The first Ju jutsu school in the world was founded by Prince Hisamori Takeuchi of Japan, in 1532. (see chart at bottom of page).  Sosuishi-ryu was derived from the Takeuchi lineage when it's founder Futagami Hannosuke Masanori, blended the teachings of the Takenouchi-ryu with his own school the Futagami-ryu.

Masanori was a samurai of the Bungo Takeda clan, and in 1650, he sought retreat on Yoshino mountain top for a period of 37 days.  In the stillness of the mountain, he meditated on the basic philosophy of Ju jutsu.  He had previously mastered the secrets of the Takenouchi-ryu, and when he came down from his mountain retreat, he established his own distinct style of ju jutsu, which he called the Sosuishitsu-ryu.  He named it after the pure flowing waters of the Yoshino river, which he believed had purified his soul and inspired his mind with the divine principles of ju jutsu.

His foremost disciple, Shitama Matahichi, was also a samurai of the Bungo Takeda clan, and Masanori extended an invitation to Matahichi to come and live in Nogata (a town which lies between Kokura and Fukuoka, on the southern island of Kyushu). Shitama Matahichi was an exceptional elocutionist, and had been given the name Shitama Kuchino-kami Muneyoshi (literally meaning "enchanted mouth") by his lord, Otomo. Shitama Matahichi learned the secrets of the ju jutsu from his master, Futagami Hannosuke Masanori, and he eventually became the first inheritor of the Sosuishitsu-ryu. (The spelling of the name of the school was changed by the eleventh inheritor, Shitama Yagoro Munetsuna in 1833 from Sosuishitsu-ryu to Sosuishi-ryu).

The ju jutsu of the Shitama was retained and preserved in Nogata for more than 200 years. However, the Shitama family later served the lord or Kuroda. Each lord in this particular time of Japan's history maintained their own army of samurai and skillful masters of fencing, archery, horse riding, and various other types of martial arts. These masters were retained for the purpose of training and refining the techniques of each art to the highest possible level.

When a Shitama was unable to inherit the school, a protégé would take charge until a son, grandson, or son-in-law of the Shitama lineage could assume control. The record books at the Sosuishi-ryu dojo in Fukuoka contains the succession of the masters of Sosuishi-ryu ju jutsu, from its founder, Futagami Hannosuke Masanori in 1650, through to the eleventh inheritor, Shitama Yagoro Munetsuna, who assumed control of the school on the 18th November, 1833.

Master Shitama Yagoro Munetsuna was succeeded in 1861 by his protégé and son-in-law, Shitama Munetsugu Shingo, who mastered the system and opened his own dojo, called Seirensha, upon becoming the 12th inheritor. Yagoro joined forces with General Saigo Takamori's Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, and marched against Meiji Government. When the rebellion was crushed, Shitama Munetsugu Shingo was killed in battle and the Sosuishi-ryu was without a master. 

Master Shitama Yagoro Munetsuna, the former 11th inheritor, took over again after the death of his son-in-law and became the 13th inheritor. he moved the Seirensha dojo, first to Uonomachi in 1880, and then in 1896 to the present location in Fukuoka city, Kyushu. He died in 1897 at the age of 87 years.

Aoyagi Kibei became the 14th inheritor of the Sosuishi-ryu. He managed the dojo as well as instructed the students. In 1911 Kibei gave the dojo its present name, the Sekiryukan, and he began conducting a judo school. Ju jutsu, iai jutsu, and other martial arts were preserved on makimono (scrolls) in kata form for posterity. Kibei died in 1929, at the age of 59 years.

(Front row, left to right): KATSUTA HIRATSUKA of Kagawa (Yoshin Ryu); KOJI YANO of Kumanoto (Takeouchi Ryu); JUSHIN SEKIGUCHI of Wakayama (Sekiguchu Ryu); HIDEMI TOTSKA of Chiba (Yoshin Ryu); JIGORO KANO of Tokyo (Kodokan Jiu-do); KUMON HOSHINO of Kumomoto (Shiten Ryu); TAKAYOSHI KATAYAMA of Kagawa (Yoshin Ryu); YAZO EGUCHI  of Kumamoto (Kyushin Ryu); MASAMIZU INAZU of Kyoto (Miura Ryu).

