Hiromichi Nakayama

Image: Commemorative group photo of the 1891 Kendo Tournament. Fukuzawa is in the center of the front row, and Nakayama is on the far right. (From "Tsurugi No. 5" (published August 1931))

Hiromichi Nakayama was a martial artist who was active across three eras: Meiji, Taisho, and Showa. He was also the first person in history to be awarded the title of Hanshi in three disciplines—Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo. Known as the "Last Martial Artist" and the "Sword Saint of Showa," he has been featured in Kendo magazines and serials, and his name remains well-known among Kendo enthusiasts today.

Yukichi Fukuzawa practiced Iai-nuki as a daily exercise, and Nakayama witnessed this, later reflecting on it. How did Fukuzawa's Iai appear to the eyes of the "Sword Saint" Nakayama?

Nakayama later served as a Shihan (master instructor) at many institutions, including Keio University, the University of Tokyo, Chuo University, Hosei University, Meiji University, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Imperial Guard, the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu, and the Mitsui Zaibatsu, and inherited the Yushinkan Dojo. However, many details of his early career remain vague. We must rely on the "Oral Collection" compiled by his son, Zendo Nakayama, based on Hiromichi's conversations and notes.

Nakayama was born in present-day Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, in either February 1872 or March 1873, as the eighth son of Gennojo Nakayama; his childhood name was Otokichi. He is said to have left home at the age of eight, studying Kenjutsu and Jujutsu while working. Later, he moved to Tokyo and entered the Yushinkan Dojo led by Shingoro Negishi. After training at Yushinkan, Nakayama was adopted by Shingoro, changed his name to Yoshinobu Negishi, and devoted himself to practice.

Nakayama pursued the path of Kendo, studying Yamaguchi Itto-ryu, Shinto Muso-ryu, Omori-ryu, Hasegawa Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu, Tendo-ryu, and Musashi-ryu Bojutsu, attaining Menkyo Kaiden (full mastery) in all of them. Records also indicate he had broad experience in martial arts, including Kyujutsu (archery), Western swordsmanship research, bayonet techniques, and Sojutsu (spear techniques).

When the Keio University Athletic Association Kendo Club looks back on its history, one particular photograph remains. It is a group photo taken to commemorate the 1891 Kendo Tournament (see the opening photo). In the front row of this photo, Fukuzawa, Kendo Club students, and Nakayama are lined up. The Kendo Club, founded in 1878, began welcoming Shihan in 1890. In 1894, Shingoro Negishi became the Shihan, and Yoshinobu Negishi—that is, Nakayama—also became involved with the Kendo Club as an assistant. Nakayama eventually succeeded Shingoro Negishi as Shihan and instructed the Keio University Kendo Club.

In his "Oral Collection," Nakayama mentions that he became a Shihan at Keio at the age of 25, attaining the position of "Shihan" at a young age. At that time, Yukichi Fukuzawa was approaching 60. There was an age difference of over 30 years between them, but how did they perceive each other?

Nakayama attended a roundtable discussion held by Keio University Kendo Club alumni on June 26, 1934, where he recalled the time he met Yukichi Fukuzawa as follows:

"At that time, I was still quite young and did not fully appreciate the greatness of Yukichi Fukuzawa. (...) When I first met him, Yukichi Fukuzawa asked me, 'What do you intend to become in the future?' I replied, 'I wish to make my way through Kenjutsu'—it is called Kendo now, but back then we still called it Kenjutsu. When I said that, he replied, 'That is an interesting thing to say. What do you plan to do by practicing Kenjutsu now?' However, he simply said that everyone has their own thoughts and did not say anything else at that time. (...) He was truly gentle; whenever he spoke to us, I believe there was always a smile on his face."

Nakayama was also approached by Yukichi Fukuzawa, who had come to watch at the dojo, and was asked about Kendo using Fukuzawa's own academic experiences as examples. Fukuzawa reportedly spoke about how he finally understood things like "trains" and "steamships" only after seeing them firsthand during his travels abroad.

Nakayama says that when he first met Yukichi Fukuzawa, he did not understand at all what Fukuzawa was trying to convey. However, as he grew older, he began to feel that Fukuzawa's teachings were truly wonderful for martial arts. According to Nakayama, Kendo is something that can be understood visually through form to a certain extent, but beyond that, it is metaphysical and cannot be well-conveyed through language. He stated, "I believe Yukichi Fukuzawa included both the physical and the metaphysical in his stories, drawing from his own studies to caution me, and I still keep that in mind today."

