Tsumaki Seirin 8. dan Hanshi, Tamiya Ryu 14. sōke
The Tsumaki family has inherited and preserved the family art of Tamiya-ryū since the early 1800s. Master Seirin assumed the leadership of the style after the 13th sōke, Tsumaki Yoio Gensei, becoming the 14th sōke (grandmaster) of Tamiya-ryū Iaijutsu.
Member of the Seitei Iai Committee (1967–1969) In 1967, the All Japan Kendo Federation (ZNKR) established an expert committee composed of the most prestigious koryū (old school) masters to create a unified, standardized iaido curriculum for kendoka and beginner iaidoka. Tsumaki Seirin was the official representative of Tamiya-ryū on this committee. The committee worked for two years and presented the first 7 Seitei Iai kata (standardized forms) in May 1969 at the Butokuden in Kyoto. Tsumaki Seirin actively contributed to integrating the fundamental elements and principles of classic swordsmanship schools into this modern, internationally recognized system. Although the 12 Seitei kata directly draw most heavily from Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, Musō Shinden-ryū, and Hōki-ryū, the presence of Tsumaki Seirin and Tamiya-ryū on the committee ensured that the precision, clean movements, and characteristic “Tamiya beauty and elegance” were reflected in the federation’s instructional principles.
In addition to preserving tradition, he placed great emphasis on spreading the school both in Japan and abroad. On several occasions, he personally traveled overseas (for example, to Michigan, USA, in 1998) accompanied by his son and future successor to conduct demonstrations and training sessions. In 1991, he published the book Shōkai Tamiya-ryū, which summarizes the techniques and philosophy of the school (詳解田宮流 (Shōkai Tamiya-ryū) — translated as “Detailed/Thorough Explanation of Tamiya-ryū”).