GALLERY

Tamiya-ryu Iaijutsu is a classical Japanese martial art founded over 400 years ago by Tamiya Heibei Narimasa during the Warring States period. Originally practiced in the Tokugawa Kishū Domain, it developed into three branches: Old Tamiya, Kishū Tamiya, and New Tamiya. Of these, only Kishū Tamiya remained, recognized as the orthodox transmission of the tradition. Later, the art spread to the Saijō Domain in Iyo (present-day Ehime Prefecture), where it flourished as Tamiya Shinken-ryu. Today, Tamiya-ryu Iaijutsu is officially registered as a Japanese Intangible Cultural Asset.

Through successive generations of the Sumiki family, the orthodox Kishū Tamiya tradition was preserved and continues today under the 15th headmaster of the Tamiya-ryu Iaijutsu Genwakai.

Our organization was founded by Abe Genkei Sensei together with Representative Sembokuya Kurato Genei. Abbe Sensei studied directly under the 15th-generation headmaster and served for many years as Vice President of the Genwakai, contributing greatly to its development. In 2024, with the mission of sharing this centuries-old martial heritage beyond Japan, he established a new international organization: Tamiya-ryu Iaijutsu Shofu Genkei-Ha.

Although Abe Sensei passed away in April 2025 at the age of 94, his spirit, skills, and vision remain alive through his successors. Guided by the principle of “Sottaku Dōji”—the harmony of timing between teacher and student—the Shofu Genkei-Ha continues to carry Tamiya-ryu Iaijutsu forward, expanding its reach across the world.