This page is about the Karate Masters Portrait Project. For information about the documentary series click here Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate

The Karate Masters Portrait Project

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The Karate Masters Portrait Project began in March 2012. Its goal is to document karate and kobudo masters teaching in Okinawa at the start of the 21st Century. Their unparalleled knowledge of martial arts makes them of great cultural importance both in Japan and worldwide.

空手マスターズポートレートプロジェクトは2012年3月に始まりました。

目標としているのは、21世紀に沖縄で活躍している空手と古武道の先生方の肖像を撮ることです。空手の先生方の類まれない武道に関しての知識は、日本だけでなく、世界でも文化的に高く重要視されています。

In 2012, James Pankiewicz, owner of the DOJO Bar in Naha, discussed with photographer Chris Willson how there were few, if any, good photos of certain karate masters. There was also little consistency in the images available. Many were blurry, low resolution, noisy, or simply snapped from a distance at a competition or demonstration.

2012年、那覇市内にある DOJO Bar のオーナー、ジェームズ・パンキュビッチは、フォトグラファーのクリス・ウィルソンと空手指導者の良い肖像はないかと話し合いました。

それまでの使用可能なイメージはほとんど一貫性がなく、解像度が低くぼやけており、ノイズが多く、 遠い距離からのスナップ写真ばかりでした。

James and Chris began to take studio lighting, a black backdrop, and a high definition digital camera into the dojos of the karate masters. They hoped the portraits produced would become a historical record of the masters of Okinawan karate at the start of the 21st century.

ジェームズとクリスは 道場にスタジオの照明や、黒背景、高精細デジタルカメラを持ち込み、撮影を行い始めました。

このプロジェクトを通して、沖縄空手の先生方の肖像が、21世紀の歴史的な記録になることを望んでいるのです。

Gear used:

Pentax 645D & 645Z cameras with Pentax 90mm f/2.8 D FA 645 Macro.

Profoto Pro-7a generator, ProHead with Softlight Refector White

使用機材:

Pentax 645D & 645Z カメラ、 Pentax 90mm f/2.8 D FA 645 Macro レンズ、

Profoto Pro-7a スタジオジェネレーター, Proヘッド、ソフトライトリフレクター ホワイト

The order in which they photographed the karate masters was not based on age, style or rank, but rather on slowly building up connections within the Okinawan karate community.

撮影の順序は、先生方の年齢、スタイルやランクに関係なく、 沖縄空手の方々との関係を少しずつ広げていき、築きあげながら撮影を取り行いました。

Images from the Karate Masters Portrait Project can be seen on the web at either Facebook or Flickr. However, Karate masters and their students around the world began to ask if we could produce a print book of the project. I decided to make the kind of book that I’d like to own myself. A large, high quality, coffee-table book with images of all 58 sensei that we’d photographed so far.

It quickly became clear that traditional publishers would want orders of several thousand books. Book production would simply be too expensive to undertake, and too risky if I couldn’t sell all of books. It might have even compromised the future of the project as I would have had to concentrate on being a bookseller rather than a photographer.

The solution was to use the U.S. print-on-demand publisher Blurb. I could create a large (11 inch x 13 inch) 122 page book and specify the use of high quality photo paper. Each of the 58 karate masters could have two pages of images along with their name, rank, and style in both English and Japanese.

I ordered a single test copy, it was shipped from the States to Okinawa. The test copy was then placed at the Dojo Bar where the karate masters were able to view it. A second test copy with higher quality paper was also ordered. This arrived and the “premium lustre” paper along with charcoal proline endpapers was a good improvement. Meanwhile James and I began contacting all the karate masters to double check the information in English and Japanese, and let them know about the progress we were making with the book.

After making the necessary changes to the text, I ordered another test copy. This arrived and a few more small changes were made along with the addition of a title page, copyright information etc. On November 29th the final version of the book was uploaded to Blurb, and it is now on sale!

After receiving your order Blurb will print your copy and can mail it worldwide. We do have a stock of books on sale in Okinawa.

Why are the books so expensive? Mass produced books are cheap because they are made in bulk, hundreds of thousands of copies. Books that are produced in lower volumes are more expensive (the reason why some textbooks for university courses are hundreds of dollars). And high quality books that are produced on-demand, are even more expensive as they are printed individually.

