This week, on October 25th, World Karate Day was celebrated in Okinawa and worldwide.

It’s not the only World Karate Day.* But the one recognised by the prefectural government of Okinawa: the birthplace of karate.

Each year, events both celebratory and promotional are held in Okinawa’s capital city of Naha, in honour of their gift to the world. And as part of Okinawa’s effort to be recognised as karate’s homeland, to increase karate tourism there.

Meeting of the Masters – Chinese Hand to Empty Hand

The date of October the 25th was chosen in 2005, to commemorate the ‘Meeting of the Masters’ that took place in 1936.

This event, called the ‘Karate Zadankai’ at the time, was a historic roundtable discussion with eight renowned Okinawan karateka, hosted by the Ryukyu Shimposha — the first newspaper of Okinawa.

Miyagi Chojun, Kyan Chotoku, Motobu Choki, Chibana Choshin, Hanashiro Chomo, Kyoda Juhatsu, Gusukuma Shimpan, and Oroku Chotei were the acknowledged karate masters in attendance.

The 16 participants also included officials from the newspaper, prefectural government, police, even military, as well as noted karate historian Nakasone Genwa.

Funakoshi Gichin Sensei was already spreading karate in Tokyo, so could not be present.

Several initiatives sprang from this pivotal meeting, as Okinawans sought to modernise and standardise elements of their art that was gaining ever more attention on the mainland.

One notable outcome of the meeting was the consensus that ‘karate’ should henceforth be written with the kanji that Funakoshi Sensei preferred, 空手 (empty hand), instead of 唐手 (Tang/Chinese hand) as some still wrote it.

World Karate Day 2023

On this year’s World Karate Day, events in Okinawa included a 100 kata challenge in Shuri Castle Park, and a dedication ceremony in honour of karate’s past masters, with demonstrations by four current ‘holders of Intangible Cultural Property’ as recognised by the Okinawa Prefecture.

As usual, on the weekend following World Karate Day, a massive street performance was held on Kokusai Doori (International Street). Apparently, over 2,000 people participated in the demonstration. Take a look below if you’re curious!

Personally, although I can’t call my own practice ‘Okinawan karate’, I enjoy the reminder of the origins of my path. So, for this reason and others, I prefer to observe this World Karate Day than June 17, which is claimed by the sport federation I belong to.

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*In 2017, 12 years after the Okinawa Prefecture Assembly resolution, the World Karate Federation based in Spain declared June 17 a World Karate Day to mark their sport’s inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Main image via Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau.