With great sorrow in my heart I am informing all of the students of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall that Headmaster Tsuneyoshi Matsuno passed away suddenly after a short illness. He was a great global ambassador for many forms of traditional Japanese culture and was most accomplished in the martial art form “Bushi-Do.” Headmaster Matsuno had many books published in Bushi-Do and other types of Japanese history. He enjoyed painting and calligraphy to a very high standard, as well as being able to fit in other pastimes.

He was loved and respected by all those who knew him. He traveled around the world, representing the Japanese federation in the area of traditional Iaido and stimulating new interest in the way of the sword and his cutting style, as well as the daily philosophy of living by the standards of the samurai. The samurai ethics and approach to life was essential to the foundation of the teachings of traditional Iaido. Grand Master Crandall first met Headmaster Matsuno 20 years ago during one of these trips to promote Bushi-do. They trained and became good friends. Over the years their friendship and respect grew and Grand Master Crandall trained privately under Headmaster Matsuno. Many of the students in the American Martial Arts Institute were able to train with Headmaster Matsuno in sword seminars held here in New York State. When Grand Master Crandall turned 50 years of age, Headmaster Matsuno asked if he would teach the style on his behalf. With this Grand Master Crandall of American Eagle Style empty hand form became Master Crandall of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno.

Headmaster Tsuneyoshi Matsuno was one of six instructor students of Masayoshi Nakajima Ryusho-sai the 5th Headmaster of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu. After Masayoshi Nakajima untimely and unexpectedly passed away, only three (one being Tsuneyoshi Matsuno) of his six students choose to continue the traditional teachings. With the slight differences in presentation of each student, they added their name to the style. Resulting in Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno. In an Iaido ceremony held by Headmaster Matsuno in June of 2002 in Koba, Japan, Grand Master Crandall of the American Eagle Style was mad Headmaster and successor to the style. A one-hour television show airing on WKTV, an NBC affiliate, documented this historic event. Headmaster Matsuno would stay the guiding force and direction of the style, but had chose to retire from its active worldwide promotion and stated that he had found a samurai worthy of carrying on this 300-year old Japanese art. Headmaster Crandall was to stay as close to the ancient traditions as possible, but with new growth and responsibilities for the future of the school, was directed to add his name to the school title. His name was to be the last added and this was to be assured by a careful documentation of exactly what the style entailed and would accurately present for the students and history of the future.