Who was Umetada Myōju's teacher?

[Sukaira]

I was thinking about the importance of the Hizen school the other day and had the thought that perhaps the Hizen school could be considered in at least some way, the rebirth and continuation of Rai. This comes from the idea that Umetada Myōju counted himself as the direct 25th lineage of Sanjo Munechika and the idea that Tadayoshi settled on an overall signature forging style that pays homage to Rai. Plus the school delivers a very similar approach in terms of industry.

 

Sanjo -> Awataguchi -> Rai -> ...? -> Umetada Myōju -> Hizen basically.

 

The larger question I would like to know is who exactly was Umetada Myōju's teacher? Dude was super skilled and prolific but basically no record that I can find of his teacher...

[PNSSHOGUN]

See Horikawa Kunihiro school. 

 

https://www.sho-shin.com/sai19.htm 

[Geraint]

Dear Sky.

 

If you are studying Myoju then can I recommend Art and the Sword vol. 5 and 6 by the JSS/US?

 

From that volume:  'Myoju was born during the first year of Eiroku (1558) as the second son of Shigetaka, the grandson of the 23rd generation Sanjo Munechika.'  Sadly a little later in the same article by Kataoka Ginsaku ther is the following, 'However this family lineage is absolutely unreliable.'

By western academic standards this is frustrating, we tend to assume that records exist and that they are to be trusted.  But we are dealing with a society that understands lineage as significant but possibly open to creation when required.  A comparable example is the oft quoted Myochin  family tree which is now regarded as largely fictitious.  If you want to assume the first bit of information is correct then there you are, however it would perhaps be better to hold that idea lightly.

 

Hope that helps but in any case I do commend any and all of the volumes of Art and the Sword to you as excellent resources.

 

All the best.

[oli]

here is a nice articel about this topic:

 

[Sukaira]

On 12/20/2025 at 10:23 PM, PNSSHOGUN said:

See Horikawa Kunihiro school. 

 

https://www.sho-shin.com/sai19.htm 

Thanks for this! But doesn't this just say Kunihiro was a pupil of Umetada?

[Sukaira]

On 12/21/2025 at 11:46 AM, oli said:

here is a nice articel about this topic:

 

This was an interesting read!

[Sukaira]

On 12/21/2025 at 4:48 AM, Geraint said:

Dear Sky.

 

If you are studying Myoju then can I recommend Art and the Sword vol. 5 and 6 by the JSS/US?

 

From that volume:  'Myoju was born during the first year of Eiroku (1558) as the second son of Shigetaka, the grandson of the 23rd generation Sanjo Munechika.'  Sadly a little later in the same article by Kataoka Ginsaku ther is the following, 'However this family lineage is absolutely unreliable.'

By western academic standards this is frustrating, we tend to assume that records exist and that they are to be trusted.  But we are dealing with a society that understands lineage as significant but possibly open to creation when required.  A comparable example is the oft quoted Myochin  family tree which is now regarded as largely fictitious.  If you want to assume the first bit of information is correct then there you are, however it would perhaps be better to hold that idea lightly.

 

Hope that helps but in any case I do commend any and all of the volumes of Art and the Sword to you as excellent resources.

 

All the best.

Will check this out - thanks!

[Jacques]

Myoju was the son of Umetada Myōkin Shigetaka 埋忠明欽重降 who was the teacher of shodai Tadayoshi.

Edited December 27, 2025 by Jacques