The naginata is one of the traditional weapons of feudal Japan. Seen in many period prints and screens of processions and battle scenes, it can be recognized as something that looks like a spear with a curved blade. The naginata is a polearm with a single-edged, curved blade mounted on an oval cross-sectioned long shaft, the other end of the shaft is armed with a counterweight pommel. Many traditions, or ryu, included this weapon in their curricula. One of the traditions that survives today is Jikishinkage-Ryu Naginata-Jutsu.
The Hawaii Naginata Federation is the local affiliate (Hawaii Shibu) of the Shutokukai, which is the body in Japan that authorizes and oversees dojo giving instruction in Jikishinkage-Ryu Naginata-Jutsu. The 20th Soke (headmaster) of Jikishinkage-Ryu Naginata-Jutsu is Taniguchi Katsumi who, in 2025, succeeded Ogiwara Haruko (19). Ogiwara Soke was the cousin of the previous Soke, Masami Sonobe (18), who was the grandson of the 15th Soke, Sonobe Hideo. Information about the ryu and finding dojo in Japan can be found at: http://www.jikishin-naginata.jp
The founder of the dojo in Hawai'i, and chief instructor until her passing, was Hanae Miura. The dojo is currently maintained by those who have studied and trained under Miura Sensei.
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In 1964 Anton Geesink's gold medal judo victory at the Olympics stunned the Japanese, but it also stimulated an interest in Holland about the Japanese martial arts. In 1969 Miura Sensei was sent to Holland and France as part of an elite delegation to introduce traditional Japanese martial arts to the world. Due to the excitement generated in Japan by the coverage of this goodwill tour, the visit to Europe resulted in a request for an exhibition in Hawai'i, where an already strong Kendo community existed. That trip was soon followed by a request to have someone come to the islands to teach the art. In response, Miura Sensei returned in 1970. She taught naginata in Hawai'i from that time until her passing in 2023. An article by Rod Ohira, which appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser, can be found at the following link:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Sep/02/ln/ln30a.html
[Apologies: This link may, or may not, be behind a paywall-- please see Miura Sensei's biography page to learn more about this journey.]
Over the years, Miura Sensei organized many exchanges between Hawai'i and Japan; on several occasions bringing high ranking sensei to Hawai'i to administer examinations for the students here and, at other times, taking students to Japan for testing and cultural enrichment. In 1990, she was awarded the highest level of certification in the ryu, Tora no Maki, placing her among a very small and select group of individuals. We were fortunate to have an instructor of this level of excellence in Hawai'i. The Hawai'i dojo remains the only dojo outside of Japan under the instruction of Tora no Maki Sensei*.
The Hawaii Naginata Federation currently holds training on Saturdays from 1:00 – 3:00 PM; please see the Class Schedule page for information on which location the class is using during any particular week. Practice in the Jikishinkage-Ryu Naginata-Jutsu tradition is based on kata (set forms) which develop the movement vocabulary of the ryu. Weapons used are made of wood and represent the naginata, sword (bokken), and dagger (tanto).
*The traditions and practices brought to Hawai'i by Miura Sensei continue to be passed on by her students-- two who have received Tora no Maki certificates and two who have received Tatsu no Maki certificates..