Risuke Ōtake (大竹利典, Otake Risuke) (10 March 1926 – 7 June 2021)[1] full name Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki (大竹利典源健之, Ōtake Risuke Minamoto no Takeyuki), was a Japanese martial artist. He was a long time shihan (Teaching Master) of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū bujutsu,[2][3] which he learned as a disciple of the previous teaching master Hayashi Yazaemon (1892-1964) from the time he entered the school in 1942 at the age of 16.[4] 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.[5] He lived and taught 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.[6]
| Risuke Otake | |
|---|---|
 Risuke Ōtake | |
| Born | 10 March 1926 |
| Died | 7 June 2021 |
| Style | Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū |
He authored Strategy and the Art of Peace, as well as an earlier three-volume set of books on the tradition entitled The Deity and the Sword: Katori Shinto-ryu.
He was a member of the Chiba Prefecture Board of Registrars and Appraisers for Muskets and Swords; a position he held since 1979.[citation needed] Ōtake shihan died on 7 June 2021.
Books by Risuke Ōtake
edit- 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
- Ōtake, Risuke. (2016) Strategy and the Art of Peace, Tenshinshō-den Katori Shintō-ryū, Nippon Budokan, ISBN 978-4-583-10984-8 C0075
Documentaries
edit- BBC Documentary, The Way of the Warrior, BBC, 29 June 1983
- John Wate, Le katana, sabre de samouraï, Arte Doc, 2005
- Nihon No Ken Jutsu, Gakken, 30 January 2008, (ISBN 4-05-605068-6)
- "REAL SAMURAI" NHK World TV22 June 2014
- Eat Your Enemy (Scarabeefilms, 2005)
Further reading
editThe 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
edit- ^ "天真正伝香取神道流 神武館 | Tenshinshō-den Katori Shintō-ryū Shinbukan Dōjō | 千葉県無形文化財 | 大竹利典 | Ōtake Risuke | 大竹信利 | Ōtake Nobutoshi - English". www.katorishintoryu.jp. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ Skoss, Diane (editor) (1999). Sword & Spirit, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 2, p. 67-69. ISBN 1-890536-05-9
- ^ Amdur, Ellis (2002). Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions, Edgework, p. 23-24
- ^ The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 2 p. 5
- ^ Skoss, Diane (editor) (1997). Koryu Bujutsu, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 1
- ^ Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition, Koryu Books. p. 22-23. ISBN 978-1-890536-20-6