Hironori Otsuka
Hironori Otsuka was born in the city of Shimodate in Ibaraki Prefecture on June 1, 1892. On April 1, 1897, at the age of 5, he started to receive tuition in martial arts from his Great Uncle Chojiro Ehashi, who was a master in the former Tsuchiura Clan. In April of 1905, the 14-year-old Hironori became a disciple of Master Shinzaburo Nakayama of the Shinto Yoshin-Ryu Jujutsu school. On June 1, 1920, the 29-year-old Hironori attained the degree of full mastership in the art, which was the highest rank in the school. This formally made him the 4th Generation successor of the style.
In July of 1922, Hironori Otsuka began to study Ryukyu (Okinawan) Karate. By adding elements of Okinawan Karate to his foundation of Jujustu he created an innovative style of martial art which blended the supreme elements of both fighting forms. At the age of 43, in May of 1934, Hironori Otsuka officially founded Wado-Ryu Karate Jutsu/Wado-Ryu Jujutsu Kenpo. Hironori used the principle of “Wa” which not only has its literal and broader meaning of “harmony”, but also indicates something that is holistic and in balance with our universe. In his composition of “武の道 はただ荒事とな想ひそ和の道を究め和を求む道” (Bu no Michi wa Tada Aragoto to na Omoi so Wa no Michi wo Kiwame Wa wo Motomu Michi ) which is roughly translated as “Martial art is not a path that leads to fighting and brutality. It is a path where one needs to always seek and pursue balance and harmony”. Using this theory as the principle for the school of Wado-Ryu, Hironori encouraged practitioners to use their training of martial art as a pursuit of bettering and fulfilling themselves as human beings, rather than focusing on attaining sheer strength and power from this practice. The principles to which Hironori Otsuka adhered can be adapted to an ever-changing world around us. If these principles are followed, they can help a person develop high ability to grow and adapt, and foster a resolute will and a robust body to overcome any hardship that he or she may face.
On April 29, 1966, Hironori received the Order of the Rising Sun - Gold and Silver Rays Award (Soko Kyokujitsusho) from the Japanese government for his services in proliferation of Karate. On October 9, 1972, Hironori Otsuka was the first person in Karate to receive a rank of 10th Dan Meijin. The award was awarded by the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) whose governor was the General Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni (who was also Prime Minister of Japan). At that time the only other Meijin in Japanese martial arts were the late Kyuzo Mifune, the first Meijin in Judo and the late Hakudo Nakayama, the first Meijin in Kendo. On December 20, 1981, Hironori Otsuka abdicated his position and nominated his son Jiro, Second Generation Grandmaster Hironori Otsuka, as the successor of the martial art of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do and Jujutsu Kenpo. Hironori Otsuka passed away peacefully on January 29, 1982, at the age of 89.