1889 – (March 10) Takamatsu Toshitsugu born in Akashi city, Hyogo
1921 – (December 2) Hatsumi Yoshiaki born in Noda city, Chiba
1957 – Hatsumi meets Toshitsugu Takamatsu
1958 – (March) Takamatsu names Hatsumi successor, Togakure-ryû sôke (and several others)
1960 – Manaka Fumio begins training with Hatsumi
1961 – (May) Argosy magazine publishes the first Western article about Hatsumi
1961 – (November) Hatsumi holds lecture to the Japanese Crown Prince about Ninpo
1962 – Hatsumi and Takamatsu advise on “Shinobi no mono” (film) about Ishikawa Goemon and Momochi Sandayu
1963 – Tanemura Tsunehisa begins training with Hatsumi
1964 – Hatsumi performs on the childrens program “Suteki-na-Mama!”
1964 – Hatsumi publishes his first book “忍者 忍法 画報” (Ninja Ninpo Goho)
1964 – (July 3) Takumi Tsutsui is born
1964 – (August 3) Newsweek publishes a short article on Ninja/Ninjutsu
1966 – (December) Black Belt magazine prints their first articles on Ninjitsu (sic)
1966 – Ishizuka joins Hatsumi training
196? – Oguri Koichi and Seno Hideo begin training with Hatsumi
196? – Kobayashi begins training with Hatsumi
1967 – Hatsumi and Donn Draeger are both consultants for “You Only Live Twice” (James Bond)
1967 – (December) Black Belt magazine first mentions Yoshiaki Hatsumi
1967 – Quintin Chambers brings Danny Waxman to train with Hatsumi
1969 – Danny Waxman brings Doron to train with Hatsumi
196? – Takamatsu names Hatsumi sôke
196? – Hatsumi changes his first name to Masaaki at the recommendation Takamatsu
1970 – “Ninja: The Invisible Assassins” book by Andrew Adams is released
1971 – “Ninjutsu: The Art of Invisibily” by Donn Draeger is released
1971 – Hatsumi takes six students to meet Takamatsu (Ishizuka, Seno, Oguri, Kobayashi, Manaka, Tanemura)
1971 – Hatsumi gifts a bronze statue of a tiger to his teacher, “Bujin Takamatsu, the Mongolian Tiger”
1971 – Around this time Hatsumi is ill for about five years; the six shihan closely study the ryuha
1972 – (April 2) Takamatsu passed away at his home in Nara
1974 – Doron Navon returns to Israel opening Bujinkan Israel, the first Bujinkan dôjô outside Japan
1974 – (September) One of the first ninja appearances in a USA comic book, Marvel Premiere 17 (Iron Fist)*
1975 – Stephen K Hayes visits Japan (four weeks), brings Bujinkan training to USA & returns for longer stay
1975 – Tetsuji Ishizuka visits Israel (Doron Navon) and Sweden (Bo Munthe)
1978 – Hatsumi starts to call the art Bujinkan and takes in to use the title shidôshi
1978 – Hatsumi has a shidoshi meeting; presents attendees with Ten Chi Jin Ryaku no Maki booklet (version 1)
1980 – Furuta Koji begins training in the Bujinkan
1980 – “The Ninja” by Eric Van Lustbader is released and spends five months as a bestseller*
1980 – Chuck Norris’ move “The Octagon” released*
1980 – (June) Hayes appears on the cover of Black Belt magazine
1980 – “Ninja: Spirit of the Shadow Warrior” by Hayes is released
1982 – Hatsumi visits the Ohio, USA to teach budo
1983 – Bujinkan Gassuku happens in Yûmoa Mura, Japan
1983 – Doron Navon passes godan shinsa as the first non-Japanese
1983 – Bujinkan assistant instructor title shidôshi-ho used
1983 – Togakure ryu ninpo taijutsu (戸隠流忍法体術) book released
1983 – “Ninja” magazine releases their first issue*
1984 – (January) “The Master” USA television show debut*
1984 – (May) “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” comic book debut*
1984 – Tsunehisa (Shoto) Tanemura resigns from the Bujinkan (forms the Genbukan)
1986 – Hatsumi receives “Best Instructor Award” from the Black Belt Magazine
1986 – Hatsumi offers the first Tai Kai in California, USA for Bujinkan students
1986 – Hatsumi attends a Ninja Summit which is open to the public in Ohio
1986 – First Bujinkan related video released
1987 – Hatsumi offers the first Tai Kai in London for Bujinkan students in Europe
1988 – Hatsumi meets actor Tsutsui Takumi who plays Jiraiya (Yamaji Toha)
1988 – Hatsumi acts as “Yamaji Tetsuzan” in Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya, a children’s TV adventure series
1989 – Hatsumi changes the name of the art from Togakure ryû Ninpô taijutsu to Bujinkan ninpô taijutsu
1989 – Hatsumi gives the first 10th dan grades
1990 – Main theme is Hanbojutsu
1991 – Main theme is Kodachi and Jutte
1991 – Hatsumi received letter of appreciation from US President George Bush on his 60th birthday
1991 – Hatsumi is made an Honorary Member of Texas Rangers
1992 – Main theme is Taijutsu
1993 – Main theme is Rokushaku Bojutsu and Taijutsu
1994 – Main theme is Sojutsu and Kodachi
1995 – Main theme is Naginatajutsu and Daisho Sabaki Gata
