About

Rennis Buchner has been practicing iai since 1992. Originally from Minnesota, he moved to Akita Japan for university for three years as an exchange student and began practicing Hoki-ryu iai in 1998. After finishing a degree in Japanese Area Studies in 2003, he moved back to Japan and is currently based in Yamagata prefecture where he continues training in, researching and teaching Katayama and Hoki-ryu. While presently he solely focuses on traditions related to the Katayama family, in past years he has also gained varying degrees of experience in Shindo Hatakage-ryu iaiheiho, Shinto Muso-ryu jojutsu, karatedo, and aikido, among others, although he is no longer active in these arts.

While the majority of his time in recent years has been spend focusing on training and research related to Hoki-ryu iai, the Katayama family and related topics, this blog will try and cover a wider range of subjects involving budo, training in Japan, life in Japan and wide range of other topics, some more serious than others.

Please note that any research done and all opinions expressed on this site are strictly those of the author and written for the sole purpose of improving his political and moral standing in future attempts to build a worldwide empire and make millions while reducing the standing of any and all potential rivals… (wait, did I type that out loud?)