The following page-by-page video allows you to check the exact photos in the book before purchase. You can also see a brief preview on the blurb website.

If a karate organization would like to gift a copy of the book to a particular master this is possible. We can order the copy, have it sent to Okinawa, sign it, and present it in person to the karate master from you. If you’d like to include a message with the book, then I can print out a message and place it inside the book. Please contact me at chris@travel67.com if this is something we can help you with.

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Each karate master photographed is given two prints for their own dojo as a thank you for taking part in the project. The pictures have been so gratefully received, and we’ve received many thanks from the karate masters and their families.

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At the request of some overseas dojos, offer the full resolution digital files of a single image or the best shots of a particular shoot. Purchase of the digital files gives you permission to make prints for personal usage or for the promotion of an event by the karate master. ( You can’t sell the digital files on to others, or use the images for purposes other than prints for yourself or your dojo. If you have questions regarding this please email and ask.) As the images are shot with medium format digital cameras (40MP & 53MP) it is possible to make very large prints.

Digital Download of Full Resolution Files

Single Image US $100

Set of Images of a Master US$500

Purchasing a print or digital files, not only helps fund the Karate Masters Portriat Project, but also the Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate video series. The karate masters themselves are given the rights to use the images for free, as they have already generously given their time in agreeing to take part in the project.

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If you are a magazine or organization interested in licensing the images please contact me at chris@travel67.com with your questions. Permission to use an image for non-editorial purposes will not be given without the specific consent of the karate masters.

KARATE MASTERS PHOTOGRAPHED

Volume 1 (ranks given November 2014)

1 Yoshitaka Taira, Hanshi 10th-dan, Matsubayashi-ryu Karate (Shorin-ryu) Photographed March 11, 2012 & Sept 1, 2014

平良 慶孝 範士十段 松林流空手 （小林流）

2 Toshimitsu Arakaki, Hanshi 10th-dan, Matsubayashi-ryu Karate (Shorin-ryu) Photographed March 11, 2012

新垣 敏光 範士十段 松林流空手 （少林流）

3 Masaji Taira, Hanshi 9th-dan, Goju-ryu Karate Photographed March 24, 2012 & Sept 30, 2014

平良 正次 範士九段 剛柔流空手

4 Katsuhiko Yogi, Kyoshi 8th-dan, Goju-ryu Karate Photographed March 24, 2012

与儀 勝彦 教士八段 剛柔流空手

5 Tetsuhiro Hokama, Hanshi 10th-dan Goju-ryu Karate Hanshi 10th-dan Hokama Kobudo Photographed April 14, 2012

外間 哲弘 範士十段 剛柔流空手 範士十段 外間古武道

6 Takehiro Gaja, Hanshi 9th-dan, Uechi-ryu Karate and Kyoshi 7Th-dan Matayoshi Kobudo Photographed April 29, 2012

我謝 孟弘 範九段 上地流空手 教士七段 又吉古武道

7 Hiroshi Akamine, Kyoshi 8th-dan, Shorin-ryu Karate & 8th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan Photographed May 19, 2012

赤嶺 浩 教士八段 小林流 空手 教士八段 琉球古武道信武舘

8 Shigetoshi Senaha, Hanshi 9th-dan, Goju-ryu Karate Photographed May 25, 2012

瀬名波 重敏 範士九段 剛柔流空手

9 Jyosei Yogi, Hanshi 9th-dan Kounan-ryu Karate Dojo & Hanshi 9th-dan Okinawa Kobudo Renseikai Photographed May 25, 2012

與儀 助盛 範士九段 硬軟流空手道場 範士九段 沖縄古武道錬成会

10 Sokuichi Gibu, Hanshi 10th-dan, Shorin-ryu Karate Photographed June 29, 2012

儀武 息一 範士十段 小林流空手

11 Masakazu Kinjo, Kyoshi 8th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate & Hanshi 9th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed August 29, 2012

金城 政和 教士八段 上地流空手 範士九段琉球古武道

12 Mitsutada Toue, Kyoshi 8th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate and Kyoshi 8Th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed August 29, 2012

東江三和 教士八段 上地流空手 教士八段 琉球古武道

13 Satoshi Kinjo, Kyoshi 7th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate and Kyoshi7th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed August 29, 2012

