NHK WORLD’s program “Kids meet the World” filmed last August is scheduled to be broadcast on the following dates and time.
Sunday, November 24 at 9:10-9:35/15:10-15: 35/21:10-21:35
Monday, November 25 at 3:10-3:35
When you click on the banner “Live & Programs” from the NHK WORLD website, a 24-hour program is broadcast on the website, just like a TV program. Here, the program is broadcast multiple times according to the above broadcast dates and time, so you can watch the program there.
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
Also, after the broadcast, from around Tuesday, if you search for "Kids meet the World" on the Internet, the program's HP will come out and can be watched on demand for 1 year on that website.
URL：https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/kids/
On December 8th, the 1st Okinawa Traditional Karate and Kobudō Martial Arts Exchange Charity Demonstration will be held at the National Theatre Okinawa. It is sponsored by the “Sanbokukai” group, of which most members are members of the Okinawa Karate Kobudō Federation.
The organizers' goal is to create an event aimed at technical exchanges between traditional karate dōjō, beyond the boundaries of styles.
Part of the ticket sales will be donated for the reconstruction of Shuri Castle.
The details are as follows.
・ Date and time: Sunday, December 8, 2019 (14: 00-16: 30) * Open 13: 30-
・ Place: National Theatre Okinawa - Small Theater
・ Entrance fee: 1,000 yen (per person) * Free for elementary school students and younger
・ Contents: The following 8 dōjō will participate and perform for 15 minutes each.
1) Okinawa Gōju-ryū Karatedō Kūshinkan
2) Okinawa Gōju-ryū Karatedō Sōdombu Jundōkan
3) Ryūkyū Kobudō Shinbukan, Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Mukenkai
4) Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Shidōkan Shioya Karate Club
5) Okinawa Gōju-ryū Karatedō Shōdōkan Haebaru General Headquarters
6) Okinawa Karatedō Shōrin-ryū Butokukan Association General Headquarters
7) Okinawa Karatedō Kobudō Shōrin-ryū Bushinkan
8) Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Kyūdōkan
・ Contact information: Ageshio Japan (Tel: 098-988-3888)
Today in the auditorium of the Okinawa Prefecture Government building, was held the “Okinawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award” ceremony.
Among the 15 cultural people, Ahagon Naonobu sensei (79) was commended in the karate and kobujutsu division. He is the president of the Okinawa Karate Kobudō Federation and vice president of the ODKS.
After training under Chibana Chōshin sensei and later Nagazato Shūgorō sensei, he established the Reihōkan dōjō in Tabaru, Naha City where he teaches Shōrin-ryū and kobudō. He is a Hanshi 10th dan.
Ahagon sensei was praised with the following words: “For many years, you have strived to train, preserve and pass on Okinawa traditional karate and nurture inheritors. At the same time, you have exerted yourself to expand the spread of Okinawa traditional karate both in Japan and overseas. Through your endeavor, you have contributed to the promotion of the Okinawan culture.”
Although not in the field of karate but the art of Tanka, Hirayama Yōmei sensei, a high-ranking member of the Okinawa Traditional Kobudō Preservation Society Bunbukan was also commended.
Around 2:30 am on October 31st, a fire broke out in Shuri Castle, a World Cultural Heritage site and a symbol of the Ryūkyū Kingdom and Okinawa Prefecture. The Seiden and Nanden all the way to the Nike-Udun and Yuinchi and other buildings were burnt down.
Shuri Castle, the royal residence of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, was destroyed by fire in the past in 1453, 1660, 1709, and 1945. After the war, the University of the Ryūkyū was built on the site of the castle. After the relocation of the university in 1980, a full-scale restoration was carried out. In 1992, the Seiden and other buildings were restored. On the occasion of the opening ceremonies of the castle park, Okinawa karate grand masters offered a dedicatory demonstration.
Photo: "History and Tradition of Okinawan Karate" by Mr. Hokama Tetsuhiro
In 2000, the castle was registered as a World Heritage site as part of the “Gusuku and related heritage group of the Ryukyu Kingdom” under the name of “Site of Shuri Castle”. After that, a new area O-uchibara was opened in 2019, introducing the world known as “Oku” located being the Seiden.
Until now, many tourists visited the castle as a World Heritage site and a tourist spot, and Shuri Castle, which has a deep relationship with Shurite and Okinawa karate, has been visited by many international karate enthusiasts.
This time is the fifth time Shuri Castle burns down. Okinawan citizens, world Uchinanchu and karate enthusiasts are deeply shocked, and messages of sympathy are arriving one after another from all over the world.
At the moment, we can only pray for all tragedies, including fires in Amazon, California and other locations on earth.
Although we are already receiving donation consultations and proposals, we are communicating with the Okinawa Prefecture Karate Promotion Division and will announce new information as they arrive.
We have released a new article on from the 1961 Kobudo series of the Okinawa Times.
