The Yonekawa-ryu school is a branch of the Shino-ryu school, and was started by Johaku YONEKAWA who was admired as the founder and is known for giving lessons to Tofukumon-in, and it was supported by many Daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) families, most of which have since become extinct due to abolition of feudal domains during the Meiji Restoration.
東福門院に指南したことで知られる米川常伯を祖と仰ぐ志野流の分流で、大名家に広く支持されたが維新廃藩によりそのほとんどが絶えている。