From 1 October 2026, Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido will be expanding its digital education and information services: With MIRAI, this Japanese-influenced martial art based on principles will, for the first time, have its own digital learning companion. Her role is to impart knowledge, explain changes and, in future, support members, interested parties and trainers through digital learning and information resources. With MIRAI, Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido is combining its nearly 40-year history with new possibilities offered by artificial intelligence. The name MIRAI means ‘future’ in Japanese and also describes her role: to convey traditional knowledge in a contemporary, understandable and internationally accessible way.

MIRAI will appear as a recurring digital guide in explanatory videos, learning content and other digital media produced by Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido. From 1 October 2026, she will, in particular, guide users through and explain the extensive innovations within the system. These include the four training profiles – Kizzu (Kids), Jitsugi, Ōyō and Yūwa – the further development of the education and training structures, as well as content on the fundamentals and principles of Tatsu-Ryu Bushido. Topics such as Bushidō, Miyamoto Musashi’s Gorin-no-Sho, traditional training weapons, prevention, self-assertion and the development of body, mind and personality can also be presented clearly through MIRAI. There is a particular focus on multilingual communication. Explanatory and informational videos are already being developed in various languages. In future, MIRAI is thus intended to support the international work of Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido and enable people, regardless of their language, to access key content more easily.

However, MIRAI is not a substitute for instructors. Martial arts thrive on personal training, immediate correction, experience and learning together in the dojo. The digital learning assistant complements this work: it explains concepts, organises knowledge, supports digital learning resources and can convey information in a consistent format. Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido’s new digital infrastructure is also set to benefit from this. MIRAI is intended as a long-term component for explanatory videos, e-books, digital training programmes and the future learning platform. With the new generation of the website, these areas are set to become increasingly interconnected from the turn of the year 2026/2027.

Christian Wiederanders, founder of Tatsu-Ryu-Bushido, is behind the development. Over the past few months, extensive texts, guidelines, learning materials, illustrations and video content have been revised or newly developed using modern AI tools. MIRAI is now, for the first time, giving a recognisable face and voice to part of this digital educational work. “MIRAI is not intended to replace our tradition, but to help carry it into the future in a way that is easy to understand. Personal training and human experience remain the foundation. However, artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities for us to convey knowledge in a clear, consistent and international manner.”