The photograph of Higaonna Kanryō has been known for many years. My wife and I intend to address this subject in much greater detail in the future. We have been able to analyze the photograph down to the smallest detail, and we hope to present its history in written form in due course.
For many years I had been searching for the original photograph, and in February of this year I was finally fortunate enough to find it. It was a long search—yet also a very interesting and rewarding one. During the course of this research, I contacted several experts who had previously published the image. In doing so, I received a number of responses, and these answers in turn led to further questions. One of the responses was even rather curious, as the individual in question had used two photographs from different sources and presented them to me as if they were one and the same image. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the search ultimately proved successful.
As an old saying states:
“From the spring one draws the purest water.” (Altmann VI, 405.)
And in the end, I was indeed able to find this very source.
The original image was carefully edited in order to obtain a single portrait of Higaonna Kanryō. White spots were retouched, and several stains on Higaonna’s clothing were likewise removed. Presumed moles on the face, however, were left unchanged.
I have decided to offer a poster of this image for sale and have intentionally set the price at a reasonable level. The proceeds will be dedicated to further research, as there remain many aspects still to be discovered, and I already have some indications of where additional sources may be found.
If you are interested in the poster, please feel free to contact me via private message or through the contact form on my website.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 