The Two Faces of Yushinkan
A master who continues a centuries-old lineage, and a female swordswoman who carries the tradition forward — together they make Yushinkan Kyoto a place where the past and the present of the katana meet.
The Master — Yushin (Modern-day Musashi)
Headmaster · Heir to Yushin-Ryu
Yushin Seto — the Modern-day Musashi
Yushin Seto stands as the third generation of his family in the way of the katana. The grandson of the founder of Yushin-Ryu, he has trained with the sword since the age of twelve, dedicating over two decades to the mastery of swordsmanship.
His distinctive specialty is nito — the legendary two-sword style of Miyamoto Musashi. This mastery has earned him the title that defines our dojo: the Modern-day Musashi.
Beyond teaching, Yushin-sensei performs sacred dedications (奉納演武) at shrines across Japan, carrying forward a tradition that places swordsmanship not as combat alone, but as a path of discipline, etiquette, and spiritual cultivation. Today, more than 50 students nationwide train under his guidance.
Highlights
- Third generation of his family in the way of the katana
- Master of nito — the two-sword style of Miyamoto Musashi
- Trains over 50 students nationwide
- Performs sacred dedications (奉納演武) at shrines across Japan
- Heir to a lineage rooted in the historic Edo Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
The Female Swordswoman — Osayo (女流剣士)
Dojo Manager & Female Swordswoman
Osayo — Yondan, the Voice of Women’s Iai
Osayo serves as Yushinkan Kyoto’s Dojo Manager and a notable female practitioner of Yushin-Ryu. In 2026, she was promoted to fourth Dan (yondan) — a senior rank with only fifth and sixth Dan above it within the school’s grading system.
She represents the women’s iai tradition of Yushin-Ryu, a discipline that embraces the grace, beauty, and flexibility distinctive to the female practice of the sword. Her performances have brought this female face of samurai tradition to wider audiences — including a featured appearance at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Beyond her own practice, Osayo runs the day-to-day operations of the dojo and serves as Yushinkan Kyoto’s voice on social media — building bridges between traditional Japanese swordsmanship and a global audience curious about it.
Highlights
- Promoted to fourth Dan (yondan) in 2026 — only fifth and sixth Dan above
- Female practitioner embodying the women’s iai tradition of Yushin-Ryu
- Featured performance at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
- Dojo Manager — runs daily operations of Yushinkan Kyoto
- International social media voice for the dojo’s growing global community
Train with the Masters of Yushinkan
Experience the living tradition of Yushin-Ryu firsthand — guided by Yushin-sensei in our authentic Kyoto dojo.
90 minutes · ¥20,000 · Direct booking via Square