After progressing through various martial arts, Masaaki Hatsumi found his life's mentor, Takamatsu Toshitsugu, and studied under him for the next fifteen years. Hatsumi became the 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryū Ninjutsu and eight other arts, which he unified into the Bujinkan system. While traveling the world, teaching thousands of individual students as well as law enforcement agencies, he received numerous accolades from politicians and spiritual leaders of many nationalities. He has also worked as a professional osteopath, acted in a popular television series, written many books on ninjutsu and budo, and was, for many years, the Chairman of the International Department of the Japan Literary Artists' Club.