Eduardo González de la Fuente and Andreas Niehaus have written an article titled “From Olympic Sport to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Okinawa Karate Between Local, National and International Identities in Contemporary Japan” in the UNESCO ICHCAP- ICM “Traditional Martial Arts as Intangible Cultural Heritage (Living Heritage Series).” (in English only)
An online symposium with the theme of Okinawa karate gaining UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) status was held at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan on February 12th. The live stream is now available together with the PR video screened during the symposium.
Archive video of the online symposium (in English)
PR video for Okinawa karate to become a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
In the 7th episode of the Okinawa Karate “WA” series, Kobudō master Ishiki Hidetada sensei introduces a Tunkwā (Tonfā) kata that he created for the purpose of learning the handling of this weapon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KaLUlq5IdY
A symposium in relation with the future registration of Okinawa karate on the world heritage list will be held on February 12, 2021 (Friday) 18: 00~ Online (Youtube). For details, please check the Symposium leaflet (PDF version) (Japanese).
Simultaneous translation in English will be available.
The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC176Q7L3JfTmYBzDDPk2UhA
The Okinawa Prefectural Planning and Coordination Division announced the release of a new promotion plan (outline plan) on January 29th. Karate is also included.
Click here for the PDF version of the outline plan (in Japanese).
From January 29th to February 28th, the Okinawa Prefecture is welcoming public comments regarding the outline plan. Please check this page for details (in Japanese).
In the future, and based on this outline plan, the Okinawa Prefecture government plans on compiling a “new promotion plan (draft)” while listening to a wide range of opinions from the citizens of the prefecture, municipalities, related organizations, etc.
In the Outline plan, karate appears mainly as follows. (The following is a free translation from our center as there is no official translation available at the moment)
Chapter 4 Basic Measures
1 Aiming for an island that values nature, history, tradition, and culture that are typical of Okinawa
⑷ Succession and creation and further development of Okinawan culture
- Preservation, succession and development of Okinawa karate
① Raising of Okinawa karate leaders and successors.
② Powerful promotion of “Okinawa, the birthplace of karate” with the Okinawa Karate Kaikan as a base.
③ International exchange through the regular holding of the Okinawa Karate World Tournaments
④ Promotion of initiatives toward the registration as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
3 Aiming for a rich island full of hope and vitality
⑹ Creation of new industries that utilize Okinawa's superiority and potential
- Creation of new businesses and industries that utilize the soft power of Okinawa
② Creation and promotion of industry utilizing karate
