Since ancient time, as an archipelago located at the center of East Asia, Okinawa has developed a distinctive culture rich in unique traits that were nurtured through exchanges with neighboring countries.

One of these cultures is Karate. Karate has spread as a “martial art of Peace” that emphasizes the training of the body through severe discipline, the refining of the mind and the respect of courtesy. It is said that there are some 130 million enthusiasts worldwide. Now, karate is expected to further develop as it was selected as an official event for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. Simultaneously, as the birthplace of karate, Okinawa will most likely attract furthermore attention from now on.

In view of such circumstances, we believe that it is our responsibility to correctly inherit the spirit of karate, an art that values traditional techniques and etiquette that have been handed down carefully in the land of Okinawa.

Until now, the Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai together with the Okinawa Prefecture Government, has worked on establishing the Okinawa Karate Kaikan, and organizing the Okinawa Karate International Tournament, the Karate Day commemorative demonstrations, Okinawa karate international seminars, etc. In doing so, we have worked on preserving and inheriting the techniques handed down by our predecessors and promote around the world “Okinawa, the birthplace of karate”.

We will continue to actively pursue the promotion of Okinawa karate by enforcing initiatives towards the registration of karate as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, and aiming for the expansion of enthusiasts’ exchanges through karate, among others.

We thank you for your continued support and cooperation.