Prefecture’s cultural contributors awards
On November 8th, the Okinawa Prefecture Cultural contributors awards ceremony was held at the Okinawa Prefecture Government Building. Among the 16 commended people, Taira Yoshitaka of Matsubayashi-ryū and Sakugawa Masanobu, vice president of the Zen Okinawa Karatedō Federation were awarded in the field of Karate and Kobujutsu.
Mr. Taira, 73 years old and Hanshi 10th dan, is a direct student of late Nagamine Shōshin, prefecture-designated intangible cultural asset holder. He has widely taught and demonstrated Okinawa karate in Japan and overseas. He serves as the chairman of the World Matsubayashi-ryū Karatedō Association and vice chairman of the Okinawa Prefecture Karatedō Federation. He teaches karate at the Kōdōkan Taira Karate Dōjō in Urasoe City.
Mr. Sakugawa, 69 years old and Hanshi 9th dan, studied karate under late Nakazato Jōen, prefecture-designated intangible cultural asset holder. He belongs to the Okinawa Shōrinji-ryū Shinkōkai. He teaches karate in Sashiki Nanjō City in his Shōrinji-ryū Senshinkan Sakugawa Dōjō Sasaki.
