Togakure-ryu is taught in the syllabi of the Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan, To-Shin Do and the Budo Ryu Ninjutsu Dojo. Many other related/off-shoot organisations also teach the togakure ryu methods of ninjutsu. According to members of these systems, these schools also encompass other samurai & ninja arts that make up the various collection of "ryuha'. The collection of the "ryuha" (family / military old martial art) is different within different schools.
According to Togakure ryu Ninjutsu Hidensho (a Japanese manuscript, currently in the possession of sōke Masaaki Hatsumi, Togakure-ryū ("School of the Hidden Door") was founded about eight hundred years ago by Daisuke Nishina (Togakure), who learned shugendo practices as well as Hakuun ryu ninjutsu from Kagakure Doshi. Although the existence of Daisuke Nishina has been verified, in that a person by that name was found by Koyama Ryutaro in a period work, the history of the system has not been independently verified. It must, however be noted that the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten recognises Togakure-ryū as a legitimate koryu bujutsu school. According to the Bujinkan, the school contained Yon-po Hiden (Four Secrets) : Senban Shuriken (four-pointed throwing star), Shuko and sokko (spiked bands worn on hands (shuko) and sometimes feet (sokko), for climbing), Shinodake (a tube used as a snorkel or blowgun) and Kyoketsu shoge, an unusual blade attached to cord which is in turn attached to a heavy ring, and taijutsu or arts of the whole body.
The oldest copy of the makimono of Togakure-ryu (which is in the possession of Hatsumi Masaaki) is written on the same physical scroll as the makimono of Gyokko-ryu. Four copies of this set of Togakure-ryu makimono and densho are known to have been made. The first copy was issued to Fukumoto Yoshio by Takamatsu Toshitsugu on the occasion of the former's attainment of menkyo kaiden. This copy is currently in the possession of Shoto Tanemura. The next copy was issued to Manaka Fumio by Hatsumi Masaaki on the occasion of the former's attainment of menkyo kaiden. A copy was issued to Tanemura Shoto by Hatsumi Masaaki on the occasion of the former's attainment of menkyo kaiden. The fourth copy was issued by Fukumoto Yoshio to Tanemura Shoto on the occasion of the former's attainment of menkyo kaiden under the latter and is a copy of Fukumoto's copy.
In 1182, during the Japanese Genpei War, at the end of the Heian Period, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, a general from the mountainous Nagano region of Japan, captured the capital city of Kyoto. After this victory, he found himself under attack by his cousin Yoshitsune. When Yoshitsune's troops successfully crossed the Uji river, a key strategic defense for the capital, Yoshinaka withdrew, only to be killed as his horse fell through the ice of a frozen rice paddy. After Yoshinaka's defeat, one of his samurai retainers, Daisuke Nishina of Togakure Village escaped to the mountains of Iga in south central Japan. Nishina's native village of Togakure is now known as Togakushi, Nagano, and was an early center of Shugendo training. It may be that Nishina engaged in such training, but the records of the Togakure ryu do not mention it. The mountains provided an easy place to hide from the enemy troops, who still searched for Yoshinaka's forces. Daisuke Nishina, who subsequently changed his name to Daisuke Togakure, later became known as the first Sōke (family head) of Togakure-ryu ninjutsu. Ironically, Yoshitsune was later overthrown by his brother Yoritomo. After escaping capture by Yoritomo's forces, he founded the Yoshitsune-ryu of ninjutsu. The Yoshitsune-ryu later died out, along with many other famous ninjutsu ryu. The ninja families of Iga grew to become a great part of Japan's military history. Lending their support to Tokugawa Ieyasu, they were able to aid in the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate and were recruited to many government posts, including police, bodyguards, and intelligence agents.
Togakure Ryu has currently two grandmasters. One is Masaaki Hatsumi of the Bujinkan and the other is Shoto Tanemura of the Genbukan. Hatsumi received sokeship directly from Toshitsugu Takamatsu (the previous soke) and was appointed "Omote Soke." (Main or visible grandmaster) However, Takamatsu also appointed Yoshio Fukumoto as an "Ura Soke." (Hidden Grandmaster) This is not an uncommon practice in Japan; many sokes did so to protect the Ryu-has should something happen to the Omote Soke and render him incapable of passing on the Ryu for whatever reason. Both Hatsumi and Fukumoto were students of Takamatsu and trained together. Interesting to note is the fact that both men resided in Noda City, Japan. Shoto Tanemura trained with both men and received Menkyo Kaiden and confirmation as the next Soke from Hatsumi, but left the Bujinkan. Later, he trained with Fukumoto and received Sokeship from him as well as special kuden given only to Fukumoto from Takamatsu. Both men are legitimate Sokes of Togakure Ryu, and both teach it within their respective organizations.