HI, I’M RYUNOSUKE
I made it my mission to spread authentic teachings and wisdom of the Samurai to an international audience. Adopted into an old Samurai family and living the life of a professional Japanese swordsman, my message for my work as a mind-coach and motivational speaker is simple: Traditional virtues for a modern society.
Despite my Japanese name, I was born and raised a Westerner. I decided to move to Japan when I was eighteen years old and I did so without being able to speak the language at all. The reason for this decision was to fulfil my childhood dream of studying an ancient Samurai school (koryu) directly from its current headmaster (soke). The school I was accepted and enrolled in as a student was the famous Hokushin Itto-ryu Hyoho. It is one of Japan’s historically most notable traditional Samurai schools of warfare, philosophy, court etiquette and strategy. During the violent and bloody years of the mid-19th century, it brought out many outstanding Samurai who actively shaped the history of Japan with their swords and minds.
The Samurai were the ruling military nobility class of feudal Japan. Over the centuries the Samurai became both, warriors and philosophers at the same time. During their education, it was not only expected from a Samurai to study the various arts of warfare and strategy to perfection. A deep and equally intense study of philosophy and court etiquette was part of their education as well.
After proving myself a dedicated and diligent student, I was taken on as a direct disciple of the 6th generation headmaster, Yoichiro Otsuka himself. The training under him was hard and demanding. The many scars on my face, hands, arms and legs are prove of the many beatings I got during all the training bouts which I fought while studying under him. With actively training, studying and meditating for over 10 hours daily and learning to speak Japanese on top of that, I managed to become the best of my master’s students within a couple of years. Over the past 13 years I have trained more than 20.000 hours actively and faced swordsmen from over 10 different styles in various duels. Since my duelling career officially started in 2012, I haven’t lost a bout either and am undefeated for over 8 years now.
When I received the license of full mastery (menkyo-kaiden), I also got the huge honor and was adopted into the old Samurai family of my master, officially taking on the family name Otsuka and the first name Ryunosuke. In 2016 I was chosen and appointed as the 7th generation headmaster of the Hokushin Itto-ryu Hyoho by my adoptive father and his predecessor, the direct descendant of our school’s founder. With this, I became the first non-Japanese person in history leading an authentic Samurai school in Japan and abroad in the highest possible position.
Being one of the world leading experts on Samurai warfare, philosophy and culture, I am also frequently working together with various museums as an advisor and holding lectures worldwide. Through my unusual life story, I frequently appeared in various TV shows, short documentaries, newspapers, and other media in Germany and Japan.
When I noticed how many people were inspired and motivated by my story and the philosophy I had to share, it led me on a new path in my life. A path of serving and helping others, coaching them in the mind of the Samurai. This was the birth hour of “The Samurai Mind”.
Up until now I worked as a mind-coach and motivational speaker for well-known companies like Rituals, UniCredit and GQ Germany, sharing with them, their employees and customers the wisdom of the Samurai.