Hatsumi was born inNoda, Chibaon December 2, 1931. He heavily participated in sports during his school years, along with martial arts and theater, including becoming "captain of the football team". While attending theMeiji University,he continued learningjudoand eventually rose toYudanshaor Dan rank. He also began teaching Judo during his time at the university toAmericansoldiers at the nearbyYokota Air Base. After graduating, Hatsumi began to search for a teacher to further his study of martial arts and when he was 26 he metToshitsugu Takamatsu, known as "the Tiger of Mongolia". Hatsumi was accepted as Takamatsu's student and spent fifteen years onHonshu Islandlearning variousninjutsustyles from Takamatsu and other members of the Takamatsu family, also he continued to learn judo,Shito Ryukarate,aikido, andkobudo.[4] Takamatsu died inNara, Japanin 1972 after advancing Hatsumi from student to Soke and bestowing on him "all the art of the nine schools", and of course the grandmaster's scrolls, three of which he indicated were ancient ninja schools and six samurai jujutsu schools of martial arts. Hatsumi went on to found theBujinkan Dojoin Noda, Japan to teach the nine schools to other students.[4][5]His first trip to the United States was in 1982 and he has since continued to participate in yearly ninjutsu Tai Kai (gathering) around the world.[6] Hatsumi also worked as a Seikotsu-in (整骨院)bonesetterafter his graduation and was chairman of the Writers Guild of Japan at one point in time.[7]He was the writer of a martial arts magazineTetsuzan, which was "distributed in 18 countries."[6].