Designated an Intangible Cultural Asset, Okinawa Karate master and mayor of Chinen Village passed away at 4:16 am on September 7, 2010 from liver cancer at Naha City Hospital. He was 88 years old and a native of Nanshiro, Chinen. A viewing will be held at his home on Tuesday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at his home at Nanshiro Chinen, 589. He is survived by wife Chiyoko.
He was a student of Shuri-te Karate under the late master Kyan Chotoku and later founded the Shorinji-ryu system of Karatedo in 1954. In 1960 he became vice-president and head of the All Japan Karatedo Federation, Okinawa Division, in 1965 he was appointed vice-chairman of the Okinawa Karatedo League, and in 1983 he served as the president of the Okinawa Karatedo Federation. In 2000 he was designated an Intangible Cultural Asset, and in 2007 a Cultural Merit holder. He authored one book on Karatedo, "Karatedo no Jidaiteki Soan". He was the former mayor of Chinen, elected in 1982 and served two eight-year terms.
http://okinawakarateblog.blogspot.co...ei-passes.html