(Back row, left to right): YOSHIMAKI YAMASHITA of Tokyo (Kodokan Jiu-do); HAJIMA ISAGAO of Kyoto (Kodokan Jiu-do); SAKUGIRO YOKOYAMA of Tokyo (Kodokan Jiu-do); SHUICHI NAGAOKA of Kyoto  (Kodokan Jiu-do); SHIKATARO TAKANO of Okayama (Takeouchi Ryu); MATAEMON TANABE of Himeiji (Fusen Ryu); KOTARO IMEI of Okayama (Takeouchi Ryu); HOKEN SATO of Kyoto (Kodokan Jiu-do); HIKOSABURO OSHIMA of Kagawa (Takeouchi Ryu); MOGICHI TSUMIYZU of Wakayama (Sekiguchi Ryu); KEHEI AOYAGI of Fukuoka (Sosuishi Ryu)

Conclave of leading Jiu Jitsuka at the Dai Nihon Butokukai in Kyoto on July 24th 1906 to formulate the official katas to be used by Kodokan jiu jitsuka (judoka).

The fourteenth inheritor of Sosuishi-ryu, Kibei Masanori Aoyagi attended a meeting at the Dai Nihon Butokukai in Kyoto on the 24th July, 1906, together with a conclave of leading ju jutsu masters. This meeting was called by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan judo to gain permission to use the techniques of these schools for the synthesis of Kodokan judo and the formulation of the official katas. The fourteenth inheritor, Kibei Masanori Aoyagi contributed the 68 movements of Kime no Kata (Sosuishi-ryu kata), and from these movements, twenty techniques were selected for the official formation of the "Kodokan Kime no Kata" Kibei Masanori Aoyagi was a foundation member of the Kodokan judo Institute. 

In 1925, Shitama Shusaku (Shuzo), the son-in-law of Shitama Yagoro Munetsuna, was invited to the Sekiryukan Dojo, and he became the 15th inheritor. In 1930 Shitama Shusaku graduated from the judo department of the Butokukai in Kyoto, and he began teaching judo and ju jutsu at the Sekiryukan Dojo in Fukuoka. Shitama Shusaku was a bone setter (seikotsu) by profession, from which he earned his living daily, in addition to teaching the martial arts. He went on to attain an eighth dan in Kodokan judo, and he insisted that his students attain the grade of black belt in judo before being permitted to study ju jutsu. He conducted a very strong judo dojo and produced many judo champions during his time as the 15th inheritor. He also had many prestigious students in his lifetime, including the mayor of Fukuoka, city councilmen, policemen, soldiers, merchants, bankers, school teachers, and a university professor. Additionally, Shitama Shusaku taught a number of American students from the Itazuke Airbase judo club, and these students went on to take the system back to their own homeland, giving birth to the Sosuishi-ryu system in the USA.

The late Shitama Shusaku, 15th Inheritor of Sosuishi-ryu. Shitama Shusaku graduated from the judo department of the Butokukai in Kyoto, and held an 8th dan in Kodokan judo. He founded the Nippon Sosuishi-ryu Ju jutsu Kai in 1963 of which he became President and held the rank of Dai Shihan (non-consanguineous inheritor). This title is equivalent to 10th dan in the modern budo system. He died on the 31st March, 1965.

After the death of Shitama Shusaku, the Karo (order of hierarchical elders, or higher ranking disciples), of the Nippon Sosuishi-ryu managed the dojo in Fukuoka, headed by the highest ranking master, the late Yoshimura Masanobu, until such times as the next inheritor was ready to assume responsibility. Yoshimura Masanobu Sensei passed away in 1976, and the dojo went from being a privately owned hereditary ryu and became a public co-operative dojo, sponsored by many privately owned companies. During this time a dojo manager was appointed to run the dojo commercially. The late Cho Hisato Sensei who was also an 8th dan Kodokan judo master managed the dojo until his death in 1991.

Left to right. Shitama Manzo, the 16th inheritor and youngest son of the late Shitama Shusaku. 
Third on the left, Betty Huxley Sensei, Menkyo degree and founder of Sosuishi-ryu Australia.
Fourth on the left, the late Yoshimura Masanobu Sensei, head of Karo. 
Fifth on the left, Pat Harrington Sensei, Menkyo kaiden and founder of Sosuishi-ryu Australia.
This photo was taken at the Hombu dojo (Sekiryukan) in Fukuoka together with members of Sosuishi-ryu.

