/ Teppojutsu (鉄砲術), the art of gunnery, is the martial art of Japan dedicated to Japanese black powder firearm usage.
Hōjutsu is still practiced today, often with antique matchlock firearms such as the tanegashima. The martial art is most common in Japan where access to historical equipment is easier for practitioners. Groups such as the Matsumoto Castle Gun Corps http://www.gunsamurai.com maintain large collections of Edo era firearms.
As with many Japanese martial arts, hōjutsu incorporates different styles of practice and traditional techniques. These styles (or schools) of shooting have also have differing focuses as well as unique histories. Some of the most well known schools are:
Founder: UnknownEra: Early Edo, between 1638-1696
Place of Origin: Takeno, Tajima ProvinceParent School: Tanegashima-ryuhttps://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%AD%A6%E8%A1%9B%E6%B5%81-1587557?fbclid=IwAR0uviQSnOeUOiJptrGSeQK9flUm8eCt4WPxqpsXWHTvCE1YyAPV1-W6LIs
Founder: Fujioka Rokuzaemon - 藤岡六左衛門Era: Keicho (1596-1615)
Place of Origin: Okayama, Bizen (Founder was originally from Omi province)Parent School: Inatomi-ryuhttps://www.xn--u9j370humdba539qcybpym.jp/part1/archives/366?fbclid=IwAR0FNWpKYA3k8xxBO0kgBoqdUFT6rTtVpfzYmQhbh3Z-LeZmvz3AtroGY78
Founder: Inatomi Sukenao - 稲富 祐直Era: Keicho (1596-1615)
Place of Origin: Tanabe, Tanba ProvinceParent School: Tanegashima-ryuhttps://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%A8%B2%E5%AF%8C%E6%B5%81-205846?fbclid=IwAR3xjcYsJRprtAcxc5WVNOVNcj7wrfLaLK-2zLIaMq4IvrSj82WuqQZQJck
Founder: Inoue Masatsugu - 井上正継 Era: Keicho (1596-1615)
Place of Origin: Harima ProvinceParent School: Ise-no-Kami-ryuhttps://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%A8%B2%E5%AF%8C%E6%B5%81-205846?fbclid=IwAR3xjcYsJRprtAcxc5WVNOVNcj7wrfLaLK-2zLIaMq4IvrSj82WuqQZQJck
Founder: Mouri Takamasa - 毛利高政Era: Eiroku Era 2nd year (1559) - Kan'ei 5th year (1628)
Place of Origin: Saiki, Bungo ProvinceParent School: Tsuda-ryuhttps://ameblo.jp/toudou455/entry-12747192072.html?fbclid=IwAR3Qwq8sV4mW7EWtTr1tox_9q1mymecgGO4bCPj2_n9xA7Ml6mRwaEPt3j4
Founder: Tsuda Shigetsugu - 津田重次Era: Eiroku (Founded in 1568)
Place of Origin: Negoro-ji, Kii ProvinceParent School: Tsuda-ryuhttps://objecthub.keio.ac.jp/ja/object/1548?fbclid=IwAR10SV7Vmccmc9SbvcejgJ9CsbQYrKNbkc0v2oyaWbbvtEhYkvDyn9j43L0
Founder: Maruta Kyuzaemon(?) - 丸田九左衛門Era: Keicho (1596-1615)
Place of Origin: Yonezawa, DewaParent School: Tanegashima-ryuhttps://ameblo.jp/toudou455/entry-12525751386.html?fbclid=IwAR34qMrgP8bQqEg4ZH1nPLQXjCx2Z536EtRvlZVHiWCVLknpgogcT8W1bMY
Founder: Morishige Subeyoshi - 森重都由Era: Kansei (1789-1801)
Place of Origin: Suetake Village, Suo ProvinceParent School: Nakajima-ryu and Yasumori-ryu (Multiple non-shooting schools as well)https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%A3%AE%E9%87%8D%E9%83%BD%E7%94%B1-1139380?fbclid=IwAR1w2P3lM_bFEUljcrvNR3M1Z5eULzmJ97qZ5RNMTF4OZfomziGk-A-6i1s
Founder: Nakajima Nagamori - 中島長守Era: Early 18th Century (Earliest book is 1725)
Place of Origin: Unknown Parent School: Buei-ryu, Jitoku-ryu and Sasaki-ryuhttps://kotobank.jp/word/%E4%B8%AD%E5%B3%B6%E9%95%B7%E5%AE%88-1096559?fbclid=IwAR10SV7Vmccmc9SbvcejgJ9CsbQYrKNbkc0v2oyaWbbvtEhYkvDyn9j43L0
Founder: Ogino Rokubei Yasushige - 荻野六兵衛安重Era: Mid-17th Century
Place of Origin: UnknownParent School: Tanegashima-ryu, plus 12 other schools including Masaki-ryuhttps://kotobank.jp/word/%E8%8D%BB%E9%87%8E%E6%B5%81-451605?fbclid=IwAR3TshQCAud8oXt2WOiaHiqIPkushH3adZRwPo94XNtDI6XxRJ5KaBGkiPg
Founder: Akiho Takashima (高島 秋帆)Place of Origin: Nagasaki, Hizen Province
Parent School: Dutch/European derived gunnery.Era: Jōō Era (1834)
Founder: Tsuda Kenmotsu - 津田監物 Era: 1544 (First book produced in Eiroku era)
Place of Origin: Negoro-ji, Kii Province Parent School: Tanegashima-ryuhttps://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%B4%A5%E7%94%B0%E6%B5%81-1564580?fbclid=IwAR0lFGRU6Z7b4qF74PiDxhubRkohXOeHFxAC9HMLAZj5nnabYQ5CFW9Dzc8
Additional schools, or styles of shooting include:
Gun groups were known as teppo tai (鉄砲隊). Teppo meaning "gun" and tai meaning "group", or "unit".
Recently the general media has come to view the samurai as warriors who were armed only with close combat weapons such as the katana.https://www.quotes.net/mquote/119032 However, the Japanese were arguably using guns more effectively than their European counterparts by the sixteenth century, as well as producing more accurate, durable varieties.
The Battle of Nagashino, where guns were deployed against samurai cavalry, is one of the most famous and influential battles in the history of the samurai.
The ashigaru were the lowest class of soldier in feudal Japan and were formed as militia units during times of conflict. The arrival of guns in Japan in 1543 greatly increased the capability of the ashigaru units on the battlefield. Prior to the introduction of firearms, these men would often have to wield polearms and spears like yari or learn to fight with swords and bows. The matchlock, or tanegashima by comparison was easier to use. It did not rely on physical strength or regular practice to be effective. In addition the firearms could be stockpiled in great numbers when not required. As such, samurai and professional soldiers would train the lower classes in hōjutsu.