The latest edition of the Fodor’s Essential Japan travel guidebook is now on sale. Yuki and I updated the Hokkaido, Western Honshu, Kyushu, and Okinawa chapters.
This will be my 7th update for Fodor’s Japan. I got my start writing the update for the Okinawa chapter in the 2012 edition. Japan is a fantastic place to visit, and I love being able to share some of my favorite places with the world.
Portraits of Tuari, a master of Māori martial arts. He is holding a patu, which was made by his father-in-law.
It was a real honour and a delight to photograph Tuari, and I am so pleased he could make his way up to my studio in Motobu. My goal is to visit him in New Zealand, as Tuari has offered me the opportunity to document Māori martial arts on location in beautiful Aotearoa.
For those interested in the technical specs….
I photographed Tuari in my studio with the Sony A7RIV and the 70-200 GM2. The keylight was a Profoto D2 strobe with a gridded soft white beauty dish. The rim lights were two 1×4′ gridded softboxes with Proheads powered by a pro-7A 1200W generator. The background is a black felt on a Manfrotto / Lastolite EzyFrame.
On his previous visit to Okinawa, I did a quick interview with Tuari and took some pics of him on the local beach here in Motobu.
It is always a pleasure to hang out with Tuari, often swapping anecdotes of our adventures/misadventures around the world. One of my favorite stories is about the time he was Jonah Lomu’s body double for a McDonald’s commercial, where for insurance purposes Lomu was not allowed to run through a wall….
In October, I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful wedding of Manon & Jeff.
It was a delightful open-air ceremony at Sara-no-ue-no-shizen & il Gastro Sara (皿の上の自然& il Gastro Sara), location photography among the orchids at Bios botanical gardens, then the reception back at il Gastro Sara.
The reception was fantastic with an amazing array of fine food created by the chefs at il Gastro Sara.
Thank you so much for having me as your photographer on your special day.
Dan Antonsen has studied Goju-ryu karate in the Meibukan Dojo under Meitoku Yagi and Meitatsu Yagi. He also studies Ryukyu Kobudo under Hidemi Tamayose. He was recently awarded the rank of 8th-dan.
James Pankiewicz and I interviewed Dan for Series 3 of the Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate documentary series. The preview for the episode is now on YouTube.
A little girl, with little curls, came to see the hills. She read about a naughty rabbit, and went in search of thrills.
She walked up Orrest Head, and looked down at the lake. But now that she was seven, it was just a piece of cake.
She hiked up Wandsfell Pike, and the view was just the best. Mum took another photo, while Dad had a little rest.
The Red Arrows roared above, a mountain victory!
Then holding hands, they wandered home, for buttered scones and tea.
The karate interview series is back! Watch a 6 minute preview of Episode 1, then I give some updates on Series 3.
Huge thank you to those who’ve already made donations as sponsors or supporters for Series 3.
SERIES THREE SPONSORS
Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate
Series Three – Supporters
Artur Carballo
Justin Sheehy
Olaf Steinbrecher
Masaru Hoshi
K.R. Ruiz
Click here to learn more about the documentary series, and how you can help!
Back in 2017, Zachary bought his wife Kelley a location / studio portrait session for Christmas. Kelley had amazing ideas inspired by classic Disney movies, so we went with a demure princess look amongst Okinawa’s cosmos flowers, then transformed her into an all-powerful queen.
With Kelley looking magnificent (or possibly Maleficent), we shot in the studio, then headed over to Bise Village to get images at the beach and amongst the fukugi trees.
Zachary was even willing to step in front of the camera so that Queen Kelley could demonstrate the true power of the crown.
Over the past 8 years, Zachary has himself transformed into a legendary Thunderbird. It was fantastic to see both Zachary and Kelley in the new Netflix documentary (That’s Zachary (Zeke) in the Official Trailer thumbnail!). So happy to see them following their dreams, and their lovely young family. Hopefully we’ll meet again if they are ever back in Okinawa, but until then safe flights as you serve your Queen and country.
Thank you to Audra Pesicka for her great work back in 2017 with hair and makeup, and to Yuki as my assistant. Photos were shot with the Pentax 645Z, with lighting using a Profoto B1 and the softlight reflector white.
For more information about photography sessions in Okinawa please click here.