Shitama Shusaku's youngest son, Shitama Manzo, became the 16th inheritor after the death of his father, but he could not assume his responsibilities until 1988, and just recently in 1998, he became the manager of Sekiryukan where he instructs judo, ju jutsu and aikido. Shitama Manzo's son, Shusaku who is fifteen years of age is also studying judo and ju jutsu in preparation for his initiation to become the 17th inheritor.

Sosuishi-ryu is famous for its close combat techniques in most of the historical records, such as "Secrets of the Samurai" (Ratti & Westbrook), and by the year 2000, Sosuishi-ryu will have been in existence for 350 years making it one of the oldest remaining hereditary-ryu in Japan. Like most hereditary ryu in Japan, Sosuishi-ryu has maintained its grading system of mokuroku-menkyo (menkyo system) without converting to the kyu-dan system of modern budo. In this old system of grading there is a great deal of merit whereby the student must earn their rank by dint of hard training and by developing their loyalty (giri) to their master and to the system. Even when a student has become too old to actively participate in hard training any more, they can contribute to the system in many other ways, such as by helping with dojo administration, or by writing books and training manuals on the system and by doing so with devotion and loyalty, the older students are virtually becoming guardians (karo) of the ryu. It is the duty (giri) of the elders to show the "way" and to guide the younger members towards higher goals of achievement, and to keep them steadfast and loyal.

Like all hierarchical systems, each master respects the order of things, and pays respect to those who have progressed along the path with reverence, and this is why systems like Sosuishi-ryu have survived in Japan for 350 years and have a very elite history to be proud of.

 Manzo Shitama, the 16th Inheritor of Nippon Sosuishi-ryu.

Sosuishi-ryu Bu jutsu Kodokan Judo Lineage

(Front row, left to right): KATSUTA HIRATSUKA of Kagawa (Yoshin Ryu); KOJI YANO of Kumanoto (Takeouchi Ryu); JUSHIN SEKIGUCHI of Wakayama (Sekiguchu Ryu); HIDEMI TOTSKA of Chiba (Yoshin Ryu); JIGORO KANO of Tokyo (Kodokan Jiu-do); KUMON HOSHINO of Kumomoto (Shiten Ryu); TAKAYOSHI KATAYAMA of Kagawa (Yoshin Ryu); YAZO EGUCHI  of Kumamoto (Kyushin Ryu); MASAMIZU INAZU of Kyoto (Miura Ryu).

(Back row, left to right): YOSHIMAKI YAMASHITA of Tokyo (Kodokan Jiu-do); HAJIMA ISAGAO of Kyoto (Kodokan Jiu-do); SAKUGIRO YOKOYAMA of Tokyo (Kodokan Jiu-do); SHUICHI NAGAOKA of Kyoto  (Kodokan Jiu-do); SHIKATARO TAKANO of Okayama (Takeouchi Ryu); MATAEMON TANABE of Himeiji (Fusen Ryu); KOTARO IMEI of Okayama (Takeouchi Ryu); HOKEN SATO of Kyoto (Kodokan Jiu-do); HIKOSABURO OSHIMA of Kagawa (Takeouchi Ryu); MOGICHI TSUMIYZU of Wakayama (Sekiguchi Ryu); KEHEI AOYAGI of Fukuoka (Sosuishi Ryu)

The fourteenth Inheritor of Sosuishi-ryu, Kibei Masanori Aoyogi attended a meeting at the Dai Nihon Butokukai in Kyoto on the 24th July, 1906 together with a conclave of leading Ju jutsu Masters. This meeting was called by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo to gain permission to use the techniques of these schools for the synthesis of Kodokan judo and the formulation of the official katas. The fourteenth Inheritor, Kibei Masanori Aoyagi contributed the 68 movements of Kime no kata (Sosuishi-ryu kata) and from these techniques, twenty techniques were selected for the official formation of "the Kodokan Kime no kata" of this historical meeting. Aoyogi Sensei then introduced Kodokan judo officially into the curriculum of the "Sekiryukan Dojo" and started it as a judo dojo. Ju jutsu was then preserved in kata form. Aoyogi Sensei passed away on the 25th August, 1929 at the age of 59 years.

