The Visit Okinawa website has an article I wrote about Okinawa’s Sefa-utaki, and a promotional video they made of me exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Great experience working with the VisitOkinawa.jp team.
Sefa-utaki – Visit Okinawa
Latest Posts
Hiroshi Takamiyagi, Hanshi 10th dan Goshukan Ryu Karatedo
Today I received the sad news that Takamiyagi sensei has passed away. We spent a lovely day with him in December 2015 taking portraits in his dojo and next to the ocean in Sunabe, Okinawa.
A few months later, Takamiyagi met James and I at the Dojo Bar to give us copies of a book he’d made with the images as a thank you gift. He was a lovely gentleman and so encouraging about the project we were undertaking.
Our thoughts go out to Takamiyagi’s family and friends and to his students such as Garry Parker who will continue the legacy of Goshukan Ryu Karatedo.
Highlights of 2019
In 2019, photography and video has been completely dominated by Okinawan martial arts.
Arcenio James Avincula Isshinryu Karate / Ryukonkai Kobudo 
Meitatsu Yagi 10th-dan International Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do Association 
Kiichi Nakamoto 10th-dan Goju-ryu Karate / Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Born 1927 
Yae Takahashi 7th-dan Goju-ryu Karate-do / Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu 
Seikichi Iha 10th-dan Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate, Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association Photographed August 29th 2019 at the Miyahira Dojo, Naha City, Okinawa. 
Cezar Borkowski photographed November 12th 2019, Naha City, Okinawa, Japan. Chris Willson Photography 
Major John Douglas Perry, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) 10th dan Shorin-kan Shorin-ryu photographed in Okinawa Nov 19th 2019 
Kiyomasa Maeda 10th dan Okinawa Shogen-Ryu Karate-Do Association photographed 19th March 2019 at the Honbu Dojo, Itoman, Okinawa, Japan. 
Takeshi Tamaki 9th dan International Shogen-Ryu Karate Do Kyokai photographed March 5th 2019 
Kenichi Yamashiro 山城健一, 9th dan Matayoshi Kobudo,. Photographed March 1st 2019 at the Komesu Yamashiro Dojo 
Kenyu Chinen9th-dan World Oshukai Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation with student Kohei Oshiro. Photographed at the Yomitan Dojo 4th November 2019 
Fusei Kise 10th dan Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo 83 years old. Photographed at his dojo in Okinawa City on April 13th 2019. Learn more about the Karate Masters Portrait Project at https://travel67.com/the-karate-masters-portrait-project/ 
83-year-old Hisao Hamamoto, iaido master with samurai sword in Okinawa Japan. Style name is Koden HachimanRyu Jissen BattoJutsu Hamamotoden BattoKai
The crowd-funded YouTube video series is proving to be popular, and we’ve released the first six of twelve interviews with Okinawan masters, and three bonus episodes with international masters.
On occassions I’ve been able to photograph some of Okinawa’s less combative side, with smiles and flowers.
The real highlight of the year has been watching this little one grow. Now nearly 2, she’s has adopted all the traits of our chocolate labrador (a bundle of crazed energy who loves to play in the dirt, scavenge for snacks, and then curl up in front of the TV).
A huge thank you to all those who’ve helped this year. Thank you to the students who’ve taken my workshops, clients who’ve hired me for projects, the international karate community for supporting and sponsoring the video series, and to my family both in Okinawa and around the world during this challenging year.
Looking forward to 2020, should be an exciting year.
All the best from Okinawa,
Chris
Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate – International Episode – Neil Stolsmark
A huge thank you to all the sponsors and supporters of the video series.
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
Series Sponsors:
Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools
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
Series 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
Christopher Ford
Cos Vona
Steve Ouslis
Sandro Simonetta
Axel Heinrich
Jiří Matouš
Jose Planas
Click this link to learn more and help:
Sensei Documentary
We are getting closer to completion of Episodes 7 and 8 with Iha sensei and Sakumoto sensei.
We’ll be shooting Episode 9 on January 2nd, and a special project on January 3rd, then we’ve got several exciting option for episodes 10, 11 and 12.
Why are the episodes with the Okinawan masters taking longer to release?
Short answer: subtitles. Long answer: all the video footage first needs to be transcribed which if they are talking standard Japanese is slow if they mix in the Okinawa language is even slower. The Japanese / Okinawan can then be translated. This is a laborious processes, but is further complicated by using terminology in both Japanese and Okinawan specific to martial arts. Once the initial translation is completed each sentence or fraction of a sentence needs to be inserted as a subtitle that can be read by the viewer, and still get across the meaning of what is being said. This is where the next challenge lies, over simplify or get the meaning wrong, and we are attributing incorrect statements to the karate master. If they were talking about their favorite food, it wouldn’t be an issue, but if they are giving the heartfelt thoughts on reasons for karate, or life itself, we need to do our best to get it right. Which means the subtitles are checked, edited, checked and reedited. The popularity of the series, and the fact that the subtitles are being read by thousands of that sensei’s students, is even more pressure. The first video with Arakaki sensei was only 8 minutes long. This was the original plan, and deemed feasible. Recent interviews with Chinen sensei, Iha sensei, and Sakumoto sensei have been between 30 minutes and an hour in length vastly increasing the amount of work.
