sacred for over a thousand years. For my Japanese family, home is not just defined by streets and houses—it is...
In the practice of Iaido (居合道), Battodo (抜刀道), and Kenjutsu (剣術), we often focus on the physical alignment of the blade or the precision of a cut. But for the practitioner of Mugai-ryū (無外流), the ultimate challenge lies within...
Most travelers visit Hiroshima to witness the scars of history—an essential pilgrimage for anyone visiting Japan. Walking through the city is an experience beyond "emotional"; it is difficult to pin down a single feeling when the mood shifts like a tide. Yet, as a...
If you have ever watched a Mugai-ryū master perform a kata, or if you have attended a tea ceremony (Chanoyu), you have likely sensed an invisible progression. It isn’t a constant speed, but rather a wave that builds, breaks, and stops dead. This ternary...
Whenever I visit my Japanese family’s hometown near Mount Fuji, there’s one place I always try to go back to. It’s not a big city, not a famous temple, and not one of the crowded viewpoints of Fuji. It’s a quiet waterfall hidden in the forest called Shiraito Falls....
In the modern world, the act of bowing to a weapon can appear—at least to the uninitiated—as a curious form of reverence, even idolatry. Yet for a practitioner of Mugai-ryū or Battōdō, the ritual of Reigyō (礼行, etiquette in action) is not symbolic theater. It is one...
A Walk Through Arigatayama, the Mountain of Gratitude Recently, I was in Gotemba in Shizuoka.Most travelers passing there have one of two goals in mind.Some come to shop at the vast Gotemba Premium Outlets, one of the largest outlet complexes in Japan, while others...
12,000 Views: Sharing the Path of Mugai-ryu Iaihyodo Since returning from Japan, I’ve been overwhelmed by the curiosity and support from the community on Instagram. To better document and share my journey in Mugai-ryu Iaihyodo, I decided to launch my YouTube...
In the history of Japanese martial traditions (budō, 武道), few figures embody the union of swordsmanship and Zen Buddhism as completely as Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi (辻月丹資茂, 1648–1728), founder of Mugai-ryū (無外流). Gettan’s life traces a rare and profound arc: from samurai...
In the face of chaos, most people react like a leaf in the wind—tossed by praise, broken by criticism, or paralyzed by fear. The Japanese martial tradition offers an alternative: Fudōshin (不動心). Translated literally as "Immovable Mind," Fudōshin is a state of...