Risuke Otake

Risuke Ōtake

Risuke Ōtake (大竹利典, Otake Risuke) (born March 10, 1926), full name Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki (大竹利典源健之, Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki), is a Japanese martial artist. He is a long time shihan (Teaching Master) of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū bujutsu,^[1][2] which he learned as a disciple of the previous teaching master Hayashi Yazaemon (1892-1964) from the time he entered the school at the age of 16, in 1942.^[3] In 1967, when Otake-sensei was 42 years old, he received gokui kaiden, the highest level of attainment in the tradition, and at the same time became the school's teaching master.^[4] He lives and teaches in rural location near Narita city, in Chiba Prefecture of Japan. The teachings of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū were designated an Intangible Cultural Asset of Chiba Prefecture in 1960, with Ōtake designated as guardian of the tradition.^[5]

He has authored a book Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition as well as an earlier three-volume set of books on the tradition entitled, The Deity and the Sword: Katori Shinto-ryu.

He is a member of the Chiba Prefecture Board of Registrars and Appraisers for Muskets and Swords; a position he has held since 1979.

Books by Risuke Ōtake

• Ōtake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 1, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-378-8 (Original Japanese title for all three volumes in this series is Mukei Bunkazai Katori Shinto-ryu)
• Ōtake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 2, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-405-9
• Ōtake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 3, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-406-7
• Ōtake, Risuke (2007). Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition, Koryu Books. ISBN 978-1-890536-20-6 (A total revamp of the earlier The Deity and the Sword book)
• Ōtake, Risuke. Le Sabre et le Divin, ISBN 978-2-908580-82-2

Documentaries

• BBC Documentary, The Way of the Warrior, BBC, 29/6/1983
• John Wate, Le katana, sabre de samouraï, Arte Doc, 2005
• Nihon No Ken Jutsu, Gakken, 30/01/2008, (ISBN 4-05-605068-6)
• "REAL SAMURAI" NHK World TV22/06/2014

Further reading

The following books also mention Katori Shinto-ryū and Ōtake-sensei:

• Draeger, Donn F. (1973): Classical Bujutsu : The Martial Arts And Ways Of Japan, Vol. 1, Weatherhill. New York. USA.
• Draeger, Donn F. (1973): Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan, Vol. 2, Weatherhill. New York. USA.

References

1. ↑ Skoss, Diane (editor) (1999). Sword & Spirit, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 2, p. 67-69. ISBN 1-890536-05-9
2. ↑ Amdur, Ellis (2002). Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions, Edgework, p. 23-24
3. ↑ The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 2 p. 5
4. ↑ Skoss, Diane (editor) (1997). Koryu Bujutsu, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 1
5. ↑ Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition, Koryu Books. p. 22-23. ISBN 978-1-890536-20-6