What is Menkyo Kaiden?
(A) These days, many in the West and even in Japan falsely claim to have received Menkyo Kaiden. Menkyo Kaiden is the traditional equivalent of the modern 10th dan. It is a license of complete transmission and implies that the bearer is of sound character, discipline, knowledge and skill. In most cases, decades of dedicated study and service are required before receiving such an honor. Over the centuries, with the exception of the headmasters, only a couple of individuals have received this license. While the rank of “Mokuroku-dan” (7th dan) allows a student to open his own dojo, only a Menkyo Kaiden holder is permitted to grade students. In the current era, this responsibility is reserved for the headmaster.
