Historical Discovery [Itosu Ankoh Photo] cross post

[Patrick McCarthy]

Hi folks,

Posted this over on the Ryukyuan Unarmed List but thought some of you here might like to read the recent news, too.

My teacher, Kinjo Hiroshi, recently discovered a photograph of modern karate pioneer Itosu Ankoh. The only known photo in existance, hopefully the discovery might kick open the door for other historically important finds.

Turning 88 [Beiju celebration] next year [on St. Valentine's Day] Kinjo Sensei was recently honored in Okinawa by the Naha City Council for having donated more than a thousand of his personal books to the Naha Prefectural Central Library, and the discovery [and donation] of a vintage photo of Itosu Ankoh [the only of its kind]. There was an interview in the Okinawa Times, a couple of articles [by O-sensei & Kategaru Toru] and NHK TV dedicated some time to his donation on national news. I'll do my best to get that translated and published in the next Uchinadi Journal along with the original photo of Itosu Ankoh, which O-sensei is sending to me.

For those who can read Japanese, see here:
Article #1 in Japanese
http://db.okinawatimes.co.jp/cgi-bi...exttop=&subid=1

Article #2 in Japanese
http://db.okinawatimes.co.jp/cgi-bi...exttop=&subid=3

Article #3 in Japanese
http://db.okinawatimes.co.jp/cgi-bi...exttop=&subid=4

See Kinjo Sensei & Kategaru san holding the photo here:
http://www.koryu-uchinadi.org/Kinjo...Itosu_Photo.jpg

Photo courtesy of http://www.koshiki.org/kiroku/TournamentRecord.htm

The man in the photo with O-sensei [Kinjo Hiroshi] is Kategaru Toru, the person in charge at the Okinawan Kencho Shiryoshitsu [Okinawa prefecture office of historically important documents].

Dated just two months before Itosu penned his "Ten Lesson" letter [Oct 1908], the photo commemorates the Judo & Kendo championships held at Naha Prefecture Middle School in August of 1908, and originally belonged to Mr. Tokuda [a student of Ichiji Tanmei---aka Itosu Ankoh] who passed it along to his son, and ultimately Kinjo Sensei.

The principals in this vintage photo include Itosu Okina [dressed in Haori-hakama who is about 77 or 78 years old at the time], Okubo Shuhachi [school principal] and Tokuda Sensei [who represented Judo at that time].

[Jeff Cook]

All of the links appear to lead nowhere.

Jeff Cook

[Patrick McCarthy]

Dear Jeff san,

Hmm, that's odd. Please try these ones located here...

For those who can read Japanese, see here:
Article #1 in Japanese
http://db.okinawatimes.co.jp/cgi-bin...xttop=&subid=1

Article #2 in Japanese
http://db.okinawatimes.co.jp/cgi-bin...xttop=&subid=3

Article #3 in Japanese
http://db.okinawatimes.co.jp/cgi-bin...xttop=&subid=4

See Kinjo Sensei & Kategaru san holding the photo here:
http://www.koryu-uchinadi.org/Kinjo_...tosu_Photo.jpg

...or check the link here http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33614

All of the links appear to lead nowhere.

Jeff Cook

Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Jeff Cook]

Thank you very much, sir.

Jeff Cook

[Patrick McCarthy]

Hi folks,

Just finished one the English translations with the Itosu photo which you can find here http://tinyurl.com/mzw4m

[Chris McLean]

Kick Start instructors say thank you Sir!

[Prince Loeffler]

Hi folks,

Just finished one the English translations with the Itosu photo which you can find here http://tinyurl.com/mzw4m

This is great ! Thank you for the translation McCarthy Sensei.

[Prince Loeffler]

One member in my forum posted this interesting link:

http://www.shitokai.com/shitoryu.php

It has a picture of Mabuni Sensei, Itosu Anko and Funaksohi as well.

[Blackwood]

McCarthy Sensei,

Once again, from the non-Japanese capable martial arts world, thanks so much! I will share your translations with rest of my dojo. Truly a historical photograph!

[Patrick McCarthy]

Hi folks,

No problemo...thanks for caring and sharing.

BTW, Prince, I don't believe that photo is of Itosu but rather of Kiyoda Juhatsu and Funakoshi.

[wsteigner]

Hi folks,

No problemo...thanks for caring and sharing.

BTW, Prince, I don't believe that photo is of Itosu but rather of Kiyoda Juhatsu and Funakoshi.

Hello Mr. McCarthy
That is a picture of a young Funakoshi but its not Kiyoda/Kyoda Juhatsu
with him. this info from Mario McKenna to me after i made the same mistake
on the cyber dojo.
thank you
bill steigner
Jinbukai

[Patrick McCarthy]

Hello Mr. McCarthy
That is a picture of a young Funakoshi but its not Kiyoda/Kyoda Juhatsu
with him. this info from Mario McKenna to me after i made the same mistake
on the cyber dojo.
thank you
bill steigner
Jinbukai

Bill san,

Thanks for the heads up on that photo, much appreciated. Not Kiyoda?? Hmm....okay, let's check Mario's sources shall we?

Mario san....are you there?

[Harry Cook]

Well done Pat for the Itosu material..a tremendous find...another mystery uncovered!!
Harry Cook

[kodomon]

Hi to all...

McCarthy Sensei, do you know with the age of the photo if it will be a copyright free image that will end up in the public domain?

I for one would love to see the pencil sketch of Itosu on websites all over the World replaced with a decent photo portrait taken from a scan of the photo.

[Brandon Fisher]

McCarthy Sensei,
Thank you for sharing that. What a great find and historical photo to be kept forever hopefully.