Monthly Archives: January 2017

The gloriously sparkling Tenmoku-style teabowl

Japanese ceramic artist Hayashi Kyōsuke 林恭助 is one of the few people worldwide who succeeded in recreating what is called a Yōhen Tenmoku teabowl (Yōhen Tenmoku Chawan 曜變天目茶碗) in Japan, or Jian teabowl (Jian zhan 建盞) in China. This refers … Continue reading

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Karate no omoide (My Memories of Karate)

The article “Karate no omoide” (My Memories of Karate) is a primary source about Kyan Chōtoku’s life and his relation to karate. The article was published on 1942-05-07 in the Okinawa Shinpō Newspaper. The Okinawa Shinpō was a result of the … Continue reading

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Nakaima Kenkō on ‘dō’ and ‘jutsu’

In the Japanese martial arts there is a rough categorization into martial technique (jutsu) and martial sport (dō). The difference, in a nutshell, is that the dō-variants like kendō, judō, karatedō etc. serve an educational ideal. This might be seen … Continue reading

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Bushi Matsumora – The Novel

Previously I wrote about Bushi Matsumora – The Movie. Today it is “Bushi Matsumora – The Novel”. The heroic tales of Matsumora Kōsaku were written down in the novel “Bushi Matsumora” (武士松茂良) by Matsumora Kōnin 松茂良興仁 (pen-name Matsumura Takesaburō 松村竹三郎). … Continue reading

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1960 – Okinawa Kenpō

The following text is the translation of an Okinawan newspaper article from 1960. This article is about the establishment of the Okinawa Regional Headquarters of the Zen Nihon Karate-dō Renmei (JKF). In the article it is clearly stated that — until … Continue reading

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8. Generation Gima Pēchin Shinji 儀間親雲上眞時

Names and DOB Childhood name: Shinshi眞市 Chinese-style name: Ma Sagen 麻作愿 Born: as the firstborn son, 1612 (?) -01-05 Family Father: Shinshi 眞之 Mother: Magami 眞龜 of the Kin-clan 金氏 Wife: Mamichi 眞滿, daughter of Kuniyoshi Pēchin Shinshun 國吉親雲上眞春 of the Sa-clan 査氏 … Continue reading

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7. Generation Gima Satonushi Pēchin Shinshi 儀間里之子親雲上眞之

Names and DOB Childhood name: Masanrā 眞三良 Chinese-style name: Ma Kyōyo 麻擧要 Born: as the firstborn son, 1585 Family Father: Shinjō 眞常 Mother: Manabi 眞鍋 of the Mō-clan 毛氏 Wife: Magami 眞龜, daughter of Tomoyose Pēchin (Kin Shireki) 友寄親雲上 (金仕歴)(she died 1662-02-18. Posthumous … Continue reading

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6. Generation Gima Uēkata Shinjō 儀間親方眞常

Names and DOB Childhood name: Shinshi 眞市 Chinese-style name: Ma Heikō 麻平衡 Born: as the thirdborn son, 1557. Family Father: Shinmei 眞命 Mother: Manabi 眞鍋 of the Sō-clan 莊氏 Wife: Manabi 眞鍋, daughter of Ahagon Shī Sei’i 阿波根子盛懿 of the Mō-clan 毛氏 (she … Continue reading

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5. Generation Gima Pēchin Shinmei 儀間親雲上眞命

Names and DOB Childhood name: Masanrā 眞三郎 Chinese-style name: Ma Jishō 麻時嘗 Born: as the firstborn son, 1513 Family Father: Shinmō 眞孟 Mother: A person from Izumisaki village Wife: Manabi 眞鍋, daughter of Oroku Pēchin Sōshin 小禄親雲上宗親 of the Sō-clan 莊氏 (she died … Continue reading

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Yarazamori

Yarazamori-gusuku was built in 1554 at the far end of Madama-michi, a military access road originating at Shuri Castle. Together with Miegusuku, the fortress was crucial in guarding Naha harbor against foreign invasion.

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