Investigations into the history of karate

There is a discussion about when exactly karate was introduced into Okinawan schools. In the literature we find the following: 

(1) Ryūkyū Shimpō (1905): “At the end of last year [1904], the staff of this [middle] school thought there might be some benefit to be found in karate, and immediately began researching the issue.“

(2) Funakoshi (1913): “But since about 1901 and 1902, karate has been practiced at the Okinawa Normal School and the Middle School in the same way as gymnastics.“

(3) Miyagi (1934): “In April of 1901 karate became part of the physical curriculum at the Shuri Jinjo Shōgakkō [=primary school]. This was the first stone in the foundation of group teaching. Later in April 1905 a karate club was established at the Okinawa Prefectural First Middle School, … and the Okinawa Normal School.“

(4) Tōyama (1969). “The value of this [kara]te in terms of physical education came to be well recognized and it was adopted as a part of curricula at various prefectural middle schools in 1905.“

(6) Nagamine (1975): “Itosu Ankō was appointed as an instructor of karate at Okinawa First Prefectural Middle School and Okinawa Normal School from April 1905.“ 

(7) Michihira/Yen (1978): “In regard to karate being adopted as a regular subject around 1901 and 1902 at both the Prefectural Normal School and First Prefectural Middle School, and that is was adopted as a part of the callisthenics course at the primary school at Shuri in April 1901, it has to be pointed out, that these two theories were published with an interval of one year. Credibility of these theories is in question because whether it was the middle school or the primary school makes considerable difference.“ 

(8) Okinawa Karate Kaikan (2019): “According to Miyagi Chōjun, karate was made a part of the gymnastics program at Shuri Elementary School.“

Based on this quite contradictory information can be seen. But as a matter of fact, karate was officially introduced to the school curriculum of the Shuri Middle School in January 1905. Whether karate was introduced prior to this into the primary school in 1901, as an extra-curricular activity or something else, is possible but not academically proven to this day since an official documentation has not yet been discovered.