Who is Kunishiro Hayashi? :: Nagori-Afterglow

# Who is Kunishiro Hayashi?

Master Kunishiro Hayashi began his career as the youngest swordfight choreographer in the crew of "Taikouki" (1965), the third Taiga drama*. Since then, Hayashi has been involved in the swordfight choreography of numerous NHK Taiga dramas, including the recent Ten-Chi-Jin. In addition to overseeing swordfight choreography, he has appeared in a number of TV dramas and films as an actor. * The annual, year-long historical fiction television series produced by the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).

Hayashi is both an active practitioner and a renowned researcher of a number of martial arts, including Kenjutsu, Judo, Aikido, Karate, Ryukyu Kobujutsu, and Chinese martial arts.

Cultivating the talent of young swordfight choreographers is another area in which Hayashi focusses his energies. Many of his students have gone on to became well-known swordfight choreographers, including Kunihide Kuruma, Toshiro Takeda, Eiji Takakura, Masahiro Kunii and Takashi Okamoto.

Hayashi has received praise for his lengthy research on Japanese traditional martial arts and samurai culture. His his rich knowledge, experiences and precise skills form the basis of his philosophy of "swordfight choreography for more lively acting".

In 1975, Hayashi created "Bugeki", a stage performance showcasing swordfight choreography, acting and traditional Japanese martial arts. He actively continues to perform "Bugeki", with the aim of providing exposure for great legacy and tradition of Japanese martial arts and to passing that tradition on to future generations intact.

Kunishiro Hayashi's Official Website (Japanese)

# Titles

Chairman of Wakagoma action club
Head director of Bugekikan (Headquarters of Swordfight Choreography School)
Chief Professor of All Japan Todo league
Professor-in-chief and Head Director of the International Self-Defense Promotion Association
Director of Ryukyu Kobujutsu Preservation and Promotion Association
Official Swordfight Choreographer of the Action Department of the Japan Actors' League
Official swordfight choreography instructor of the Theatre Academy
Official swordfight choreography instructor of theater troupe Himawari
Official swordfight choreography instructor of Alpha Selection

#Feature NHK Taiga Dramas

(NHK Taiga dramas for which Kunishiro Hayashi was in charge of swordfight choreography)

1964 "Akouroushi"
1965 "Taikouki"
1966 "Minamoto no Yoshitsune"
1967 "Sanshimai"
1967 "Ryouma ga yuku"
1969 "Ten to Chi to"
1970 "Mominoki ha nokotta"
1973 "Kunitori Monogatari"
1975 "Genroku Taiheiki"
1977 "Hanagami"
1978 "Ougon no Hibi"
1979 "Kusa Moeru"
1980 "Shishi no Jidai"
1981 "Onna Taikouki"
1983 "Tokugawa Ieyasu"
1984 "Sanga Moyu"
1985 "Sanada Taiheiki"
1986 "Musashibou Benkei"
1987 "Dokuganryu Masamune"
1986 "Takeda Shingen"
1989 "Kasuga no Tsubone"
1990 "Tobu ga gotoku"
1991 "Nobunaga"
1993 "Ryukyu no Kaze", "Homura tatsu"
1994 "Hana no ran"
1995 "Hachidai Shougun Yoshimune"
1996 "Hideyoshi"
1997 "Mouri Motonari"
1998 "Tokugawa Yoshinobu"
1999 "Genroku Ryouran"
2000 "Aoi Tokugawa Sandai"
2001 "Houjou Tokimune"
2002 "Toshiie to Matsu"
2003 "Musashi"
2004 "Shinsengumi!"
2005 "Yoshitsune"
2006 "Kumyougatsuji"
2007 "Furinkazan"
2008 "Atsuhime"
2009 "Tenchijin"
hayashi has dealt with swordfight choreography on many TV dramas and movies. Click here to read more (Japanese).

# Publications

"All about Japanese sword technique and its secret", BAB Japan, 1992
"I am a swordfight choreographer", "Self Defense techniques, introduction and advanced level", Soujinsha, 2001
"All about traditional hand weapons, Nunchaku, Tonfa", Video Shuppan, 2001
"Swordfight choreography instruction by Kuhishiro Hayashi", Taiiku to Sports shuppansha, 2004
"Hayashi style martial art choreography, Modern play", DVD & VHS video, Bugekikan, 2005
"Hayashi style martial art choreography, Decorum", DVD & VHS video, Bugekikan, 2006
"Hayashi style martial art choreography, Sword art", DVD & VHS video, Bugekikan, 2006
"Hayashi style martial art choreography, Pole arms", DVD & VHS video, Bugekikan, 2007
"Hayashi style all about sword techniques, Introduction", DVD, Bugekikan, 2009

Hayashi has contributed many articles about Japanese traditional martial arts and swordfight choreography to many magazines and delivered lectures.

# Links (Japanese)