Hanashiro Chomo
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Yamakawa – Ancestral home of karate masters
Yamakawa, a district in Shuri (Okinawa) just a few minutes’ walk from Shuri Castle, was once home to many aristocratic families—the scholar-officials of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. The neighborhood looked much like a traditional Ryūkyūan village, with both small and large houses that reflected the social status of their residents. The homes were wooden and single-storied,… Continue reading
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The blog as a book
Karate’s history is richer and more complex than popular narratives often suggest. Based on this blog, Investigations into the history of karate (Lulu, 2025) brings together a diverse collection of essays that explore the art’s overlooked figures, pivotal moments, and forgotten contexts. From the pioneers of Hanashiro Chōmo and Yabu Kentsū to the appearance of karate… Continue reading
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Anecdote about “hidden warrior” Hanashiro Chōmo
Hanashiro Chōmo (1869–1945) played a significant role in the development of modern karate. Despite his importance, he remains underrepresented in historical discourse. Fortunately, several written sources preserve his legacy. I recently came across one such example in the 1997 publication 沖縄の昔面影 Okinawa no mukashi omokage (Remnants of Old Okinawa), in which the author, Kinjō Kazuhiko… Continue reading
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Group photograph with Hanashiro Chōmo
Yabu Kentsū (1866–1937) was a great fan and supporter of sumō in Okinawa. But he was not the only karate authority back in the days who was fascinated by the sport. Apart from Yabu, who occasionally acted as a referee at the Prefectural Sumō Tournament in Ônoyama Park, Funakoshi Gichin (1868–1957) is known to have… Continue reading
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Memories of Yabu Kentsū
Yabu Kentsū, who was born in 1866, died in 1937. The sympathy was great especially in the Shuri district and among students and teachers of the Okinawa Normal School. Beside several obituaries which were published following his death, the school publication Ryūtan in 1938 prepared a lengthy article which extensively remembered Yabu’s life and work.… Continue reading
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“Kunpatte Sensei”
In the book Okinawa kenshi: Kakuron hen IV-V. Bunka (1965) 沖縄県史: 各論編 IV-V. 文化, there is a brief passage describing Hanashiro Chōmo 花城長茂 (1868–1945): 花城はふんばってというのをくんばる というところから、「クンパッテ先生」とあだ名がつけられていたよう一方 … Hanashiro was nicknamed “kunpatte sensei,” from the Japanese word “funbaru“ … The verb funbaru 踏ん張る can be translated as (1) to brace one’s legs; to stand firm; to… Continue reading
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Famous photo shows Miyake Sango instead of Itosu Ankō
In early 2019, it has been discovered that the image once believed to be Itosu Ankō 糸洲安恒 (1831–1915) actually shows a different person, namely Japanese fencing master Miyake Sango 三宅三五 ( 1847–?). This page from the school magazine Ryūtan 龍潭 No. 9. (1911) photographed by me in Naha in September 2019 are considered evidence to… Continue reading
Investigations into the history of karate 