Okinawa Media Planning

[ Karate ] End of the publication of Okinawa Karate News

“Okinawa Karate News” was first published in July 2005 as the newsletter of the NPO Okinawa Karatedo Kobudo Support Center to later be published monthly by our company.
However, in recent years, due to the spread of the Internet, the effectiveness of information provided by paper journals has declined, and in light of various circumstances, we have decided to discontinue the publication of “Okinawa Karate News” as of June 2023.
We sincerely apologize for the sudden notice.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to all of you who have subscribed, read, contributed to, and supported us over the 18 years since the first publication.

May 31, 2023

[ Announcement ] Address & phone changes

As of November 1, 2013, our company's office is relocated in Itoman City, Okinawa. The new address and phones numbers are as listed below. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

New Address: 4-17-10 Nishizaki, Itoman City, Okinawa JAPAN 901-0306
New phone number: 098-851-3661
New fax number: 098-851-3689

Nov. 1, 2013

[ Karate ] About the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau

Created by the Okinawa Traditional Karate Networking Executive Committee, entity to which we take part through Miguel Da Luz, the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau saw its website launched in November 28 and is now running for its second fiscal year of activities. For more details visit the Okinawa Traditional Karate Liaison Bureau.

March 15, 2012

[ Book ] Okinawa Traditional Kobudo released

The 2nd edition of Kobudo Hanshi 10th dan Nakamoto Masahiro sensei's book was released October 2nd and is available through our websites. For more details visit our Okinawa Traditional Kobudo.

October 15, 2011

[ Int'l ] Okinawans of New Caledonia

Okinawa Media Planning Miguel Da Luz is also the vice-president of the Okinawa New Caledonia Association. In order to prepare the coming of the New Caledonian delegation during the 5th World Uchinanchu Festival to be held in October 2011, he visited New Caledonia April 17-24 with the association president Miki Takeshi and 2nd vice-president Tamashiro Katsuo. Meeting with many Okinawan descendants and local leaders, their visit was successful as more than 40 people and ten VIP should visit Okinawa during the festival!

From right to left: Miki Takeshi, Poindimie Mayor Paul Neaoutyne, Tamashiro Katsuo and Miguel Da Luz.

May 2, 2011

[ Work ] Looking for Extras for NHK drama "Tempest"

Our company was hired to provide foreign staff to perform in the NHK drama "Tempest". If you are interested to join the next work, send us an email. In memory, here is a photo taken on the movie shoot.

April 26, 2011

Okinawa karate related symposium

Organized by the Okinawa General Bureau, the "Okinawa Kansei - Bunka Sangyo Symposium" (Okinawa Sense - Culture related Industry Symposium) was held March 23, 2011 14:00 to 17:00. The Okinawa governor Mr. Nakaima Hirokazu (son of Goju ryu master Genkai Nakaima and head of the Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai) and some 250 people came to the venue, the National Theater Okinawa. Among them, the elite of the Okinawan karate and representatives from local universities and the OPG were present.

After lectures from Mr. Moritake Tomikawa, president of the Okinawa International University, and Mr. Ozaki, CEO of Yoshimoto Kogyo, a panel discussion on karate was held. Panelists were as follow: Kiyuna Choyu, secretary of the Okinawa Dento Karatedo Shinkokai (Shorin ryu - Sukunai Hayashi- Risshikan Hanshi 10th dan); Uechi Tetsu, head of the Okinawa Traditional Karate-do Kobudo International Studying Center in Yomitan (Uechi ryu 6th dan); Hirata Taichi (Artist and opera/theater director; will become the head of the new OPG Culture and Sport Department April 1st); Miguel Da Luz (Editor of Okinawa Karate News); Ms. Sakiyama Ritsuko, as coordinator

During the discussion, it was stressed on that this scheme of "how could karate support more Okinawa's economy" has never been and will never be about making local Okinawan karate a business. This was never in the mind of the Okinawa General Bureau and it was once again made clear to the public.
The idea is that today, many non-Okinawan karate people are more and more looking for true traditional karate rather than sport karate. Facing this situation, Okinawa - as the birthplace of karate - definitely needs to furthermore promote itself and strengthen its actual international network composed of many traditional martial artists.
But for this to happen, Okinawan masters needs to protect and polish the cultural treasure that is karate. By karate I mean the martial arts that were created on island with their tradition and philosophy. This is actually one if not the main purpose of this concept. Karate has already been supporting the Okinawan economy with the visit of many foreign karatekas through many years, tournaments and seminars. Now there is a need of really organizing the local environment so that more people could come and experience and/or rediscover Okinawan Karate and Kobudo. By this I mean not only building a karate hall (a request and desire from many local masters) but also creating an official front office for Okinawan karate and kobudo (physically and virtually through the Internet).
I had the chance to speak with some of the leaders of Okinawan karate after the symposium and all expressed the same views. "Today was a good start as Japan (through the Okinawa General Bureau) has in a way recognized the cultural value and potential of karate." Now, like I said during the panel discussion, it is time to stop babbling about the past, but learning from it is time to act fast and efficiently. (Miguel Da Luz)

March 28, 2011

Check out former entries

http://blog.livedoor.jp/okinawamedia/