Fukuzawa learned Iai while he was in Nakatsu, and in his later years, he never missed Iai-nuki as part of his daily routine alongside walking and rice pounding. On occasions when Kendo gatherings were held at the Mita Enzetsukan (Public Speaking Hall), Fukuzawa would come and demonstrate his Iai. Nakayama spoke of Fukuzawa's Iai as follows:

"When we held Kendo gatherings, Yukichi Fukuzawa would come to watch. He would say to the Kendo Club Director of that time, Sadashiro Hamano (who also served as President), 'I shall try it too.' (...) Then, he would tuck his sword into his kaku-obi and perform Iai-nuki. I was not practicing Iai at the time, but I thought that whistling sound of the blade was truly magnificent every time he swung the sword. I felt then that I wanted to learn Iai and perform it like that. To reach the point where the sword makes a sound in Iai, even with daily practice, one must train for ten years. Yet Yukichi Fukuzawa showed it right before our eyes, performing about six draws. Looking back now, I think his sword path was truly excellent."

At the roundtable, Nakayama also recalled Fukuzawa saying that because Keio students of the time had become very weak, they must now cultivate their spirit through the martial arts:

"I believe he said something like, 'Everyone talks only of academics, but because there is no martial spirit, there is no decisiveness; they are soft and useless. Therefore, one must master martial arts to bring academics to life.' He reportedly said that doing only academics makes one spineless and amounts to nothing."

Nakayama reflected that during the time he served as Shihan at Keio University, the general trend in the world of swordsmanship was 'Kendo as physical education,' and students were truly dedicated to this athletic Kendo. However, he feared that this would gradually shift drastically toward 'Kendo as winning or losing.' Nakayama believed that while it was inevitable for interest to shift toward competition as Kendo developed and times changed, he personally wanted to uphold the belief that Kendo is not a tool for winning or losing.

The record of this two-hour roundtable discussion is a precious asset that allows us to understand Nakayama's connection with Yukichi Fukuzawa, his view of Kendo, and the Keio University of that era.

Nakayama appeared twice in the magazine 'Shonen Kurabu' (Boy's Club). Let us introduce one of those instances. In the New Year's extra-large issue of 1935, a four-page article titled 'Listening to Kendo Stories from Hanshi Hiromichi Nakayama' was published.

'Shonen Kurabu' was a magazine for children (late elementary to early junior high school) first published in 1914. The cover of the issue featuring Nakayama's interview shows a gallant illustration of a young swordsman. We will introduce three themes from this article.

First, in the article, Nakayama mentions that at the same age as the readers of 'Shonen Kurabu,' his father strictly trained him every day on how to take off his geta (wooden clogs).

Based on his father's philosophy that 'Before gripping a sword, one must first firmly grip one's own heart,' he was made to undergo 'geta training' and was scolded when he failed to follow the proper way of removing them. He spoke of how much this geta training benefited him and told the boys, 'Everyone, why don't you try this geta training? Since most people wear shoes now, I suppose it would be "shoe training."' It is impressive that he conveyed this recommendation with a touch of humor.

Second, as 'The Unforgettable Words of Master Negishi,' he introduced the words his Kendo teacher, Shingoro Negishi, often said while patting Nakayama on the shoulder: 'Nakayama, if you cannot strive in your practice without being praised, you will never become great. Practice is for yourself. There is no rule that says you must be humored by others to forge yourself.' He then remarked that while being praised is certainly happy, it is not manly to sulk, get discouraged, or be lazy just because you aren't praised. If you are going to do it, see it through to the end. Whether you are praised or not is not the issue.

Third, regarding 'Kendo-style Studying,' Nakayama spoke as follows:

"When you take up a shinai and face an opponent, all of a person's power is concentrated within that single shinai. Thinking of nothing else but striking the opponent, not thinking, not wavering—that feeling is a precious gift granted only to those who practice Kendo."

"I always wish for you to study with this Kendo-style serious mindset. If you face your desk with this seriousness, what normally takes three hours can be done splendidly in two. No, it might even be finished in an hour and a half. (...) Those who skip practice saying they are busy or have exams are unfortunate people who, while doing Kendo, have not realized the great virtues of Kendo."

There are records indicating that Nakayama did not attend elementary school. However, it is clear that he was a person who could speak about Kendo not only in terms of technique but also educationally and clearly regarding the spiritual aspect. One can feel his spirit in wanting to convey even a little of what he learned through his own experiences to the young boys.

After the end of World War II, Kendo practice was prohibited for a time. Nakayama was held at the Yokosuka Detention Center on suspicion of being a war criminal but was later released after being found innocent. In 1958, he passed away from cerebral softening and was buried at Tenshin-ji Temple (Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku), the same temple as Shingoro Negishi.

The teachings left by Nakayama explain how one should be as a human being, not only in Kendo practice but also in daily life and spiritual philosophy. One can see his side as an educator who possessed the essential elements for the position of 'Shihan.' Considering the influence his contact with Yukichi Fukuzawa had on him makes it even more intriguing.