Bujinkan

Located in Noda, Chiba Prefecture in Japan, the Bujinkan Honbu (headquarters) is an important part of training for Budo practitioners worldwide.

The Bujinden was opened on the 9th day of the 9th month of the 9th year of Heisei Imperial era (1997). The first day of training was on the 10th. True to his clear vision of order, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi felt that since it was the first day of training, the kihon happo should be practiced, and so on the first day he taught the basic form of Ichimonji no Kata.

The small wooden building is both non-ostentatious and grand simultaneously. Hot in the summer, more comfortable in the winter, it is a mixture of old and new, a collection of mysterious artifacts and time captured photos but above all, it is a place of training, of understanding. For those of us in the Bujinkan, it is a second home. In front of the entrance there is a wooden tablet with the inscription "Bujinden" which emphasizes that this is the ‘main dojo’ of all Bujinkan Dojos.

Within, there are five kamidana that represent the nine schools of the Bujinkan. There is one large central altar, which represents Togakure ryu, Gyokko ryu, Takagi Yoshin ryu, Kukishin ryu and Shinden Fudo ryu schools. Then there are four small altars which each individually represent Kumogakure ryu, Koto ryu, Gyokushin ryu and Gikan ryu schools. For each of the schools there are two candles and before training all 18 candles are lit.

With an area of only 48 tatami, first time visitors are often surprised the small size of the dojo.

At the first class of the year, Soke hangs a scroll with a part of the yearly theme written on it in the top right hand corner of the dojo.

To contact the Bujinden and Soke directly please correspond in Japanese. Thank you.

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi
636 Noda, Noda-shi,
Chiba-ken, 278-8691
Japan