Please enjoy this latest FB post from Sean with more history connecting Togakure Ryu and Gyokko Ryu through the Inukai Clan:

Recently, I received an email asking some questions about things I said in the Hidden Lineage.

One of the questions that was asked is if I had learned anything new about the relationship between our arts and the Inukai family. Because I had stated in my book that the Inukai were the original clan who settled Togakushi Village and acted as chief Shinto priests to the Togakushi shrine since ancient times, he had asked if I found any more "solid" clues or evidence at all that they are related to the Bujinkan martial arts.

Interestingly, As I was researching the Gyokko Ryu's Sakanoue family for my next book I found that the Sakanoue family itself is a direct blood line clan from the Inukai.

The famous general Sakanoue Tamuramaro's father, Sakanoue Karitamaro was the son of an Inukai family member, Sakanoue no Inukai. They hail from the Asuka village in Nara, along the east-west roads that led in and out of Iga on the west side. Interestingly Asuka is written as "Hicho 飛鳥", as in Hichojutsu, Hicho no Kamae, etc. Terms heavily connected to the Gyokko Ryu.

Since the end or WW2 Asuka village changed the characters to 明日香.

So, as you will learn in my next book (The Hidden Lineage - Fighting art of the Imperial Tigers), the Inukai family were the ancestors to not only the Togakure Ryu, but also the Gyokko and Koto Ryu. There is even a direct link between the Inukai and the Okuni clans. For those that do not follow, the Okuni clan is one of the main clans for the Kukishin and Shinden Fudo Ryu lineages.

The more we dig, the more we learn, but we also discover many new questions that beg to be answered.

Volume two will be centered on the Gyokko Ryu and the real Tozawa Hakuunsai, not the fictional character related to Sarutobi Sasuke, and the origins of the Tozawa Clan. This will clear up a lot of questions that the Bujinkan’s skeptics have always had. I will also go into great depth regarding the Sakanoue family and their relationship with the mysterious monk of Kiyomizu Temple that introduced the secret doctrine of the "Shugun Jizo" to Japan.

As I have said before, volume two will be a much more interesting read than the first. The Gyokko Ryu's history is so intriguing that I have confidence to say, if you liked the first one you are going to love the second!"

For those who have not picked up my book yet and would like to get a copy please go to www.bkrbudo.com

Sean Askew (導冬)
Bujinkan Kokusai Renkoumyo
July 19, 2019

Sean Askew's long awaited book, The Hidden Lineage, detailing the history of the Toda clan with Togakure Ryu Ninpo and particularly Takamatsu's grandpa's past. Buy the book from his own website (it's also on Amazon, but currently his website is the better price) ​https://bkrbudo.com/book/