金城憲 教士七段 上地流空手 教士七段 琉球古武道

14 Kenta Kinjo, Renshi 6th-dan,Uechi-ryu Karate and Renshi 6th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed August 29, 2012

金城 憲太 錬士六段 上地流空手 錬士六段 琉球古武道

15 Hidemi Tamayose, Hanshi 9th-dan, Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan Photographed October 12, 2012

玉寄 英美 範士九段 琉球古武道哲心館

16 Zenpo Shimabukuro, Hanshi 10th-dan, International Okinawa Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate Photographed November 8, 2012

島袋 善保 範士十段 国際沖縄少林流聖武館空手

17 Yoshio Kuba, Hanshi 10th-dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate Photographed January 11, 2013

久場良男 範士十段 沖縄剛柔流空手

18 Kensho Tokumura, Hanshi 9th-dan Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Hozon Budo Kyokai Photographed January 18, 2013

德村賢昌 範士九段 琉球伝統古武術保存武道協会

19 Yuuko Tomimoto, Hanshi 10th-dan, Ryukyu Kobudo Maeda-ryu Bojutsu Photographed February 18, 2013

富本 祐宏 範士十段 琉球古武道前田流棒術

20 Kiyoshi Yogi, Kyoshi 8th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo & Kyoshi 8th-dan Uechi-ryu Kei Yogi Ryu Yogi kaikan so honbu Photographed Feb 18, 2013

與儀 清 教士八段 琉球古武道 教士八段 上地流系 與儀流 與儀会館総本部

21 Yoshiaki Gakiya, Kyoshi 8th-dan, Zen Okinawa Kobudo Renmei Photographed April 11, 2013

我喜屋 良章 教士八段 全沖縄古武道連盟

22 Kiyohide Shinjo, Hanshi 9th-dan, Uechi-ryu Karate Photographed April 11, 2013

新城 清秀 範士九段 上地流空手

23 Seiei Nakaza, Hanshi 10th-dan, Okinawa Shorin-ryu Kiyobukan Photographed June 18, 2013

仲座 清栄 範士十段 沖縄小林流 清武館

24 Tsuyoshi Uechi, Hanshi 9th-dan, Isshin-ryu Karate Photographed October 27, 2013

上地 強 範士九段 一心流空手

25 Satoshi Toyama, 7th-dan, Goju-ryu Karate Photographed October 27, 2013

當山 敏 七段 剛柔流空手

26 Zenshu Toyama, Hanshi 10th-dan, Goju-ryu Karate Photographed October 27, 2013

當山 全秋 範士十段 剛柔流空手

27 Narihiro Shinjo, Kyoshi 7th-dan, Uechi-ryu Karate Photographed February 25, 2014

新城 成博 教士七段 上地流空手

28 Meitetsu Yagi, Hanshi 10th-dan, Goju-ryu Meibukan Karate Photographed March 3, 2014

八木 明哲 範士十段 剛柔流明武舘空手

29 Ippei Yagi, 6th-dan Okinawa Karate Do Gojyukai 5th-dan Zen Okinawa Karate Do Renmei Photographed March 3, 2014

八木一平 六段 沖縄空手道剛柔会 五段 全沖縄空手道連盟

30 Yukio Kuniyoshi, Kaicho, Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Photographed April 8, 2014

国吉 幸雄 会長 琉球古武道保存振興会

31 Naonobu Ahagon, Hanshi 10th-dan, Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Shorin-ryu Photographed April 25, 2014

阿波根 直信 範士十段 沖縄空手 古武道小林流

32 Seiyu Nakamura, Hanshi 10th-dan Okinawa Dento Shidokan Karate Kobujutsu Kokusai Renmei Photographed June 3, 2014

中村 清祐 範士十段 沖縄伝統志道館空手古武術 国際連盟

33 Tetsu Gima, Hanshi 9th-dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan Photographed June 12, 2014

儀間 哲 範士九段 沖縄剛柔流空手道総本部 順道館

34 Tsueno Kinjo, Hanshi 9th-dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan Photographed June 12, 2014

金城 常雄 範士九段 沖縄剛柔流空手道総本部 順道館

35 Tetsunosuke Yasuda, Hanshi 10th Dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate Jundokan Photographed June 12, 2014

