The memorial monument of Nagamine Shōshin sensei is scheduled to be erected this year in Shinyashiki Park, Tomari, Naha. On the occasion of the unveiling ceremony to be held early November, we are introducing the completed WEB serialization "the Story of Nagamine Shoshin", that started in July 2020. As the series is in Japanese, we suggest using an online translation software to read these 17 very interesting articles.
The story of Nagamine Shōshin - The rise and fall of Okinawa karate
By journalist Yanagihara Shigeo
As published on WEB Daisan Bunmei
Episode 17: extra edition no. 2 (final episode of the series) The disciples of Nagamine Shōshin
Episode 16: Extra Edition no.2 Interview of former Governor Inamine Keiichi
Episode 15: (final) About the origin of karate?
Episode 14: Towards the Okinawa Karate world reunification
Episode 13: Okinawa Kaiho National Athletics drama
Episode 12: The Ryūkyū disposal of karate (Part II)
Episode 11: The Ryūkyū disposal of karate (Part I)
Episode 10: Publication of “Okinawa no Karatedō”
Episode 9: Frustration as a businessman
Episode 8: The Naha City Council era
Episode 7: New start after the war
Episode 6: Surviving the Battle of Okinawa
Episode 5: The police work era (Part II)
Episode 4: The police work era (Part I)
Episode 3: Lying down due to illness and resuscitating with karate
Episode 2: The nature of Tomari
Episode 1: How did the era of the four great masters of Okinawa karate started?
The preparation for this year’s commemoration of the Karate Day on October 25th at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan (invitation only) and on 31st at the Itoman Peace Prayer Park are under way. More information is available on this event’s website: https://karate-event.jp/
Furthermore, another event involving karate is schedule on November 1st.
As you may know, November 1st has been declared the “Day of Ryūkyū History and Culture” by the Okinawa Prefecture Government. For the 1st celebration this year, a ceremony will be held at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. Ryūkyūan dances and karate demonstrations are scheduled to be staged during the event. The event should be aired live online and later available on the official website: https://ryukyubunka.jp
Last fiscal year, the Okinawa Prefecture Karate promotion division created a new application called “Okinawa Karate Navi” as part of the “Okinawa Karate Online Promotion Project”. This bilingual application is configured so that Japanese and international karate enthusiasts can easily search for dojo and karate related historic sites, etc.
This year, our information center has been outsourced to manage this application.
As it is an ongoing project, we will strive to improve the quality of the contents and add dōjō, historic sites and other contents along the way. We hope you will find it attractive.
The posters available in 5 languages of the Okinawa Karate World Tournaments scheduled to be held in 2022 have been released, and the PDF data are now available for download on the official website.
Hanshi 10th Dan and a holder of the Okinawa Prefecture designated intangible cultural asset "Okinawa Karate / Kobujutsu", Wakugawa Kōsei sensei passed away on July 31st. Born in 1926, he studied karate under Gōjū-ryū masters Miyazato Eiichi and Iha Kōshin before being entrusted with the Shōdōkan school. Based in Naha City and Tomigusuku City, he taught generations of karateka for decades. He became a certified holder in 2000. May he rest in peace.
(Wakugawa sensei's demonstrating at the 2009 World tournament's dedicatory demonstration)