Jiro Otsuka
Grandmaster Hironori Otsuka II was born February 24, 1934 in Tokyo, Japan. The second son of Grand Master Hironori Otsuka I, he was born the same year the first Grand Master established his own organization, “Dai Nihon Karate-do Shinko Club”, which was the parent organization of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do. He began his Wado Ryu training at the age of 15. He has also trained in Iai-Do, Ken-Do, Judo, Aiki-do and Wado Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu Kempo. After graduating from high school, Grandmaster Otsuka II attended Meiji University where he received a degree in economics. For decades, he travelled with his father exhibiting Wado Ryu across the globe. In December 1981 Grandmaster Otsuka I abdicated his position and named Grandmaster Otsuka II as his successor. There are presently 1,000 branch dojos throughout the world, with a membership of 40,000, which are under his supervision. Grand Master Otsuka II and his wife, Aiko, have three (3) children. Kazutaka, who was born in 1965, has trained in Iai-Do, Judo, and Wado-Ryu Karate and is presently the chief instructor at the main dojo in Tokyo. A daughter, Rika, was born in 1967 and has trained in Iai-Do and Wado-Ryu. The youngest son, Michi, was born in 1968.Sadly both Grandmaster Otsuka II and his wife passed in 2015.