R.I.P. Jyosei Yogi, Kounan-ryu Karate & Okinawa Kobudo Renseikai, passed away at 91 years old. Fond memories of our shoot in June 2012.
Grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) a common winter visitor in Okinawa happily perched on the corner of my studio.
We are embarking on creating Series 3 of Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate. We have filmed a fascinating interview with Tatsunori Matsuda of Okinawa Kenpo, and recorded the first pieces of B-roll.
We’ve also got the go ahead to film interviews with Seisuke Adaniya (Matayoshi Kobudo / Shorin-ryu), Yoshio Kuba (Goju-ryu) and Kiyohide Shinjo (Uechi-ryu).
The plan is to film at least 6 interviews with Okinawan masters in Series 3 so there are several other sensei that we will be reaching out to. We will also conduct several interviews with international karateka.
I hope to start releasing the interviews in October 2025 around Karate Day and the Martial Arts Film Festival.
If you’d like to watch previous interviews, learn more about the series, or support the project then please click the link below
https://travel67.com/the-karate…/sensei-documentary/
Any questions just ask!
A huge thank you to the organizations, dojos, and individuals who helped sponsor and support the first two series.
SERIES TWO SPONSORS
Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate
Doug Perry – Okinawa Shorinryu Karate
Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools
NOVA Okinawan Karate Dojo
Seikichi Iha, Okinawa Prefectural Intangible Cultural Asset – Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association
Neil Stolsmark – Authentic Ancient Arts
Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai & Shorin- Ryu Shorinkan.
Zensekai Karate Kobujitsu Renmei / Oyata Preservation Foundation
Series Two – Key Supporters
Ervin Tong – Shin Shi Kan
Fred Mansfield Jr. – Beikoku Shidokan / RBKD
Robert Roberto Curtis – Beikoku Shidokan / Virginia Dojo
琉球大学国際地域創造学部 ウェルネス研究分野 (荒川研究室)
Mark Spear – Black Bear Dojo
Series Two Supporters
Ari Nuutinen
Justin Sheehy
David Deinert
Fred Speece
Andreas Sticht
Danny Smith
Olaf Steinbrecher
Jonathan Lapomardo
Shelley Cormier
Gerry Campbell
Marian Reiter
Joel Castasus
Åke Mora Temnerud
Victoria Kirkup
Robin Ross
Thomas Podzelny
Andy Morris
Darren Xiberras
James Hatch
John J. Strangeway
SERIES ONE – MAIN SPONSORS
Fusei Kise, Isao Kise and the OSMKKF-USA
Jerry Figgiani – Shorin Ryu Karate Do International
Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association
Grant Campbell – USA Karate Federation
Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools
NOVA Okinawan Karate Dojo
Waterpoints Dojo – Okinawa Arts Research Studies World Scene
Series One – Sponsors
Marguerite “Peggy” Hess – Jensen Beach Uechi Ryu Karate Do Dojo
Reece Cummings – Cummings Karate Dojo
Michael Quinn – Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Europe
Martin Pinto – Essex Goju Ryu Karate
Mark Spear – Black Bear Dojo
Okinawa Karate Podcast
Fred Mansfield Jr. – Beikoku Shidokan / RBKD
Series One – Supporters
Tim Herlihy
Robin Ross
Joshua Simmers
Jeff Perkins
Paul Punshon
John J. Strangeway
Gerry Campbell
Shelley Cormier
K V Manoharan
Phil Butler
Danny Smith
Justin Rathert
Adam Carter
Mike Powers
Miguel Da Luz
Robert Roberto Curtis
Josh Ryer
Belgi Serin
Igor Vakos
Lisken Dus
Andrew Pearce
William C. Ford
Cos Vona
Steve Ouslis
Sandro Simonetta
Axel Grundig
Jiří Matouš
Jose Planas
Andy Morris
Steve Armes
Olaf Steinbrecher
Hannele Zubeck
Maija Zubeck
Scott Alter
Rob Chartier
Laura Chartier
Xu Ya Hui
Vlamir Silva
Marian Reiter
Cassie Pham-Korman
John Schrock
Åke Mora Temnerud
Ari Nuutinen
Hubert Laenen
Mario Michiels
Chris Michiels
Lynn Miyahira
Roy Paul
Andy Sloane
Justin Sheehy
Manfred Streuber
If you, your dojo, or organization can support Series Three it would be a huge help to document this important part of Okinawan culture.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 