On the eve of the First Okinawa karate international tournament, Shurite & Shōrin-ryū will be honored on July 28th and 29th.
This year marks the 232nd anniversary of Sakugawa Kanga, a master known as Tōdē Sakugawa. Born in Shuri, he is remembered for creating the bō - staff kata Sakugawa no kun.
On Saturday July 28th, led by Nakamoto Masahiro sensei, holder of the Okinawa prefecture-designated intangible cultural asset “karate & kobudō”, the monument honoring the land where originated Shurite karate and kobudō will be unveiled. The venue is Sakiyama Park in Shuri, Naha City. The unveiling ceremony will be held at 11 am. After the unveiling ceremony, a celebration, karate demonstrations and hatagashira - flag poles performances are scheduled.
On Sunday July 29th, led by the chairman of the Okinawa Shōrin-ryū (Kobayashi-ryū) Karatedō Association Miyagi Takeshi sensei, a monument praising the founder of the style Shōrin-ryū Chibana Chōshin sensei will be unveiled. The venue of the ceremony is the community hall square of Shuri Yamakawa in Naha city. The ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 to 12:00.
(Left, the monument in Sakiyama Park. Right, the square of the Yamakawa community hall)
The Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau is organizing a symposium on the promotion of Okinawan tourism. This event is held in commemoration of the establishment of the Okinawa chapter of the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA), and the official registration of OCVB as a regional DMO (Destination Management/Marketing Organization) with the Japan DMO network.
Okinawa Tourism Promotion Symposium & JTTA project explanation summary
【Date and Time】 2018, July 24th 13: 15 ~ 16: 40
【Place】 Okinawa Karate Kaikan - Admission: Free (first 200 people)
【Contents】
- JTTA project explanation by the chairman of OCVB, Taira Chōkei
- Karate masters demonstration by Shinjō Kiyohide and Oyakawa Hitoshi
- Keynote lecture “Sport tourism in the AI age ” by Jinnai Hiroki from Google Advertising Sales Division
- Special lecture “Sports Island Japan – From the world to Okinawa through sports and martial arts tourism” by Fujie Yōko, consultant for the Japan Sports Agency
- Panel discussion
Sports Island Okinawa
"How Okinawa could become a sports island international destination through martial arts tourism"
【How to apply】
You can apply from any of the following.
1. Fax the application form on the back of the leaflet
FAX 098-859-6221
2. E-mail the application form on the back of the leaflet in PDF
Email dmo@ocvb.or.jp
3. Enter necessary information on Web
Application site https://jp.research.net/r/H75F9JB (In Japanese)
Okinawa is the cradle of karate. Therefore, there are many sites and monuments related to karate all around the island. We have listed most of them on this page.
Unfortunately at that time, our center doesn't have historical tour programs per say. At the moment, people who wish to tour karate sites have 4 options, listed below in no particular order. Be aware that we are not involved and can’t be held responsible for the contents offered by the respective entities.
- Challenge Okinawa's tours
- Okinawa Karate Concierge's tours
- Hokama Tetsuhiro sensei might be available for a tour. You can contact him at 098-945-6148 (tel/fax). Hokama sensei speaks English
- Ric Lucas (Please contact our center for details)
A commemorative ceremony was held at Shikan-en for the “1st Okinawa karate international tournament” to be held from August 1st. Held almost one month prior to the event, the ceremony aimed at raising mass media and public awareness, and to pray for the success of the event.
About 1,700 people from 50 countries and regions will participate in this event. In order to promote nationally and internationally Okinawa as the birthplace of karate, the UNESCO cultural heritage site Shikina royal garden was chosen as venue for the demonstration.
In front of the palace – “Udun”, the chairmen of the four federations of Okinawa karate, and advisers and consultants of the said organizations performed kata of karate and kobujutsu.
(1) All Okinawa Karatedō Federation President Sakugawa Masanobu sensei
(2) Okinawa Prefecture Karatedō Federation President Taira Yoshitaka sensei
(3) Okinawa Karate · Kobudō Federation President Ahagon Naonobu sensei
(4) Okinawa Prefecture Karatedō Rengōkai President Shimabukuro Zenpo sensei
(5) All Okinawa Karatedō Federation Adviser Senaga Yoshitsune sensei
(6) Okinawa Prefecture Karatedō Federation counselor Teruya Kōei sensei
(7) Okinawa Karate · Kobudō Federation Honorary President Higa Minoru sensei
(8) Okinawa Prefecture Karatedō Rengōkai Adviser Nakahodo Tsutomu sensei
(1) Sakugawa Masanobu sensei (2) Taira Yoshitaka sensei
(3) Ahagon Naonobu sensei (4) Shimabukuro Zenpo sensei
(5) Senaga Yoshitsune sensei (6) Teruya Kōei sensei
(7) Higa Minoru sensei (8) Nakahodo Tsutomu sensei
The videos of the demonstrations are available on the Okinawa Times newspaper website.
After the demonstrations, a commemorative photograph was taken in front of the “Banya” where Shurite master Matsumura Sōkon is said to have resided as administrator at the time of the abolition of the han system in 1879. Known as Bushi Matsumura, he is said to have instructed people like Kyan Chōtoku inside the royal garden.
On July 2nd, the 62th Okinawa Times Award presentation ceremony and celebration were held at the Naha Terrace Hotel in Naha City. In the sport division, Gōjū-ryū master Higaonna Morio was awarded by the Okinawa Times Newspaper President Taketomi Kazuhiko for his services rendered to Okinawa karate. Higaonna sensei is the IOGKF Saikō Shihan or Supreme Master.
Other awardees are: Okinawa Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd. and Mr. Higashi Yoshikazu (Okinawa Tourist Representative Director and Chairman) in the industry division, Shimabukuro Masaharu (Shimbukuro Murasaki no kai Sōke) in the cultural division, and Hoshino Hitoshi (NPO Sangosha Sukore representative) in the social activities division.
Like every year, many people came to the venue to congratulate the awardees. More than 30 people from the Okinawa karate world also attended and celebrated the award together with the laureate.
Photo＠Okinawa Times
Photo@Shureido