1995 – Hatsumi changes the name of the art from Bujinkan ninpô taijutsu to Bujinkan budô taijutsu
1995 – Hatsumi is awarded the title “Todo Hanshi” by Nakazawa Toshi, President of Zen Nippon Todo Renmei
1996 – Main theme is Bikenjutsu and Taijutsu
1996 – Fumio Manaka resigns from the Bujinkan (forms the Jinenkan)
1997 – Main theme is Jojutsu, Tachi and Taijutsu
1997 – Bujinkan Hombu Dojo, Bujinden opens in Noda-shi
1998 – Main theme is Shindenfudo-ryu Dakentaijutsu Happo Biken
1998 – (December) release of “Ninpo: Wisdom for Life” by Hatsumi
1999 – Main theme is Kukishin-ryu Taijutsu Happo Biken
1999 – Doron retires from Bujinkan training
2000 – Main theme is Koppojutsu
2000 – The Bujinkan celebrates 1000th person receives the title shidôshi
2001 – Main theme is Kosshijutsu
2001 – (May) Hatsumi receives Papal recognition
2002 – Main theme is Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu with Hakama
2003 – Main theme is Juppou-sesshou, Kunai, Ninja-tou, Tessen, Kyoketsushoge
2003 – Hatsumi offers the last Taikai outside Japan: New Jersey, USA
2004 – Main theme is Roppo Kuji no Biken Budo no Kiso
2004 – Taikai is organized in Japan to honor 33 years since the passing of Takamatsu
2005 – Main theme is Gyokko-ryu Happo Biken, Bo and Ken; Emphasis on Kasumi no Ho (encompassing mist)
2006 – Hayes announces his To Shin Do organization
2004 – Daikomyôsai is the only annual seminar event offered by Hatsumi
2004 – The first jûgodan grades are given in the Bujinkan
2004 – Hatsumi occasionally lets the jûgodan to perform godan shinsa without giving the first strike
2006 – Main theme is Shinden Fudo Ryu
2007 – Main theme is Kukishin Ryu; Emphasis on Kuki Taisho (nine smiling demons)
2008 – Main theme is Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu; Emphasis on Kieru no Kankaku (feeling of disappearing)
2009 – Main theme is Sainou (ability), Tamashii (spirit) and Utsuwa (capacity); Emphasis on nawa no kankaku (the feeling of rope)
2010 – Main theme is Rokkon Shoujou (influencing the spirit through laughter); Emphasis on the Tachi
2010 – The Bujinkan celebrates 3000th person receives the title shidôshi
2011 – Main theme is Kihon Happo
2011 – Hatsumi gives first shin gi tai bufû ikkan menkyo
2012 – Main theme is Jin Ryo Yo Go (Kaname); Emphasis was on sword and Bojutsu
2012 – Ôguri sensei passes away
2013 – Main theme is Ken Engetsu no Kagami (“mirror of the fullmoon sword”), Tachi Hoken (“divine treasure sword”); Emphasis was on the Ken, Tachi and Katana
2013 – (March) Kunoichi Taikai is organized in Japan led by Hatsumi
2013 – Hatsumi announces there wil be no more Daikômyôsai
2014 – Main theme is Shin (deity/mind/soul), In (elegance), Bu (warrior/Chivalry) and Dou (leading/guiding)
2014 – Hatsumi gives first dai shihan menkyo, to Toshiro Nagato and Yukio Noguchi
2014 – Hatsumi gives the first yûshû shihan menkyo
2015 – Main theme is Nagamaki
2015 – Hombu dôjô location is moved to another building
2016 – Main theme is is Katanav
2016 – Hatsumi shared the Bujinkan has more than 500000 members worldwide
2016 – Hatsumi added there are 450 jûgodan and 4200 shidôshi
2017 – Main theme is Kannin Doshi (Perseverance of mutual respect) and Muto Dori
2017 – Shidoshi Kai events and membership cards requirement ends
2017 – Hatsumi encourages instructors to build connections
2018 – Main theme is Koto Ryu Koppo and Muto Dori
2018 – Daishihan was defined as an administrative title above shidôshi
2019 – Main theme is Muto Dori
2019 – Senô sensei passes away
2019 – (October) Hatsumi gives Tetsuji Ishizuka, Gyokko ryû sôke
2019 – (November) Hatsumi gives Toshiro Nagato, Shinden Fudô ryû sôke
2019 – (November) Hatsumi gives Yukio Noguchi, Kotô ryû sôke;
2019 – Hatsumi additionally awards:
— Takumi Tsutsui, Togakure ryû sôke; Koji Furuta, Kumogakure ryû, sôke;
— Junichi Kan, Gyokushin ryû sôke; Norio Sakasai, Gikan ryû & Takagi Yôshin-ryû, sôke;
— Yoshio Iwata, Kukishinden sôke
2019 – (December) Hatsumi retires from regular teaching
2020 – (March) Hombu Dôjô closed due to COVID precautions
2020 – Hatsumi’s wife Mariko passes away
2022 – (October) Hombu Dôjô reopens
2025 – (March) Ishizuka sensei, Gyokko ryu soke passed away
This history is based on research by Jukka Nummenranta (https://www.bhd.fi/the-history-of-bujinkan-short-curriculum/) and Joe Maurantonio (https://www.kihon.com/articles/masaaki_hatsumi.html). If you would like to reference our work, please contact us for permission and citation info.
* = These listings are included as cultural references, they are not directly tied to Bujinkan history.