* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Ueda Umanosuke
上田馬之助
One of Momoi Shunzō's "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Shigakukan Who Helped Found Metropolitan Police Swordsmanship
- Era
- Bakumatsu to Meiji
- Lifespan
- 1831-1890
- Associated Sword Tradition
- Kyōshin Meichi-ryū (Shigakukan)
Description
Life
Born in 1831 into a retainer family of the Higo Kumamoto Shindenhan domain, Ueda entered the Shigakukan dojo led by Momonoi Shunzō Naomasa, where he studied the Kyōshin Meichi-ryū school of swordsmanship. He showed outstanding ability and rose to be counted among the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Shigakukan.
Swordsmanship and Anecdotes
In 1855, at an inter-school match held in Edo, he is reported to have fought Matsuzaki Namishirō of Kurume domain to a draw. In 1867 he quarreled with a spear and swordsmanship instructor of Dewa Tendō domain and cut him down, an episode that shows his fierce temperament. Toward the end of the same year, he is said to have come close to a sword fight with members of the Shinchōgumi on patrol.
Establishing Metropolitan Police Swordsmanship
When the position of gekken sewagakari (swordsmanship liaison) was newly created in the Metropolitan Police Department (Keishichō) in 1879, Ueda was selected as one of its first members, together with Kajikawa Yoshimasa and Henmi Sōsuke. He took part in codifying swordsmanship and iaijutsu into the "Keishi-ryū" and played a role in rebuilding practical swordsmanship techniques, which had nearly been lost after the sword-abolition edict, as a training system for police officers. In 1883 he also concurrently served as an official of the Saineikan of the Imperial Household Ministry.
Connection to Swords
In 1887, at the "Tenran Kabutowari," a sword-cutting test held before the Meiji Emperor, he is said to have taken part together with Sakakibara Kenkichi and others. As a transmitter of practical sword technique in Japan after the sword-abolition edict, he played a role in showing later generations the practical value of the sword and of swordsmanship.
Later Reputation
As a senior disciple of Momonoi Shunzō and as an instructor who supported the founding years of Keishi-ryū swordsmanship, Ueda is remembered in the history of swordsmanship from the Bakumatsu period through the Meiji period. He died of typhoid fever in 1890.
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