Imai Masayuki Nobukatsu

In 1956, Imai-soke became a student of Aoki Tesshin. Aoki-soke was the 8th headmaster of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu and Imai-soke studied with him until the passing of Aoki-soke in 1969. He then began studying under Tadanao Kiyonaga, 9th headmaster of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu.

In 1976 he became the 10th soke of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu. In the same year, he also started studying under Iwao Hosokawa, headmaster of the Shinshu Koymo Buddist movement.

In 1988, he was presented with the Ran Ju Ho Sho title, by Emperor Showa.

Imai-soke passed away on March 9th, 2006. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him and studied under him.