FINALLY! Its been 17 weeks since I placed my order with Aoi Budogu (http://www.budo-aoi.com/) and I just got the email today saying the sword is finished! Its on its way from the forge in Japan to the store in Canada for a quality inspection before they ship it to me. The customer service guy Ive been talking to said it should be getting shipped to me by next week...since its standard UPS I think it may be 2 weeks more before I get it, but at least after 4 months I got some good news! Ill post pictures of it when t comes in. Im so excited I can hardly sit still!!!

Mina-san Yoroshiku:

I noticed the thread on Toei Ryu Iai Batto Renmei Iiado and I have been a personal student of Saiko Shihan Nishiuchi, Mikio for the last 2 years. Shihan is a 10th dan in Iiado and has precticed for 45+ years. He is also a 7th dan kobudo master (an entirely seperate art and similar to Soke Hatsumi's Bujiin Kan. Shihan is also responsible for training many regional masters such as Dave Kovars in Sacramento and an 8th dan in Reno.

While I have not updated my site for some time www.myspace.com/sanjurosensei I should be able to answer most of your questions. Iiado originated in Tossa (Kochi) Japan and followed the lineage its 7th successor who made the art famous was Hasegawa Eishin.

1. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu (Founder of Shimmei Muso Ryu)
2. Tamiya Heibei Narimasa (Founder of Tamiya Ryu)
3. Nagano Muraku Nyudo Kinrosai
4. Momo Gumbei Mitsushige
5. Arikawa Shozaemon Munetsugu
6. Banno Dan-Uemon-no-Jô Nobusada
7. Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eïshin
8. Arai Seitetsu Seishin
9. Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa
10. Hayashi Yasudayu Seisho
11. Oguro Motouemon Kiyokatsu (After Oguro, there came into being 2 branches formed on philosophical differences between two students of Oguro: The Shimomura-ha & Tanimura-ha (branches), the former being headed by Maysuyori Teisuke Hisanari and the latter by Matsuyoshi Teisuke (Shinsuke) Hisanari, who became the 12th sōke.

The lineage continued on until the death of Oguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu when the ryu split into two branch schools (Ha), the Tanimura ha and the Shimomura ha. The Tanimura ha is still known today as Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu, while the Shimomura ha was renamed to Muso Shinden ryu by the 16th headmaster, Nakayama Hakudo. Just an aside, he is often named as the "founder" of Muso Shinden ryu. Actually it was only after his death that his followers started to formally use this name for Hakudo's particular style. Anyway, Toei Ryu is a direct teaching of the original line without deviations such as those found in Muso Shinden Ryu. I am glad to answer any questions and train with Shihan every Saturday in Vacaville CA. I will try to check in here from time to time, but it is better to contact me on the myspace site. Ossu! Sensei : )~

BTW:

When ordering an Iaito, our dojo usually deals directly with Maru Fuji in Japan. However, our Woodland CA dojo also favors Tosando - another fine Japanese sword maker.

Ossu! Sensei : )~

Sanjuro, some notes for you:

It's "Iaido", not "Iiado".

"Tosa", not "Tossa"

And for good measure: "Sensei" is something other people call you. Calling yourself sensei is a faux-pas that you should avoid.

thats interesting, I was unaware that Shihan Nishiuchi practiced iaijutsu... I just thought it was Kobudo and Pang Gai Noon... the only information I can find on his JSA history is "Muso Jikiden Hasegawa Eishin Ryu" ... is that different from plain MJER?

I've never heard of Muso Jikiden Hasegawa Eishin Ryu, but there is definitely a Hasegawa Eishin Ryu. Hasegawa Eishin Ryu is another name for the set of waza which are now referred to as Tate Hiza no Bu.

[edited to correct a brain freeze moment/]

Ok, so In class last week my sensei said that we are practicing Tosa Iai. I know Nishiuchi sensai lived in Tosa and he learned Iaido there...but now im a bit confused.
Did MJER branch from Tosa Iai or did Tosa Iai branch from MJER or are they the same? Because all of our hand outs, shirts and what not say MJER on them...Oh, my Iaito will be here tomorrow, or today rather...since its 12:45am!!!!! But I wont beable to take it in this week, my grandma's 79th birthday is the same day as class.

My understanding is that Tosa Iai, which is kind of a regional name for the arts of the Tosa Samurai, largely survives today in the form of a few distinct styles, one of which is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. Nobody really calls it Tosa Iai anymore, in large part because the arts in question are no longer found only in the Tosa region.

Ahh ok, that makes sense.

My Iaito should be at my house any time now...ill be uploading some pics for those interested as soon as I can