The author of this blog reports a visit he took to Izumi village – the birthplace of Uechi-ryu founder Uechi Kanbun.There’s also an article of Nakamura sensei visiting the same location in the Ryukyu Shimpo.
Since some readers may not be able to read Japanese I’ve translated a little bit of the opening paragraph of the blog:
September 14, 2011
I made it! To the ruins of the house of the founder of Uechi-ryu Uechi Kanbun! The founder of Uechi-ryu, Uechi Kanbun, was from Okinawa’s Izumi village. On September 13, we climbed Yaedake on the Motobu peninsula. And there we found the old house of Uechi Kanbun sensei. Previously the address for this place was Takentou 1203.
And for the Ryukyu Shimbo article, here is a rough translation:
October 1, 2011
Uechi ryu founder’s birthplace marked by the Motobu Township, Izumi Volunteer Group
[Motobu] The Motobu Township, Izumi volunteer group (represented by Mr. Masaki Nakamura) marked the birthplace of Uechi-ryu Karatedo founder, Uechi Kanbun, on the site of the Yaedake Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Nakamura (age 61) stated, “I knew that Kanbun was born in place called “Takitouru” and after doing some research was able to discover traces of his house.
Kanbun was born in 1877. He studied Pangainun boxing under Shu Shiwa, and in 1926 went to Wakayama prefecture and opened a dojo. At the age of 40 he named his style “Uechi-ryu”. At the age of 42 his son Kanei was born and he returned to Okinawa and began to teach.
There are now over 10,000 students worldwide.
The post was placed on September 11. Volunteer and Uechi-ryu Karatedo members gathered to mark the occassion. Nakamura commented that, “We would be honored if returning Okinawans and overseas people could come to visit the site while attending the World Uchinanchu festival”.
Mr. Katsuaki Teruki(?) (age 57) of the Uechi-ryu Karatedo Federation said, “I am deeply appreciative of the dedication of this important (holy) site, and hope that we can do a demonstration.”
Mr. Higa (age 72), a Yaedake board member, said, “we are honored that we are able to make this connection to such a historic person.”
