Kosaka Town
Hiroyuki Yashiro and Yui

“Bugeido" is a fusion of the ancient Japanese martial arts “budo” and the performing art that is based on budo, “geido”.
Musubi, by Master Yashiro and the Ambassador Yui, plays as an advocate of this new genre which has been active since 2015. “Our ideas that seemed impossible to realize in the city are made possible here one after another."

The town that opens up your door of possibilities

The Bugeido Musubi is a new form of expression that Master Yashiro and representative Yui have reached after devoting themselves in the practice of Kobudo for a long time. While they train in the ancient martial arts of Iai, Kenjutsu, and Jujutsu, as well as teach their students, they also create a form of expression that moves the souls of those who watch it as a stage performance. This is a new path which is pioneered by these two individuals.
They had originally established a dojo in Tokyo, but it was the Akita Inaka School introduced on Previous page that brought them to Kosaka Town. They had always wanted to set up a dojo in a rural area rich in nature even before they visited Kosaka Town at the request of the school to off er a hands-on program for international students.
“When I thought, 'This is a nice place, I want to come here,' that meant 'It's a done deal!’ Things proceeded very quickly after that.” As Yui explained, it took less than a year after visiting the town for them to fi nd a place to live and practice, which is amazing. "The sense of being accepted and the speed of our idea being realized are very different from those in the city,” Yashiro says.
“For example, if you want to film a video outdoors, you have to apply for permission from all the ministries and agencies in Tokyo. But here, we are often able to start without any trouble. When we consult with the town hall staff , they are always willing to work with us on our ideas and help us find a way to make them a reality. We are most grateful for their kindness," he continued.
In addition to creating videos and stage performances that make the most of Kosaka's natural surroundings and townscape, they are currently working hard to teach their students, whose ages range from 13 to 72, at the dojo. Moreover, the dojo offers a "One-Day Samurai Experience" program for tourists that includes "Tameshi-giri” using a real sword. They disseminate martial arts in a fun and easy-to-understandway online through YouTube and SNS. Indeed, they are active in both Budo and Geido, hence “Bugeido.”

Interviewed in April, 2022
Writer : Mikiko Tamaki / Photographer : Hiroyuki Tamura