安田 哲之助 範士十段 沖縄剛柔流空手道総本部 順道館

Tatsuya Naka Shotokan Karate (guest) Photographed July 16, 2014

中 達也 松濤館流空手（ゲスト）

36 Choko Kiyuna, Hanshi 10th Dan, Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate Photographed July 16, 2014

喜友名 朝孝 範士十段 沖縄少林流空手

37 Eishou Nakazato, Hanshi 10th Dan, Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate Photographed July 16, 2014

仲里 栄昭 範士十段 沖縄少林流空手

38 Kazuo Uezato, Hanshi 10th-dan Okinawa Goju-ryu Tomari-te Karate do Kyoukai Photographed July 16, 2014

上里 一雄 範士十段 沖縄剛柔流泊手 空手道協会

39 Eiki Kurashita, Hanshi 10th-dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu International Karate Kobudo League Photographed July 16, 2014

蔵下 英喜 範士十段 沖縄剛柔流国際空手古武道連盟

40 Minoru Higa, Hanshi 10th-dan, Shorin-ryu Kyudokan Karate Photographed July 16, 2014

比嘉稔 範士十段 小林流究道館空手

41 Koyu Higa,4th-dan, Shorin-ryu Kyudokan Karate Photographed July 16, 2014

比嘉康雄 四段 少林流究道館空手

42 Masanobu Sakugawa, Hanshi 9th-dan, Shorinji-ryu Karate Photographed July 16, 2014

佐久川 政信 範士九段 少林寺流空手

43 Takashi Okuma, Hanshi 9th-dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu Karatedo Kushinkan Photographed July 16, 2014

奥間 隆 範士九段 沖縄剛柔流 空手道 空心館

44 Masaaki Ikemiyagi,Hanshi 9th-dan, Goju-ryu Okinawa Meibukan Photographed July 16, 2014

池宮城 政明 範士九段 剛柔流沖縄明武館

45 Senkichi Oyakawa, Hanshi 9th-dan, Shorinji-ryu Karate Photographed July 16, 2014

親川仙吉 範士九段 少林寺流空手

46 Seisho Itokazu, Hanshi 9th-dan, Matayoshi Kobudo Photographed July 18, 2014

糸数 盛昌 範士九段 又吉古武道

47 Kiyomi Yogi, 6th-dan, Matayoshi Kobudo Photographed July 18, 2014

與儀 清美 六段 又吉古武道

48 Masahiro Nakamoto, Hanshi 10th-dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo Photographed July 18, 2014

仲本 政博 範士十段 沖縄伝統古武道

49 Mamoru Nakamoto, Kyoshi 8th-dan, Okinawa Dentou Kobudo Photographed July 18, 2014

仲本守 教士八段 沖縄伝統古武道

50 Seiki Takushi, Hanshi 9th-dan, Goju-ryu Karate Photographed July 18, 2014

沢岻 政輝 範士九段 剛柔流空手

51 Kotaro Iha, Hanshi 10th-dan, Ryukyu Kobudo Ryu Kon Kai Photographed July 18, 2014

伊波 光太郎 範士十段 琉球古武道流棍会

52 Morinobu Maeshiro, Hanshi 9th-dan, Shorin-ryu Photographed September 1, 2014

真栄城 守信 範士九段 小林流

53 Haruyoshi Shimabukuro, Kyoushi 8th-dan, Uechi-ryu Karate-do Photographed September 1, 2014

島袋 春吉 教士八段 上地流空手道

54 Koei Teruya, Hanshi 10th-dan, Goju-ryu Photographed September 1, 2014

照屋 幸栄 範士十段 剛柔流

55 Tsuguo Sakumoto, Hanshi 9th-dan, Ryuei-ryu Photographed September 1, 2014

佐久本嗣男 範士九段 劉衛流

56 Hitoshi Oyakawa, Kyoshi 8th-dan, Shorinji-ryu Photographed September 1, 2014

親川 仁志 教士八段 少林寺流

57 Morio Higaonna, Hanshi 10th-dan, Okinawa Goju-ryu Photographed September 1, 2014

東恩納 盛男 範士十段 沖縄剛柔流

58 Tsutomu Nakahodo, Hanshi 10th-dan, Shohei-ryu (Uechi-ryu) Photographed September 1, 2014

仲程 力 範士十段 昭平流（上地流系）

VOLUME 2

59 Yoshimasa Matsuda, Hanshi 10th-danOkinawa Shorin-ryu Myobukan Photographed January 23, 2015

60 Hirokazu Matsuda, Shihan 7th-dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Myobukan Photographed January 23, 2015

