Yoshikawa Masami

Description

Kendo kyoshi 7th dan and police dojo instructor in Tokyo, described by Japanese Wikipedia as Yukio Mishima's kendo master (kendo no shi). The Funasaka family's first-hand account records that Mishima started kendo under Yoshikawa at the Himonya Police Station in Meguro and followed him when Yoshikawa moved to teach at the Shibuya Police Station; Japanese Wikipedia likewise places Mishima's regular Sunday practice with him at Himonya, where he also began iaido. Tom Bolling's resume instead dates formal instruction to June 1958 at the Higashi-Chofu Police Station. It was through Yoshikawa's introduction that Mishima formally entered Omori-ryu iai under Funasaka Yoshio.

Students (1)

• 
  Yukio Mishima

  sports_martial_artsKendo Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Japanese Wikipedia names Yoshikawa Masami as his kendo master and the kendoinfo/Bolling resume independently lists instruction under him; the Funasaka family's first-hand account confirms starting under Yoshikawa. The accounts disagree on the first venue and on the start date (June vs November 1958).

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1958–1970)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Japanese Wikipedia names Yoshikawa Masami as his kendo master and the kendoinfo/Bolling resume independently lists instruction under him; the Funasaka family's first-hand account confirms starting under Yoshikawa. The accounts disagree on the first venue and on the start date (June vs November 1958).

  “毎週日曜日に碑文谷警察署で剣道の稽古をしていた三島は同年5月に剣道四段に合格し、前年11月から習っていた居合も、剣道の師の吉川正実を通じて舩坂良雄を師範とする大森流居合に正式入門した”

  — 三島由紀夫 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info

  “June 1958 began Kendo under Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Masami Yoshikawa, assistant instructor, Higashi Chofu Police Station”

  — Salmon, Geoff. (2012-10-22). Yukio Mishima's kendo history (kendoinfo.net)link history info

  “He had started kendo under Yoshikawa Sensei at the Himonya Police Station in Meguro. When Yoshikawa moved to teach at Shibuya, Mishima followed him.”

  — Ross, Christopher. (2006). Mishima's Sword - Travels in Search of a Samurai Legendlink info

  “三島 が剣道を始めたのは肉体を鍛え始めてから三年後の三十三歳頃 である”

  — 大西, 望. (2001-07-14). 三島由紀夫と剣道. 日本文學誌要, 64, 67-76 linkinfo

Sources