Saito Yakuro

A swordsman from the end of the Edo period. His name was Zendo, and in later years he called himself Tokushinsai. He was born into a farming family in Ecchu Province (Toyama Prefecture). In 1812 (Bunka 9), he set his sights on going to Edo and becoming a servant to the shogun Nose Sukenojo. In 1815, he entered the Gekikenkan of Okada Tomatsu Yoshitoshi of the Shinto Munen school, where he first studied swordsmanship. Yakuro's training was remarkable, and in just a few years he surpassed his predecessors and served as a substitute instructor. After his master's death in 1820 (Bunsei 3), he assisted his master's successor, Shishi Toshiaki, in managing the dojo. During this time, he studied Confucianism, horsemanship, and military science, and later also artillery. He struck up a friendship with fellow student Egawa Kunijiro (Tarozaemon Hidetatsu), and with his support, in 1891 he became independent and established a dojo called Renbukan on the banks of Kudanzakashita Manaibashi Bridge, which he moved to Sanbancho in 1892. From this time onwards, his reputation in swordsmanship grew even more, and students came from all over the country. He also demonstrated a wide range of activities, including training Western rifle corps, building the Shinagawa Battery, and offering advice on the Sonno Joi (revere the expulsion of all citizens) issue. After the Meiji Restoration, despite his advanced age, he entered the service of the new government, becoming a judge in the accounting office and staying in Osaka.

[Ichiro Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末の剣術家。名は善道、晩年篤信斎(とくしんさい)と号した。越中(えっちゅう)国（富山県）の農家の生まれ。1812年（文化9）志をたてて江戸に出、旗本能勢祐之丞(のせすけのじょう)の家僕となり、15年神道無念(しんとうむねん)流岡田十松吉利(よしとし)の撃剣館に入門し、初めて剣術を学んだ。弥九郎の修業ぶりは目覚ましく、わずか数年の間に先輩たちを凌駕(りょうが)して、代稽古(だいげいこ)を勤め、20年（文政3）師の没後は、嗣子(しし)利章を補佐して道場の経営にあたった。この間、儒学、馬術、兵学を学び、のちに砲術も学んだ。同門の江川邦二郎(くにじろう)（太郎左衛門英龍(ひでたつ)）と親交を結び、その援助により、26年、独立して九段坂下俎橋(まないたばし)畔に道場練兵館をおこし、38年（天保9）三番町に移した。このころから剣名はいちだんと高まり、全国から入門者が集まった。また西洋銃隊調練や品川台場の築造、あるいは尊攘(そんじょう)問題に献策するなど、幅広い活躍を示した。維新後、老躯(ろうく)を押して新政府に出仕し、会計官権(ごん)判事となり、大坂に在職した。

［渡邉一郎］

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