Additional Designation of Okinawa prefecture intangible cultural asset holder
“Okinawan Karate and Kobudo”

On this occasion, the Okinawa Prefectural Cultural Properties Protection Council submitted a recommendation to the Prefectural Board of Education regarding the additional designation of holders of the Prefecture-designated Intangible Cultural Property “Okinawan Karate and Kobudo” The candidates for designation are the following 16 individuals.The official designation will be finalized upon publication in the Okinawa Prefectural Bulletin, bringing the total number of holders to 23.

No.: 1
Name: Masaaki Ikemiyagi
Gender: Male
Age: 72
Style/Dojo: Goju-ryu / Okinawa Meibukan
Organization: All Okinawa Karatedo Federation

No.: 2
Name: Haruyoshi Shimabukuro
Gender: Male
Age: 70
Style/Dojo: Uechi-ryu / Naha Minami Shubukan
Organization: All Okinawa Karatedo Federation

No.: 3
Name: Seiki Takushi
Gender: Male
Age: 86
Style/Dojo: Kobujutsu / Shobukan Honbu Dojo
Organization: All Okinawa Karatedo Federation

No.: 4
Name: Sadayuki Taira
Gender: Male
Age: 72
Style/Dojo: Goju-ryu / Meibukan Taira Dojo
Organization: All Okinawa Karatedo Federation

No.: 5
Name: Minoru Higa
Gender: Male
Age: 84
Style/Dojo: Shorin-ryu / Kyudokan Honbu Dojo
Organization: Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Federation

No.: 6
Name: Naonobu Ahagon
Gender: Male
Age: 86
Style/Dojo: Shorin-ryu / Reihokan
Organization: Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Federation

No.: 7
Name: Meitatsu Yagi
Gender: Male
Age: 81
Style/Dojo: Goju-ryu / Meibukan
Organization: Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Federation

No.: 8
Name: Yoshimasa Kakazu
Gender: Male
Age: 81
Style/Dojo: Shorin-ryu / Kenshikai
Organization: Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Federation

No.: 9
Name: Zenpo Shimabukuro
Gender: Male
Age: 82
Style/Dojo: Shorin-ryu / Seibukan Honbu Dojo
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Rengokai

No.: 10
Name: Yoshio Kuba
Gender: Male
Age: 79
Style/Dojo: Goju-ryu / Okinawa Karatedo Kenbukan
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Rengokai

No.: 11
Name: Minoru Nakazato
Gender: Male
Age: 74
Style/Dojo: Shorin-ryu / Shorinkan Honbu Dojo
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Rengokai

No.: 12
Name: Nobuhide Asato
Gender: Male
Age: 81
Style/Dojo: Uechi-ryu / Urasoe Dojo
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Rengokai

No.: 13
Name: Choko Kiyuna
Gender: Male
Age: 86
Style/Dojo: Shorin-ryu / Risshikan
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Rengokai

No.: 14
Name: Koei Teruya
Gender: Male
Age: 85
Style/Dojo: Goju-ryu / Okinawa Goju-ryu Karatedo Association
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Federation

No.: 15
Name: Yoshitaka Taira
Gender: Male
Age: 82
Style/Dojo: Matsubayashi-ryu / World Matsubayashi-ryu Karatedo Federation
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Federation

No.: 16
Name: Kiyohide Shinjo
Gender: Male
Age: 74
Style/Dojo: Uechi-ryu / Kenyukai
Organization: Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo Federation

*Age as of April 10, 2026.*