'The Gift from the Gods'

The Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (TSKSR) is the oldest historically traceable fencing tradition of Japan. Its origin, development and martial techniques are written down on scrolls, known as "makimono." The school was founded in the Katori-temple in 1447 by Iizasa ‘Choisa’ lenaoko. In 1960, the TSKSR was given the title of ‘Intangible Cultural Property of Japan’.

The Katori and the Kashima temple (jingu-ji) belong to the oldest temples of Japan. The Katori-jingu-gi was built on the spot where Futsunushi no Mikoto came to earth and it was dedicated to this god of war.

The Kashima-jingu-ji was dedicated to Takemikazushi no Mikoto and was erected on the spot where this god of war landed on earth. Both gods were sent to earth by the sun goddess Amaterasu o Kami to prepare the coming of her grandson Ninigi no Mikoto, who was to reign in her place.