or ,Knutsen, Roald (2004). Rediscovering Budo. Kent: Global Oriental. Page 37. also known as , is a Japanese sword school founded by in the 17th century.Draeger, Donn F. (1974). Modern Bujutsu and Budo. New York: Weatherhill. Page 77. Abe was a disciple of Taisha-ryū,Draeger, Donn (1973). Classical Budo - The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan. Boston: Weatherhill. Page 81. an offshoot of Shinkage-ryū. He was considered a Kengō (great swordsman) and instructor to the Akizuki-han in Chikuzen Province.
The Abe ryū is known as the first major school of kenjutsu to use the term in 1673,Tominaga, Kengo (1973). Kendo Gohyakunen Shi (A Five Hundred Year History of Kendo). Hakusui Shoten, Tokyo; p. 20.Draeger, Donn (1973). Classical Budo - The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan. New York: Weatherhill. Page 81. although the characters had also been used earlier in China.上野 靖之 (1966) 剣道教典 (Educational Model Fencing) 尚武館刊. p.180 Kendō, or ken no michi, "the way of the sword", describes the teachings of his ryū which emphasized mental and moral practice rather than physical techniques. There is no direct connection between the Abe-ryū usage of kendō and the kendo practiced today.
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