Masaaki Hatsumi
The grand master himself. Born in Noda City on December 2, 1931. His graduated from Meiji University with a major in theater studies and is also a very skilled bone doctor. Though ageing (he is 67 at the time of this writing) he is more flexible than most young men. When I saw him at the U.K. TaiKai '99 he didn't really stun me with mighty jumps or blistering speed, but it was hard not to notice his timing and his movement. I've never seen anything like it anywhere. I can highly recommend getting your hands on some videos of Sensei training with his shihans, they are most impressive. Especially a video I saw at the U.K. TaiKai where Sensei demonstrated Kihon Happo filled everybody present with awe and admiration.

Toshitsugu Takamatsu
The 33rd grandmaster, who died in 1972, was known as Moko no tora "the Mongolian tiger" among the fellow martial artists with who he trained in the 1920's. He was the last practitioner of this tradition to go to war and he is said to have killed not a few opponents. (12 fights to the death, 7 competition challenges). A rather awe inspiring character.
A funny story: In the late 1960's Takamatsu wrote several articles in newspapers. All of these articles spoke of ninjutsu, and other Budo/Bujutsu. In one of these articles Takamatsu wrote that in true martial arts, when fighting, you must be prepared to kill your attacker, or kill the person you are attacking. In response to this, a very high ranking Japanese Karate teacher went on Japanese television, and said that what Takamatsu had written was wrong, that those days were long gone and did no longer exist, neither did they need to exist anymore, in this present age. He also stated that Takamatsu was an "old has been" and was over 80 years old and long past it. Takamatsu stated in another interview, that he was far from past it, and saw the Karate teachers comments as a challenge, which he wished to accept. He gave the Karate teacher three days to publicly retract his statement. If not, Takamatsu intended to fight him, and kill him, with his hands tied behind his back. Three days later the statement made by the Karate teacer was retracted.
Takamatsu spent the last part of his life training Masaaki Hatsumi to be the next Soke.

The Shihans

Shihan is a fairly vague concept, but I believe that a Shihan (master instructor) is person who has trained with sensei for large amount of time (several years) and who has attained 10th Dan or near that. But when a student attends a seminar it is most likely to be headed by a shihan.

Sveneric Bogsater
Svenn is probably the character in Bujinkan I admire the most. He was born in Sweden, but has trained extensively with Sensei and the Shihans. He now lives in Holland with his wife Mariette, 10th Dan. I believe him to be an 11th Dan, he was last time I heard.
Svenn is an oak both in body and in soul and this is clearly felt when you meet him at seminars. Even though he is always nice and respectful towards people, it it not hard to feel the pure strength that sorrounds him. He said something once, concerning the Bujinkan mark that is traditionally worn over your heart on the gi: "It means no anger", he said and looked smilingly towards us.

Brin Morgan
Brin is the founding father of the Shadow Warrior subfraction of Bujinkan. The difference is not terribly great, though emphasis on nature and real world application is heavier in Shadow Warrior. Brin is a small, thin guy, all bones, sinews and muscle. He likes to talk and laugh a lot and is never afraid to state his opinion on this and that.
He has travelled a lot and has taught Bujinkan to special forces. It seems to me that he has accumulated quite a lot of experience. He is an 11th Dan and still heads Shadow Warrior in England.

Pedro Fleitas
Pedro and his band of guys from Spain are seriously skilled (Pedro is 11th dan I think) and fun. I mean, at the U.K. Taikai they were center of attention both at training and when came to dancing in the evening. I am much looking forward to being able to participate in seminar with Pedro as the instructor. I believe Spain is the country in Europe with highest number of Bujinkan members.

Stephen Hayes
I still remember lending my first books on Ninjutsu from the small library in my birthtown, called "Ninja I". Ha, those were the days. Hayes is an American. He is responsible for bringing the knowledge of Ninjutsu out of Japan and should be credited duly for this. In the end though, he lost his edge and strength when he opened the so-called Quest Centers in the USA, to set himself up as the leader of his own system and to earn a lot of money.
The rest is silence.

Ok, now you know a little about a few of the important persons in the Bujinkan (in europe), so go meet them! Meeting them is also a good way to find out if I am wrong or lying. Don't trust me. Find out for yourself.