Seiichiro Otani - Seiichiro Otani

A swordsman from the end of the Edo period. He was a shogunate official, head of the Kobusho (military lecture hall) and swordsmanship instructor. His childhood name was Shintaro, he was commonly known as Seiichiro, and his given name was Nobutomo and Seisai. He loved both literature and martial arts from an early age, and at the age of 13, he became an apprentice to Hirayama Gyozo's Heigensoro, which opened his eyes to practical martial arts. In 1817 (Bunka 14), he entered the school of Danno Gennoshin (Mahosai) of the Jikishinkage school, and in just four years he was granted full proficiency in the art. He also mastered Hozoin spearmanship and Yoshida-ryu archery, and in the "Gofunai Heiho Meika Ranking" published in 1821 (Bunsei 4), he was given a high rating of "Ueyoshi" and was appointed to the rank of Sekiwake, and was highly regarded for his future. On the other hand, under the tutelage of his foster father Hikoshirō (Ensai, Omote Goyuhitsu), he studied literature and painting, and with his well-rounded personality and leadership skills, he rose from a humble position with a stipend of 100 koku (100 shillings) to become Oshoinban in 1838 (Tenpo 2) and Okachigashira in 1843. After Perry's arrival, he proposed the establishment of a martial arts lecture hall to strengthen the military power of the shogunate, and in 1856 (Ansei 3) when the lecture hall was opened he was appointed head priest and swordsmanship instructor, and in 1862 (Bunkyu 2) he was appointed Junior Fifth Rank and Shimousa no Kami, and the following year he was promoted to Bugyō-nami (3,000 koku) of the lecture hall. Furthermore, the Otokodani Dojo in Kamezawa-cho, Honjo, produced many famous swordsmen, including Toranosuke Shimada, Torazou Mitsuhashi, Shichiro Yokogawa, and Kenkichi Sakakibara, all of whom are revered by posterity as "saints of the sword."

[Ichiro Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸末期の剣術家。幕臣、講武所頭取兼剣術師範役。幼名新太郎、通称精一郎、名は信友(のぶとも)、静斎(せいさい)と号した。幼少より文武を好み、13歳のとき平山行蔵(ぎょうぞう)の兵原草廬(へいげんそうろ)の内弟子となり、実戦的武術に対する目を開かれ、1817年（文化14）に直心影(じきしんかげ)流の団野源之進(だんのげんのしん)（真帆斎(しんぱんさい)）の門に入り、わずか4年で免許皆伝を得、さらに宝蔵院槍術(そうじゅつ)、吉田流弓術にも達し、21年（文政4）刊の「御府内兵法名家番付」には上々吉と評されて関脇に据えられ、将来を大いに嘱望された。一方、養父彦四郎（燕斎(えんさい)、表(おもて)御祐筆）の薫陶を受けて、文学や書画をたしなみ、その円満な人格と指導力により、小十人(こじゅうにん)100俵高の小身から出世し、31年（天保2）御書院番、43年には御徒頭(おかちがしら)に進んだ。ペリーの来航後、幕府の軍事力強化のために講武場を設置することを建議し、56年（安政3）講武所の開設とともに頭取並(とうどりなみ)兼剣術師範役に起用され、62年（文久2）には従(じゅ)五位下・下総守(しもうさのかみ)に叙任され、翌年講武所奉行並(ぶぎょうなみ)（3000石高）に昇任した。なお、本所亀沢町の男谷道場からは島田虎之助、三橋虎蔵、横川七郎、榊原鍵吉(さかきばらけんきち)らの有名な剣術家が輩出し、後世「剣聖」の名で敬慕されている。

［渡邉一郎］

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