Fuji Ryu & Koshiro Tanaka Books & DVDs

Koshiro Tanaka (born 1940 in Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese martial artist, veteran of the Soviet-Afghan War, and self-styled "Afghan Samurai." Raised in a family with a strong martial arts tradition, Tanaka began studying karate in childhood, later mastering judo, aikido, and kendo. He earned a sixth-degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate and became a skilled instructor. After graduating from Kanagawa University with a degree in Law and Economics, he pursued a career as a businessman in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. However, feeling unfulfilled, Tanaka embraced martial arts as his true calling, seeking a greater test of his spirit and skills.

In 1985, driven by a desire to confront his fear of death and oppose Soviet expansionism—partly motivated by Japan’s loss of the Kuril Islands to the Soviet Union after World War II—Tanaka left his office job and traveled to Peshawar, Pakistan. From there, he moved to Afghanistan to join the mujahideen in their fight against Soviet and Afghan government forces during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989). With no prior battlefield experience, he adopted the local salwar kameez, joined the Jamiat-e Islami faction led by Burhanuddin Rabbani, and taught hand-to-hand combat to the mujahideen, applying his martial arts expertise. He participated in combat, including a notable raid near Jagdalak in 1985, earning the nickname "Afghan Samurai" from global media. Despite warnings from the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad to cease involvement, Tanaka made at least six trips to Afghanistan between 1985 and 1987, funding his efforts with $10,000 raised through his company and donating proceeds from his autobiography, Soviet Soldiers in a Gun Sight, My Battle in Afghanistan (1987), to the mujahideen.

Tanaka’s actions were controversial in Japan, where his government criticized his involvement due to the country’s pacifist constitution. He endured malaria, jaundice, kidney stones, and a broken foot during his time in Afghanistan. Viewing himself as a modern samurai, he carried an extra grenade to avoid capture, reflecting his readiness to die for his cause. After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, Tanaka returned to Japan, where he continued his martial arts career. He served as the second Soke (head) of Fuji Ryu from 1991 to 2007 and founded his own martial arts school, Hiko School, in 2008. He also became managing director of the Japan Freedom Afghanistan Association and secretary general of the International Refugee Relief Committee, advocating for a democratic Afghanistan. Tanaka authored a collection of tanka poems, Afghan Samurai, Collection of Death Poems, reflecting on his wartime experiences. He remains a polarizing figure, celebrated by some as a warrior embodying the samurai spirit and criticized by others in Japan for his defiance of national policy.

Fuji Ryu is primarily known for its sophisticated and technical approach to iaijutsu (the art of drawing and cutting with the Japanese sword). The school features distinctive drawing techniques, unique footwork patterns, and subtle body mechanics that differentiate it from other sword traditions.

As the current soke of Fuji Ryu, Tanaka is responsible for preserving and transmitting this classical martial tradition. He has dedicated his life to maintaining the authentic techniques, principles, and philosophical aspects of the art as they were passed down through generations.

Unlike many modern martial arts instructors, Tanaka emphasizes the preservation of traditional training methods, including kata that have remained largely unchanged for centuries. His teaching focuses on precise form, proper etiquette, and the spiritual dimensions of swordsmanship beyond mere technical execution.

Tanaka occasionally conducts seminars internationally, though access to his instruction remains limited, following the traditional Japanese approach of selective transmission. He has trained a small number of dedicated disciples who assist in preserving the lineage of Fuji Ryu for future generations.

Through his ongoing dedication to this classical martial art, Tanaka represents an important link in maintaining Japan's rich martial heritage in the modern era.