Samurai Sword Experience with Master Shimaguchi
Understanding the Katana
Experience Authentic Samurai Sword Training in Aizu-Wakamatsu
Step into the world of the samurai in Aizu-Wakamatsu on this immersive 2–3 day experience featuring authentic sword training with master choreographer Tetsuro Shimaguchi — renowned for the legendary Kill Bill Vol. 1 fight sequence.
Aizu Wakamatsu
Upon request
2 ~ 3 days
2 ~ 6
Two Days in Japan’s Most Storied Samurai City
- Train with the choreographer of the legendary Crazy 88 fight sequence in Kill Bill Vol. 1
- Learn samurai ritual, etiquette, and the spiritual philosophy of the blade
- Explore Tsuruga Castle with a private expert guide
- Discover Aizu’s warrior heritage and Meiji-era history
- Stay at a luxury ryokan with exquisite regional cuisine
Train with Master Shimaguchi in Aizu-Wakamatsu
Few years after the ancient Japanese samurai class was disarmed following the Japan’s Meiji Restoration (1866-1867), there was a revival of interest in traditional Japanese sword.
Train with choreographer Tetsuro Shimaguchi who created the legendary Crazy 88 fight sequence against O-Ren Ishii’s army in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1.
One thing you will learn about traditional Japanese swordsmanship is the special importance given on ritual and Etiquette, to acquire the right spirit of respect and reverence for the art and the sword itself.
Join your private expert guide for an unparalleled two-day exploration of revered martial arts and samurai history. Discover Aizu Wakamatsu, a city steeped in warrior legacy, where you’ll train in authentic techniques and explore the iconic Tsuruga Castle.
Elevate your experience with a luxurious stay at a traditional ryokan in Aizu Wakamatsu offering exquisite regional cuisine.
Train with the Mind Behind Kill Bill’s Sword Scenes
Aizu-Wakamatsu
One of Japan’s most fiercely preserved samurai cities, Aizu-Wakamatsu resisted the Meiji Restoration to the end. Tsuruga Castle, the Byakkotai legacy, and a warrior culture that never quite surrendered — this is where samurai history is not reconstructed, but remembered.
Master Shimaguchi
Tetsuro Shimaguchi choreographed the Crazy 88 fight sequence in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 — one of the most celebrated sword sequences in cinema. Training under him is not a tourist activity. It is instruction from one of the world’s foremost authorities on the art of the blade.
The Sword Tradition
Japanese swordsmanship is inseparable from ritual and etiquette — the bow, the grip, the stance, the spirit. What Shimaguchi teaches is not performance. It is the philosophy of the sword, passed down through a lineage that predates cinema by centuries.
Why Wanotabi
Tetsuro Shimaguchi does not offer public classes. This experience is arranged privately and exclusively through Wanotabi — your group only, at a pace and depth that no group tour can replicate.
What’s Included
- Private samurai sword training with Tetsuro Shimaguchi
- Instruction in ritual, etiquette, and traditional techniques
- Private guided tour of Aizu-Wakamatsu and Tsuruga Castle
- 2-night stay at Tsuruga Higashiyama Sohonzan (traditional ryokan)
- Regional kaiseki-style meals
What’s Not Included
- Transportation to/from Aizu-Wakamatsu (available upon request)
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities (optional)
