Today, at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan, the Okinawa Karate Kaikan (designated manager OCVB) and the Okinawa Dentō Karate Shinkōkai conducted their “Karate Experience Program” for the first time.
This program is based on a demonstration and experience program that the Shinkōkai has conducted for tourist groups several times so far. Both organizations will continue to promote this new product so that it can be used as a learning experience by school trips and a karate experience menus for tourists groups.
For this first time, 42 people from one company discovered Okinawa karate and kobudō. Demonstrating and instructing were: Shōrin-ryū Uema Dōjō Uema Takeshi sensei, Uechi-ryū Kenyūkai Higa Susumu sensei and Kudaka sensei, Gōjū-ryū Meibukan Yagi Ippei sensei, Kobudō Ryūkonkai & Kyūdōkan Honbu Dōjō Kinjō Mika.
For inquiries about this program, please contact the Okinawa Karate Kaikan’s management office.
On October 25th, in commemoration of the Karate Day, the “First Oki-no-gū Karate Festival” was held at Oki-no-gū, one of the Eight Ryūkyū Shrines located in Onoyama Park. This is where stands the Funakoshi Gichin Monument. Under the Mt. Tentōzan, a Shintō ceremony, karate demonstrations and a concert were held under the direction of Uechi Ichirō, head priest of Oki-no-gū and a Shōrin-ryū 6th dan who's wishes to make this site the sacred place of karate.
In addition, a gold statue of Busā-ganashī, the martial art deity is now enshrined in the Kangondō shrine located below the shrine.
Head priest Uechi Ichirō Hokama sensei speaking about karate
Gōjū-ryū Yahi Ippei sensei Kobudō Iha Mitsutada sensei
Okinawa Kenpō Yamashiro Yoshitomo sensei and Kobudō Yogi Kiyoshi sensei
Busā-ganashī
Commemorative clear file on sale at the shrine
Today, the Karate Day dedicatory demonstration was held at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. Below are some photos of the event.
Representing the Governor of Okinawa, Matsubayashi-ryū Taira Yoshitaka sensei Yamakawa Takako.
Shōrin-ryū Ahagon Naonobu sensei Shōrin-ryū Sakugawa Masanobu sensei
Shōrin-ryū Shimabukuro Zenpo Uechi-ryū Nakahodo Tsutomu sensei
Kobudo Nakamoto Masahiro sensei
We have released a new article on "Nohara Kamaichi and Takara Shigeru" from the 1961 Kobudo series of the Okinawa Times.
A report in English on the symposium held yesterday at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan was released on the website of the Shinkokai.