61 Masaharu Higa, 8th dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Myobu-kan Yomitan Chapter Dojo Photographed May 15, 2015

62 Katsuyoshi Chibana, 7th dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-Do Myobu-kan Yomitan Chapter Dojo Photographed May 15, 2015

63 Keishun Kakinohana, 9th dan Okinawa Karate-do Shorin Ryu Shorinkai Photographed June 26, 2015

64 Hisatsugu Akaike, Okinawa Karate-do Shorin Ryu Shorinkai Photographed June 26, 2015

65 Tsuneo Shimabukuro, 島袋常雄 9th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate, 9th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed September 16, 2015

66 Nobuko Oshiro, Kyoshi, 8th dan Okinawa Karate-do Shorinryu, Taishinkan Association Photographed November 6, 2015

67 Yonamine Kousuke, Hanshi 10thdan Okinawa Karate-do Shorinryu, Taishinkan Association Ryukyu Kobudo Kenryoryu Association Photographed December 18, 2015

68 Hiroshi Takamiyagi, Hanshi 10th dan Goshukan Ryu Karatedo Photographed December 18, 2015

69 Maeshiro Shusei10th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate 10th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed January 8, 2016

70 Teruya Masao10th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate 10th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo Photographed January 8, 2016

71 Shintoku Takara 10th dan Okinawa Uechi-ryu Karatedo Kyokai Photographed on July 11th, 2016

72 Kazuya Takara 8th dan Okinawa Uechi-ryu Karatedo Kyokai Photographed on July 11th, 2016

73 Takenori Uechi 5th dan Okinawa Uechi-ryu Karatedo Kyokai Photographed on July 11th, 2016

74 Isao Yagi 9th dan Ryukyu Royal Family Martial Arts Bu Mai Moidi Motoburyu Gassen Tuidi School Photographed on September 15th, 2016

75 Hatsuko Machida 町田初子 6th dan Uechi-ryu, Uechi-ryu Ageda Women’s Dojo Photographed on January 17th, 2017

76 Koichi Nakasone 9th-dan Ryukyu Kingdom Sui-di Bujutsu Photographed on July 11th, 2017

77 Dell Hamby 6th dan Uechi-ryu Karate 6th dan Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan Photographed on July 25th, 2018

78 Yasuhiro Uema 上間 康弘 9th dan Shorin-ryu Karate, Photographed on July 27th, 2018

79 Masahiro Teruya 照屋雅浩 8th-dan Shorin-ryu Karate Photographed on July 27th, 2018

80 Moriaki Shimabukuro島袋盛昭 8th dan Shorin-ryu Karate, Photographed on July 27th, 2018

81 Takeshi Uema 上間健 7th-dan Shorin-ryu Karate Photographed on July 27th, 2018

82 Yoshitsune Senaga 上間健 10th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate Do Kenseikai Photographed on November 30th, 2018

83 Koichi Yamashiro 9th dan Matayoshi Kobudo Photographed on March 1st, 2019

84 Takeshi Tamaki 9th dan International Shogen-Ryu Karate Do Kyokai

85 Masahiko Tokashiki 8th dan International Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai Photographed March 5th, 2019

86 Kiyomasa Maeda 10th dan Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association Photographed March 19th, 2019

87 Chikara Shinjo 7th dan Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association Photographed March 19th, 2019

88 Satoshi Tamashiro 6th dan Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association Photographed March 19th, 2019

89 Kenyu Chinen 9th-dan World Oshukai Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation Photographed March 25th, 2019

90 Fusei Kise 10th dan Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Photographed April 13th, 2019

91 Isao Kise 10th dan Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Photographed April 13th, 2019

92 Meitatsu Yagi 10th-dan International Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do Association Photographed August 25th 2019

93 Kiichi Nakamoto 10th-dan Goju-ryu Karate 10th dan Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Photographed August 25th 2019

94 Yae Takahashi 7th-dan Goju-ryu Karate-do / Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Photographed August 25th 2019

95 Seikichi Iha 10th-dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate, Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association Photographed August 29th 2019