Okinawa karate on national TV
2019.03.29

  This coming Sunday March 31st, former tennis champion and announcer Matsuoka Shuzo meets Higaonna Morio sensei in a nation wide TV show. The program is "Cheering for Tokyo Matsuoka Shuzo's Yes we can declaration - Dekiru Sengen"...   The program should be available on all Asahi TV network at AM6:50. In Okinawa, check out QAB.

Release of a list of dōjō in Okinawa
2019.03.11

  The book “Okinawa Karatedō Kobudō Dōiō List” was issued by the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education in 2009. After that, the Okinawa Prefectural Karate Promotion Division conducted a “Survey on Okinawa Traditional Karate and Kobudō” during the fiscal year 2016. According to this survey, as of the end of 2016, there were 386 dojos in the prefecture.

  As this list wasn’t released to the public, our center felt the necessity of a “List of dōiō inside the prefecture”. Thus this fiscal year, we have worked on the creation of such a list as part of our work. We are now please to inform you that the List of Okinawan dōjō is now available on our website.

  Please note that not all dōiō are listed. Only the ones that approved the disclosure are being introduced. Currently, 191 dōiō are registered. We will keep updating the list along the way. We hope that it will served the many karate enthusiasts who visit Okinawa.

   By the way, since the inauguration of our center in April 2017, more than 80 dōiō and organizations have been cooperating in welcoming and instructing karate enthusiasts from mainland Japan and overseas.

 

 

Two events in relation with the new exhibition
2019.03.08

  The special exhibition on "The founder of Gōjū-ryū’s Miyagi Chōjun" will start Tuesday, March 14 at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. Two related events will be held.

    (1) March 14 (Thu) 11: 00 ~ 12: 00 Special talk show "Talking about Miyagi Chōjun sensei"

          Speakers: Arakaki Shūichi, Higaonna Morio, Kadekaru Tōru 


    (2) Saturday March 23 (Sat) 10: 00-12: 00 & 14: 00-16: 00 "Gōjū-ryū Karate Workshop"

         Explanations: Sakihara Kyōko - Instructor: Kuramoto Masakazu

         Registration: okinawa.karate@sun-agc.co.jp

 

Itosu Ankō – Re-examination of the photo
2019.03.04

   Today, March 1st, the Okinawa karate promotion division sponsored “Okinawa Karate Academy” was held within the Okinawa Prefectural Government building. Approximately 30 people from the karate world participated.

  The theme of this event, which was the third edition, was the “Re-examination of the Itosu Ankō photo - On the importance of backing up with contemporary historical documents”. Mr. Nakamura Akira, assistant curator at the Okinawa karate promotion division, was in charge of the examination. Today he announced the results of his investigation. Below is a summary of the contents of the announcement. Later on this website, we will introduce a feature article of the presentation.

  In 2006, an article titled “Discovery of a photography of a legendary karate master” was published in the Okinawa Times. It was an article reporting the discovery of a photograph of Itosu Ankō (1831-1915), a man who left a huge footprint in Okinawa karate history. Since then, this photograph has been used widely as the photograph of Itosu Ankō. Yet, an examination work has been underway due the recent uncovering of new historical materials.

  In the 2006 photograph, Tokuda Antei is present. Mr. Tokuda graduated in 1910 from the Okinawa Prefecture Junior High School (which later became Okinawa Prefectural 1st junior high school). Since the junior high school at that time was a 5 years system, the photo was taken between 1905 and 1910.

  Through research and examination of historical documents of this same period, Mr. Nakamura discovered 2 pictures belonging to the Shihan Gakkō (Normal School) magazine “Ryūtan” No. 9. Published in 1911, this document is preserved in the Library of the University of the Ryūkyūs.

  Below is one of the two photograhs discovered. It is titled "Our school staff and some graduates of year 43 (1910)". The material to the left is the picture with a tracing paper on which are listed the names of all persons in the photograph. The one to the right is the actual picture. These materials are property of the Library of the University of the Ryūkyūs.

 

  

 

  In these photographs, standing to the right end of the second row, the person who was thought to be Itosu Ankō is introduced. However, on the other page's list of names, he is introduced as “Miyake sensei”.

  The man believed to be Itosu Ankō until now is actually a Shizoku (descendant of a samurai) from Miyazaki prefecture. Born in 1847, his name is Miyake Sango. He served as a fencing instructor of the Okinawa police while also teaching fencing at the Okinawa Prefecture Normal School and the Okinawa Prefecture Junior High School (later nicknamed Icchū).

  Now, looking at the 2006 picture, it is clear that it is not the full version of a group photograph.

  The 2006 photo was obtained from the album book of Tokuda Antei by Arasaki Seibin. Mr. Arasaki left a testimony saying “In this group is Ishiji (Itosu) no Tanmē (old man)”. Perhaps Itosu appears in the lost part of the picture…?

  Undeniably, the search for solving this mystery will be the source of much passionate debate among karate enthusiasts.

 

Note: This article is being posted under the supervision of Okinawa karate promotion division.

A special exhibition on Gōjū-ryū’s Miyagi Chōjun at the kaikan
2019.02.28

 

 

  A new exhibition is being planned at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan's Archives. The tentative information below is being provided by the Okinawa Prefecture Karate Promotion Division.

  • Exhibition title: Okinawa karate styles exhibition - Gōjū-ryū and Miyagi Chōjun
  • Exhibition period: March 14 (Thu) - September 10 (Tue), 2019
  • Outline of the exhibition: The founder of the Gōjū-ryū, one of the main styles of Okinawa karate, Miyagi Chōjun (1888-1953) has vigorously taught and research karate in Okinawa, mainland Japan and overseas. Thus he has highly contributed to the spread and development of karate. This exhibition will introduce materials related to Miyagi Chōjun as well as the history and characteristics of Gōjū-ryū.