about samurai sword soul
 
Samurai Sword Soul (SSS) was founded by Yoshi Amao and Yoshihisa Kuwayama in 2003. Since then, Samurai Sword Soul’s numerous performances, an engaging mix of comedy routines, humanistic-theme drama, and thrilling sword fights have been attracting a wide range of audiences in New York. Their sword technique is based on Waki Ryu Tate, which was created by Keihei Wakisaka, Seido Karate spirit and Kendo technique. Now imbuing traditional Japanese sword fighting arts with a more comtemporary essence and their own artistry, they have established unique “Samurai Sword Soul Style.”
 
It is very hard to find authentic TATE (Japanese sword stage fighting) performance in the United States. Samurai Sword Soul is the only theater company in New York which employ TATE in their shows with or without a samurai story. SSS's mission is to spread the Bushi-Do, The Way of Samurai, and to introduce TATE to people who are not familiar with it. SSS believes our samurai spirits reach the audiences of all ethnicities, ages, and genders, and regards the Samurai Virtue: Rectitude (義 gi), Courage (勇yū), Benevolence (仁 jin), Respect (礼 rei), Honesty (誠 makoto), Honor (名誉 meiyo), and Loyalty (忠義 chūgi) as the code of conduct that is still relevant in our time.
 
Samurai Sword Soul debuted in Cherry Blossom Festival 2003 at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Since then, SSS has been coming back to the festival every year in prime-time slot. In 2003, SSS was invited to perform on the Today Show on NBC for a demonstration for "Last Samurai Premier Event." SSS also appears often on TV including NBC, NY-1 News, WB-11, CBS, FOX TV, Fuji TV and NHK, and in newspapers such as New York Times, Daily News, New York Sun, Metro New York, Japion, and Daily Sun. They extensively perform in many festivals, events, and schools through out New York City, and recently choreographed and performed in samurai films as well.
 
 
Samurai Sword Soul
 
 
 
 
 
 
“There's betrayal and tragedy, comedy and charm and of course there's a little of the supernatural. Oh, and plenty of sword fights. Lots of sword fights. “ by nytheatre.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“**** [FOUR STARS] Casual fans of the samurai genre and genuine Bushido enthusiasts, take note: Scattered Lives is a brief and boisterous blast, with plenty of profound things to say about the battle for honor and humanity. “ by Time Out New York
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“the fascinatingly complex moral drawn at the end of the simple story to be found in Samurai Sword Soul’s production ... a fine example of minimalist technique made to serve the telling of an epic tale.” by The Villager
 
 
 
Samurai Sword Soul Fan Page: Facebook | Samurai Sword Soul
photo: Motoyuki Ishibashi
photo: Motoyuki Ishibashi
photo: Nobutoshi Mizushima
photo: Ayaka Matsushima
photo: Kenji Mori