Monthly Archives: June 2023

On the Photo of Kinjo Ufuchiku

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Andreas Quast

In 2015 I wrote an article about the photo considered to show Kinjo Ufuchiku. In short, the original photo was taken by Edmund M. H. Simon in Okinawa in 1910. Here I will look at the copies of the photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate | Tagged , | Comments Off on On the Photo of Kinjo Ufuchiku

Original Karate mentioned in 1873. No, wait: 1850!

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Ernest Mason Satow (1843–1929) was a British diplomat, scholar, Japanologist and a key figure in Anglo-Japanese relations. He is best known in Japan as Satō Ainosuke (佐藤/薩道愛之助). As many people from Okinawa karate circles might know, Satow published his “Notes on … Continue reading →

Posted in Fundstücke, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Terminology, Unknown Ryukyu | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Original Karate mentioned in 1873. No, wait: 1850!

Kensei

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Kensei refers to a kendō practitioner who was called “Saint of the Sword” (kensei 剣聖) during the Shōwa period (1926–1989). However, it is not an official title established by the Dai Nippon Butokukai or the All Japan Kendo Federation. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriation, Terminology, Wikipedia JP | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Kensei

Porto Maurizio

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Andreas Quast

In 2019 I went on a road trip through Switzerland, Italy, and France. After passing through Port-Maurice in June, I thought it has a great history to tell. This was originally a Facebook post from that time, but I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Fundstücke, Misc | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Porto Maurizio

The Mother of All Enbu Taikai

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Expressions such aus budōsai, enbukai, enbu taikai etc. are regularly seen in Okinawa karate and kobudo today. They are derivates of an original terminology used in 1895 at what is now known as Kyōto Meet. Okinawans were dispatched to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriation, Okinawa Peace Theory, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Translations, Wikipedia JP | Comments Off on The Mother of All Enbu Taikai

Two wheels of a cart

Posted on June 6, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Japan has a unique culture called budō, that is, martial arts with distinctive characteristics rooted in Japanese history, including methods, concepts, and terminology.   Today I read about a phrase in WEB HIDEN and thought, “Oh, I have heard this … Continue reading →

Posted in Appropriation, Terminology | Comments Off on Two wheels of a cart