I heard Hatsumi's Sokeships aren't as clean cut as he claims. What is the story there?
A. Takamatsu's successor was a man named Ueno Takashi. This happened long before Hatsumi heard of Takamatsu. As some point later Hatsumi traveled to train with Takamatsu and was sent to Ueno's dojo. Shortly after, Ueno kicked Hatsumi out of his school. Hatsumi as this point went back to pay for private lessons with Takamatsu. After Takamatsu died, Hatsumi claimed that Takamatsu removed Ueno as his successor and placed Hatsumi there, a claim never confirmed by Takamatsu and not recognized by anyone other than Hatsumi and his students. Ueno later on passed his Sokeship to Kaminaga Shimegi who teaches the arts today. Lineage wise and scroll wise Kaminaga Shimegi holds the Sokeships, Hatsumi scrolls remain unverified.
So he may not be the real deal, but a pretender to the throne.
Not sure where you cut and pasted that from but it isn't the first time I've heard sourgrapes concerning Takamatsu's successor. Hatsumi's cousin, Tanemura, also contests ownership of the scrolls and title of Soke. He was also discharged from the police force for "unnecessary roughness" as I recall. If Hatsumi were the usurper that some in the Jinenkan or Gembukan say he is, I'd like to think Takamatsu's wife and daughter would have said something.
Scrolls remain unverified?
Are you aware that the progression of grandmaster skips every other generation? Someone of Takamatsu's generation would not be considered for a replacement. This issue is kinda of complex due to the tradition involved. The current Soke doesn't select his replacement, it's more like he approves him. The best of Soke's generation pick the replacement (most of the juyushi I think, Soke's inner council) and then they all set about preparing him for later.
Add to it we're not just talking about one ryu here, there are nine traditions. Takamatsu took on the mantle of Soke for other ryuha because at the time the heads of those schools couldn't find students worthy of receiving the knowledge. Takamatsu helped these guys out as he didn't want the knowledge to die. Your excerpt there might be referring to one of those other samurai traditions, but it's clear that if we're talking actual Togakure ryu ninpo, Takamatsu most certainly did choose Hatsumi as his successor.
Nothing about Hatsumi is fake or disingenuous, he's a renaissance man and an enlightened warrior. I can't say the same about his detractors, if they want to talk about frauds they should go find that Ashida Kim asshole. Funny name for a round eye, no?
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