- Articles containing interviews with Takamatsu Sensei from the Tokyo Sports newspaper (1963).
- Budo Shunju Magazine, Shinden Shura Roppo “The Autobiography of Takamatsu sensei” (1965).
- BUFU (Text about martial arts philosophy written in a classical Chinese style by Takamatsu sensei).
- Kofuku no shiori, A guide to happiness.
- Takamatsu sensei biography by Koyama Ryutaro (1964).
- Language/s: English (Hard cover)
- Editorial: CIFE Design & Editions (CIFE Group)
- Year: 2021
- Edition: First edition
- Pages: 160 full color on high quality paper of 135 gr.
- Dimensions: Hard cover with bookmark (17 x 24)
Ninpo Hibun is a collection of the original writings of Masaaki Hatsumi Soke and his own master Toshitsugu Takamatsu. In this book, the reader will find the most literal translations possible of these texts in English. In addition, the original texts in Japanese are presented, affording those who wish the opportunity to continue deepening their knowledge by studying the texts in the original language.
For this work to incorporate the widest perspective and most faithful translations of the original texts, we have relied upon a team of eight translators and editors: Dr. Osami Takizawa (Japan), Masako Kawai (Japan), Sean Askew (USA), Alex Meehan (Ireland), Alex Esteve (Spain), Morla Ballesteros (Spain), Neeraj Dhanani (UK/Spain) and Diana Seguí (Spain).
Within these pages, the martial artist and enthusiast alike will discover a thousand years of martial history and philosophy which have come down to us through the lives of the last two true ninja; Masaaki Hatsumi Soke and grand master Toshitsugu Takamatsu. Their own combined lifespans of more than one hundred and thirty years stretch over the last five periods of Japan’s history: Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei and the present Reiwa era. This book shows how, throughout all this time, the lives of these great masters have been intensely lived handing down the ancient arts of the samurai and ninja warriors, and we explore how these teachings can be adapted to all aspects of modern life.
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A message of goodwill concerning ‘Ninpo Hibun’
On 13 December 2020, we were fortunate enough to be able to present a mock-up of this book to Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, in order for him to review the text and give it his seal of approval before it went to print. It was a pleasure to see how, with each delicate turn of the book's pages, he reminisced and then delighted us with anecdotes.
And here we would like to share some of Soke’s generous words about this book:
Alex Esteve has studied martial arts for a very long time and he is an excellent martial artist. This work, which he and his team have produced about the writings and the articles of Takamatsu sensei, remind me of all the trainings and conversations we shared. What wonderful memories!
Many thanks to Alex Esteve and all the translators, editors, designers, and musicians who have worked together on this fantastic project. It really is such an incredible book from a historical, cultural and practical point of view.
Please enjoy the timeless life lessons contained here!
