Lineage of the Hirakawa family from Past to Present; as far back as is known

Hirakawa Seiji - Born 1796; Died 1900 (Edo, Meiji periods)

Hirakawa Seiji was a Samurai under five shogun: Tokugawa Ienari, Tokugawa Ieyoshi, Tokugawa Iesada, Tokugawa Iemochi, and Tokugawa Yoshinobu. During his lifetime he fought 9 duels with the sword, survived them all and lived to the ripe old age of 104.

“Being Samurai means being Samurai” – Hirakawa Seiji

Hirakawa Rokuro - Born 1828; Died 1920 (Edo, Meiji, Taisho periods)

Hirakawa Rokuro was a Samurai under the same 5 shogun as his father, fought 5 duels and lived for 92 years.

Hirakawa Jun - Born 1863; Died 1895 (Edo, Meiji periods)

Hirakawa Jun was born a Samurai under the last two shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Iemochi and Tokugawa Yoshinobu. He died in a senseless battle in Korea at the age of 32.

Hirakawa Kotaro - Born 1894; Died 1987 (Meiji, Taisho, Showa periods)

Hirakawa Kotaro was born during the reign of Mutsuhito (Emperor Meiji), lived under Yoshihito (Emperor Taisho), Hirohito (Emperor Showa) and died just before the reign of the current Emperor Akihito (Heisei) began. Losing his father at an early age, he was raised by his grandfather and great grandfather to live and act as Samurai regardless of the loss of title and position that went with the rank.

Hirakawa Kotaro Sensei was the founder (Kaiso) of Hirakawa Ryu

Daniel Davis (Hirakawa Michio), current Soke, adopted son of Hirakawa Kotaro (Showa, Heisei periods)

"A suitable trained swordsman"
Nidan in Goju-Ryu Karate
Nidan in Shotokan
Second Degree Black Belt in Chang Hon Tae Kwon Do
Shodan in Shorin-Ryu Karate
Shodan in Shito-Ryu Karate