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News from the WMKA headquarters in Okinawa
New schedule for the Memorial Events for Founder Shoshin
Nagamine in 2021 Announced by President Taira Yoshitaka

In his new message, President Taira expresses the hope that
if the various efforts and means to curb the pandemic are
shared and continued, the world may again return to our
normal daily lives.
Based on this, President Taira announces the new schedule
for the Memorial Events for Founder Shoshin Nagamine in
November this year.
Read
the President's full message here.
A leaflet attached to President Tairas message contains more
information about the new schedule.
New year greeting 2021 from President Taira Yoshitaka,
Hanshi

In his message President Taira covers the many disastrous
effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and how it affects our
lives, both globally and for the WMKA.
Referring to the motto “There is no night that doesn’t
dawn”, President Taira expresses his hope that the step by
step approach will work. He looks forward to reunite with
many of the WMKA members in Okinawa in November at The
Memorial Monument Unveiling and Cerebration for Founder
Shoshin Nagamine.
The message also contains an interesting description of
the tradition of their New Year’s rice straw festoon,
Shimenawa.
Read his full
message here.
WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial Tribute
to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine on November 1, 2020
President Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi: Announcing the first
WMKA virtual seminar
"The COVID-19 disease (Corona virus) is still hurting many
people around the world. I hope all of you and the people
around you are not affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
We are glad to announce the “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual
Event and Memorial Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine”
which will be held twice on November 1st at 8:00 am and 8:00
pm Okinawa local time. November 1st was the originally
scheduled date for “The Memorial Monument Unveiling &
Celebration for Founder Shoshin Nagamine” in Okinawa. All
Events were postponed to 2021.
We are very thankful for all WMKA members around the world
because “WMKA 2020 Worldwide Virtual Event and Memorial
Tribute to Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine” was proposed by
overseas members not from Okinawa."
The COVID-19 and the postponement of The Memorial Events
for founder Nagamine Shoshin
President Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi: We value the most our
policy of “Nuchi-du Takara - Life is a Treasure”
"Considering the current heartbreaking condition and the
unknown virus activity, we decided to postpone “The
Memorial Monument Unveiling & Celebration for founder
Nagamine Shoshin and Karate-Do International Seminar &
Exchange Martial Arts 2020” to next 2021."
"Please cancel your travel arrangement who already have
booked the trip to Okinawa and we are very sorry about it.
We will be aware of the COVID-19 status and will post the
new schedule when every situation was satisfied later. We
hope we can meet many of you in Okinawa in next 2021.
Please stay at home to protect you and the people around
you. We will follow the same policy in Okinawa."
The COVID-19 and The Memorial Events for founder Shoshin
Nagamine - a message from President Taira Yoshitaka,
Hanshi
“Nuchi-du Takara” “Life is a Treasure”
"Under this heartbreaking situation, I hope all of you
and the people around you are not affected and will stay
healthy. We have a proverb in Okinawa. “Nuchi-du Takara”
that means “Life is a Treasure”. Please stay at home and
protect yourselves and the people around you. Karate can
be practised any time and any place."
The intention and hope is to be able to have the
celebration of the unveiling of the memorial monument for
our Founder O'Sensei Nagamine Shoshin and in WMKA world
seminar in October-November 2020 in Naha as planned. Any
necessary changes will be announced.
European seminars 2020 - be aware that changes may have
to be done
Unfortunately cancelled: Seminar with Arakaki
Toshimitsu, vice-president of the WMKA, Hanshi 10th Dan,
in England July 16 to 19
Unfortunately cancelled: Annual EMKA Taikai in the
Netherlands, April 3 to 5.
Please see the Seminars page
for more information.
News from the WMKA headquarters in Okinawa
New year greeting 2020 from President Taira Yoshitaka,
Hanshi
In his message President Taira covers the tragic fire at
Shuri-castle, a corner stone of Okinawan culture and one
of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. The Okinawan and the
Japanese governments have started working together to
restore it.
Other topics covered by President Taira are the new Reiwa
era in Japan and the 2020 Olympic Games, this time
including Karate-do with the possibility of Okinawa
achieving a gold medal!
President Taira extends an invitation to all WMKA members
around the world to take part in the celebration of the
unveiling of the memorial monument for our Founder
O'Sensei Nagamine Shoshin and in the WMKA world seminar in
October-November 2020 in Naha.
Read
his full message here.
President Taira also announced the programme for the
International Seminar and the Memorial Monument Unveiling
& Celebration of Founder Nagamine Shoshin. It will
take place in Naha from October 30 to November 2, 2020. See
the full programme here.
You may find the initial
announcement made in 2019 here.
Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi, appointed president of the
Okinawa Prefectural Karate-Do Federation.
Quotation from Okinawa Karate News:
On April 15, 2018, the General Assembly of the Okinawa
Prefectural Karate-Do
Federation, also known as Kenkuren, was held.
Matsubayashi-ryu Taira Yoshitaka
sensei was appointed as the new president and Goju-ryu
Takara Seigo sensei
become the chairman of the board of directors, in Japanese
rijicho.
After Nagamine Shoshin sensei founder of Matsubayashi-ryu
serving for six
years as the president from the establishment in 1981, it
has been 32 years
that presidents have come from Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu.
Born in Ogimi Village in 1943, Taira sensei studied under
masters Shima Masao
and Nagamine Shoshin before opening his dojo in 1995. He
will certainly
continue preserving the philosophy of the Kenkuren which is
based on the
preservation of Okinawa Karate-do, the healthy development
of young people,
and the improvement of competitive skills.
Taira Yoshitaka, Hanshi, President of the WMKA, was
awarded the prestigious Cultural Commendation from the
Prefecture of Okinawa.

This commendation was awarded for his cultural
contribution in the field of karate and kobujutsu. He
received the price at a ceremony in the Prefecture
building November 8, 2017. Here is an article
from the Okinawan Times (in Japanese).
The Okinawan Karate Federation hosted a
party in his
honour November 18, 2017.
New dojos
We are pleased to announce recent European additions to the
EMKW/WMKA:
Shorin Martial Arts Bristol of Joel Castasus, in Bristol,
England.
Kodokan (Bars) Matsubayashi-ryu of Karen Allen, in Bars,
France.
Shorin-ryu Karate Groningen of Andreas Aleman, The
Netherlands.
Solas Dojo of Michael O’Neill, in Castlebar, Ireland.
Please see the
Dojo listing page for more information.
Other news
European seminar 2017
with President Taira, Hanshi 10th Dan, in Bergen, Norway
The seminar was arranged
September 25 to October 1 in Bergen, Norway.
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