Meik Skoss
9th March 2001, 13:43
I just received some very sad news from Japan. Muto Masao, the headmaster of Goto-ha Yagyu Shingan-ryu and a shihan in the Otsubo line of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, died earlier today after a brief illness.
Muto Sensei knew practically everybody in koryu circles and was one of the nicest people I ever met in Japan, a wonderful man who helped any number of people with a sincere interest in the classical martial arts with both information and introductions to other teachers. He had one of the largest collections of books, densho and other materials related to the Japanese martial arts in private hands and was happy to share this knowledge with people. He'll be succeeded by his senior students, a group of very skilled and dedicated men (and nice to boot), most of whom train in both Yagyu Shingan-ryu and Shinkage-ryu.
It's a very sad day for people in Japanese kobudo, but I think he will be satisfied with his students and proud of their work. We'll miss him.
Muto Sensei knew practically everybody in koryu circles and was one of the nicest people I ever met in Japan, a wonderful man who helped any number of people with a sincere interest in the classical martial arts with both information and introductions to other teachers. He had one of the largest collections of books, densho and other materials related to the Japanese martial arts in private hands and was happy to share this knowledge with people. He'll be succeeded by his senior students, a group of very skilled and dedicated men (and nice to boot), most of whom train in both Yagyu Shingan-ryu and Shinkage-ryu.
It's a very sad day for people in Japanese kobudo, but I think he will be satisfied with his students and proud of their work. We'll miss him.