Yamaoka Tesshu 山岡鉄舟

山岡鉄舟 Yamaoka Tesshu (1836-1888)
A famous samurai of the Bakumatsu period, who played an important role in the Meiji Restoration. The founder of the Itto Shoden Muto-ryu school of swordsmanship. Brother-in-law of Takahashi Deishu. Together with Katsu Kaishu and Takahashi Deishu, he is known as one of the Three Shu (Sanshu) of the Bakumatsu Period. During the Boshin War, he met Saigo Takamori as an emissary of Katsu Kaishu and paved the way for the opening of Edo Castle. He mastered the three arts of swordsmanship, Zen, and calligraphy. It is said that he wrote a million sheets of calligraphy during his lifetime because he never refused to write if people asked him to.