To ask “Who is Matsunori?” is to chase smoke. His name is whispered in the quiet corners of Net Kakurega, and his words linger on the walls like shadows. Some call him Sensei. Others call him a ghost, a killer. The truth, as always, is more complicated — or perhaps simpler.
The Early Years
Born Matsunori Kaito (松典 海翔) in a small coastal town in Japan, his early life was unremarkable. He grew up among fishermen and pine forests, an ordinary boy with no sign of the man he would become. But tragedy struck early — both parents lost in a storm at sea. Alone and untethered, Matsunori left his village at 17, vanishing into the sprawling urban chaos of Tokyo.
What followed is a gap in history. For nearly a decade, there are no records of his existence — no addresses, no employment, no evidence he even lived. Those who claim to have met him during this time describe a man searching for meaning in the back alleys of society, working odd jobs, learning from the shadows, street fighting martial artists, and navigating both the spiritual and criminal underworlds.
The Turning Point
Legends of Matsunori often return to a single moment — an epiphany beneath a massive black pine tree (黒松, Kuromatsu) outside a mountain temple. The story goes that he arrived there after days of wandering, physically broken and mentally exhausted. It was here, under the shadow of the tree, that he embraced what he now calls the “Three Tenets of Silence”:
Silence of the Mind: To face oneself without distraction.
Silence of the Heart: To feel the weight of one’s desires without judgment.
Silence of the World: To exist without leaving a footprint.
Net Kakurega and the Vision
In the early 2000s, Matsunori appeared again, this time in the underbelly of Osaka, where the first Net Kakurega was born. It was not a business at first, but a sanctuary — an underground space for people like him: the lost, the desperate, and the unmoored. Matsunori offered them refuge, not answers. A place to rest, not solutions.
Net Kakurega grew quietly, each new location appearing as if overnight. Matsunori never advertised, never sought fame, and rarely showed himself to patrons. His writings began appearing on walls, slips of paper, and eventually online, their wisdom inspiring some and frustrating others.
The Myth
Even as a man, Matsunori has become more than that — an idea. His shadow looms large over Net Kakurega, shaping its culture. To some, he is a mentor. To others, a ghost. To all, he is a reminder that refuge is not about escape, but about finding the courage to face yourself.
Today
Matsunori has entrusted his students to bring the lessons of Net Kakurega and the teachings of Matsunori to the West. It is both an honor and a privilege to play a role in this vision. The path before us is long and uncertain, but he still guides us, and his legacy lights the way.