Iraha Chōkō 伊良波長幸 (1901-1986)
„The author had spent several years in Okinawa before its reversion to Japan. At that time, although Okinawa was small, it had a governmental structure comparable to that of an independent nation. There was a legislative body called the Rippōin, which corresponded to a national parliament, and the author often had the opportunity to visit the parliamentary building.
Whenever the author went there, he would always peek into the office of a legislator named Iraha Chōkō and often spent a great deal of time there. As for Iraha’s insight as a legislator, the author, perhaps impolitely, had never given it much thought, so he never asked about political matters.
Iraha always wore a gentle smile and spoke in a low, delicate voice, so soft that it was difficult to make out his words. Their conversations were light and scattered, consisting mostly of small talk. The atmosphere was as calm and pleasant as a spring breeze, making it an exceptionally comfortable place to be.
Though Iraha was already advanced in age, there was not the slightest trace of a martial demeanor in his appearance. He may have been well known as a calligrapher.
Years later, the author heard someone describe him by saying, “Bushi gwā yamishētan dō.” In other words, “He was a Bushi gwā.”
“Bushi gwā” refers to a person who has reached the level of a true master in Karate and is also distinguished by exceptional character and wisdom.“
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I copied the following text from a book. Mario McKenna was kind enough to mention the book title to me; otherwise, I probably would have never known about it.
I brought the book back from my recent trip to Japan. Ironically, Iraha Chōkō passed away when I was just one year old, so of course, it should be impossible for me to have heard his voice… But luckily, I was able to hear it in a very old interview, and his voice was truly “a low, delicate voice, so soft that it was difficult to make out his words.”
More about this in the future !!!
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 