The adopted son of Munetsuna Shitama, the 13th Inheritor, Shusaku Shitama inherited the system in 1925, and became the 15th inheritor. In 1930, he graduated from the Judo Department of the Butokukai in Kyoto. he went on to become an 8th dan in Kodokan judo and President of the Southern Prefecture of Kodokan Judo. Many local citizens studied at Sekiryukan dojo in Fukuoka including the Mayor, Fukuoka City Councilmen, policemen, merchants, soldiers, bankers, teachers and professors of Universities. He was the the first Inheritor of Sosuishi-ryu to teach foreign students, he taught American servicemen, one of which was Mr. Mitch Fleming who became the first International Director of Sosuishi-ryu after returning back to the United States of America. Shusaku Shitama Sensei established the Sosuishi-ryu association on the 5th July, 1963. In August, 1964, Pat Harrington of Australia became his personal student and upon returning to Australia, together with Betty Huxley and Michael Huxley, they founded the Sosuishi-ryu in Australia in July, 1965.

Shusaku Shitama taught several outstanding students in his time who went on to become his most highly graded Masters, and they were: Ichizo Arai, 8th dan Kodokan; Sadao Hisanaga, 8th dan Kodokan; Masanobu Yoshimura, 8th dan Kodokan; Masanori Takagi, 8th dan Kodokan; Masao Tsurusaki, 7th dan Kodokan; Usao Mori, 7th dan Kodokan; Toshiyuki Eto, 7th dan Kodokan; Hisato Cho, 7th dan Kodokan; Tojjro Kato, 7th dan Kodokan; Katauma Okabe, 7th dan Kodokan; Kinta Hirata, 7th dan Kodokan; Kiyoshi Morooka, 6th dan Kodokan; Kotsuku Umezu, 6th dan (Joshi bu) Kodokan; Kyujiro Kimura Kimura, 6th dan Kodokan; Eiziro Gondo, 6th dan Kodokan; Saizo Hirata, 6th dan Kodokan; Moritaka Inosaka, 6th dan Kodokan; Yasuhiko Yamanaka, 6th dan Kodokan; Hikaru Inouye, 6th dan Kodokan, Genzo Abe, 5th dan Kodokan; Uhei Takeuchi, 5th dan Kodokan; Ziroku Shimizu, 5th dan Kodokan; Yozo Ikemi, 5th dan Kodokan, Fukumatsu Tanaka, 5th dan Kodokan; Naoharu Inouye, 5th dan Joshi bu) Kodokan; Teruo Umetsu, 5th dan Kodokan; Koichi Sakaye, 5th dan Kodokan; Sushiro Ogawa, 5th dan Kodokan; Genki Motomura, 5th dan Kodokan; Yohimitsu Nagao, 5th dan Kodokan, Tokihiro To, 5th dan Kodokan; Yoziro Noguchi, 5th dan Kodokan, Kozo Ogawa, 5th dan Kodokan; Ryosuke Ariyoshi, 5th dan Kodokan; Ichiro Kimura-Shigeru, 5th dan Kodokan; Shigeru Kamikubo, 5th dan Kodokan; Sanshi Okabe, 5th dan Kodokan; Ikuo Hirano, 5th dan Kodokan; Shigetshi Ito, 5th dan Kodokan; Seishi Suenaga, 5th dan Kodokan; Yoga Nimori, 5th dan Kodokan.

Several of the above Masters succeeded Shusaku Shitama after his death as President of the Southern Prefecture of the Kodokan Judo Institute. His highest teachers who additionally held degrees in Bu Jutsu became the "Karo" members (inner circle of highest ranking masters whose duty and responsibility it is to continue the teachings of their predecessor and correctly administrate the affairs of the hereditary ryu).

Pat Harrington, 6th dan Kodokan, and Betty Huxley, 5th dan Kodokan have gained all of their judo ranks exclusively from the Kodokan Judo Institute (birthplace of Judo in Tokyo) and are life members of the Kodokan. Pat Harrington is the highest Kodokan graded Caucasian female in the world.

The first Kancho to become the head of "Karo" after the death of Shusaku Shitama on the 31/3/1966 was Masanobu Yoshimura, 8th dan, the most senior student of the late Shusaku Shitama, who became ill at the end of his tenure and passed away in 1974. The second Kancho was Hisato Cho Sensei who managed the "Sekiryukan" dojo for seventeen years before becoming ill, and eventually passing away.

In 1998, 32 years after the death of his father, Manzo Shitama was finally elected as Kancho of "Sekiryukan", the Hombu Dojo in Fukuoka.

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S YUDANSHAKAI MEMBERS