Cezar Borkowski – Okinawa Karate & Ryukyu Kobudo
A new episode in the Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate series is now online! Cezar Borkowski sensei talks about Okinawan karate, Ryukyu kobudo, and his life studying the martial arts.
Cezar Borkowski has been influential in promoting Okinawan martial arts in North America, acting as a vital bridge between the island’s sensei and Canadian dojos.
A huge thank you to all the sponsors and supporters of the video series.
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
Series Sponsors:
Cezar Borkowski – Northern Karate Schools
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
Series 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
Christopher Ford
Cos Vona
Steve Ouslis
Sandro Simonetta
Axel Heinrich
Jiří Matouš
Click this link to learn more and help:
Sensei Documentary
Another International Episode is coming in the next few days, and we are getting closer to completion of Episodes 7 and 8 with Iha sensei and Sakumoto sensei.
We’ll be shooting Episode 9 on January 2nd, and a special project on January 3rd, then we’ve got several exciting option for episodes 10, 11 and 12.
Why are the episodes with the Okinawan masters taking longer to release?
Short answer: subtitles. Long answer: all the video footage first needs to be transcribed which if they are talking standard Japanese is slow if they mix in the Okinawa language is even slower. The Japanese / Okinawan can then be translated. This is a laborious processes, but is further complicated by using terminology in both Japanese and Okinawan specific to martial arts. Once the initial translation is completed each sentence or fraction of a sentence needs to be inserted as a subtitle that can be read by the viewer, and still get across the meaning of what is being said. This is where the next challenge lies, over simplify or get the meaning wrong, and we are attributing incorrect statements to the karate master. If they were talking about their favorite food, it wouldn’t be an issue, but if they are giving the heartfelt thoughts on reasons for karate, or life itself, we need to do our best to get it right. Which means the subtitles are checked, edited, checked and reedited. The popularity of the series, and the fact that the subtitles are being read by thousands of that sensei’s students, is even more pressure. The first video with Arakaki sensei was only 8 minutes long. This was the original plan, and deemed feasible. Recent interviews with Chinen sensei, Iha sensei, and Sakumoto sensei have been between 30 minutes and an hour in length vastly increasing the amount of work.
Naonobu Ahagon receives Okinawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
Today, Naonobu Ahagon, Hanshi 10th Dan, Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Shorinryu, received the Okinawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award.
I photographed him on April 25th 2014 for the Karate Masters Portrait Project at his dojo in Naha City.
Kadena Gift Corner Print Sale
On Saturday 30th November I will be holding a special print sale at the Kadena Gift Corner. I’ll be selling a wide range of photographs from Okinawa and mainland Japan, all printed on archival cotton rag paper with archival pigment inks. Prints range in size from A4 (8″x11″) to A2 (16″x23″) and in price from $60 to $240.
I’ll be at the Kadena Gift Corner from 10AM to 3PM only on the 30th November 2019, but a smaller selection of prints are available to purchase from the Kadena Gift Shop when I am not there.
Stop by for a chat, and maybe grab something for your wall!
Cape Zampa 
Water lily, Nymphaeaceae, water lilies, flower 
Cape Manza, a popular diving spot, Okinawa, Japan. 
Spratelloides gracilis – Silver-stripe round herring shoal / bait ball at Cape Maeda, Okinawa. 
Idea leuconoe – The Paper Kite, Rice Paper, or Large Tree Nymph butterfly , Aka Island, Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan 
World’s largest tug of war. Held on route 58, close by Kokusai Street 
Kyoto, Japan 
2020 Workshops
Last weekend was the final photography workshop of 2019. It’s a real pleasure to share my passion with others and a delight that Jasmine gets to join us on our adventures.
There are going to be a limited number of workshops in 2020 due to competing work on the Karate Masters Portrait Project, the karate video series, the 2020 Olympics, and a trip to the UK. There will be two Fundamentals Workshops at the start of the year, and another couple yet to be scheduled in the fall.
Come join the fun in 2020. Click on the links below to the Facebook event pages.
January 11th & 12th Photography Fundamentals with Chris Willson
February 8th & 9th Photography Fundamentals with Chris Willson
Sensei Kenyu Chinen at the Yomitan Dojo
Last Monday I had the opportunity to take some pics of Chinen Sensei in his organization’s Yomitan Dojo which is located inside Murasaki Mura. A beautiful location to get a few new portraits of an Okinawan master.
Images shot with the Pentax 645Z and the 55mm lens. A Profoto B1 strobe with a OCF softbox was used for off camera flash to balance the interior of the dojo with the outdoors.
Video shot with the Sony FS5, Atomos Shogun and Rokinon cine lenses.
Shuri Castle Destroyed by Fire
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Thursday 31st October 2019 a fire started inside Okinawa’s Shuri Castle which destroyed the main hall and several adjoining buildings.
Now, one week later, the Governor of Okinawa and the Prime Minister of Japan have both promised that it shall be rebuilt. The challenges of doing so, and the timeline are not yet clear, but I look forward to it rising once again from the ashes of destruction.
Below are a few pics of Shuri Castle taken over the last 19 years. Most were taken at the New Year Festival or the Shuri Castle Festival which they were preparing for when the fire broke out.
Meitetsu Yagi, Zenpo Shimabukuro, Koei Teruya, Minoru Higa
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 