Masaaki Hatsumi, Ph.D
Bujinkan Soke
Bujinkan Founder
Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei is the founder of the Bujinkan martial arts organization. A direct student from 1958-1972 of Toshitsugu Takamatsu Sensei, Hatsumi Sensei is the sole heir and inherited the sōkeship (grandmastership) of nine traditional Japanese martial lineages (ryū-ha) from Takamatsu Sensei. Over the following decades, Hatsumi Sensei transformed these teachings into a cohesive system known as Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, introducing authentic ninjutsu and samurai traditions to a global audience.
In late 2019, at the age of 88, Hatsumi officially retired from public teaching and appointed senior Japanese instructors as his successors for the individual schools, effectively ensuring the lineage's continuity.
Beyond his martial arts career, Hatsumi is a prolific author of over a dozen books, an accomplished Nihonga (Japanese-style) painter, and a retired osteopathic physician (seikotsu-in). His cultural contributions have been recognized with numerous international awards, including the Cultural Award from the Emperor of Japan in 2000. He is often remembered for his unique teaching philosophy, which emphasizes natural movement, "the feeling" of a technique, and a playful, adaptive approach to combat.
Masaaki Hatsumi Soke Photo Gallery
