During my trip to Okinawa, a report began circulating announcing the death of Gakiya Yoshiaki Sensei. I also received private messages informing me of the same.
I had already heard about Gakiya Sensei’s alleged passing some time ago. I had the good fortune to train under him in 2008, 2009, and 2010, although I would never describe myself as one of his students. I first heard about his supposed death in 2025, and I asked several Okinawan sensei about it. I received different answers. Among other things, I was told that he was said to have passed away even before Yogi Josei Sensei.
This reminded me of a personal experience involving my grandparents that I would like to share here. At the time, my grandparents lived on a farm. The mailbox where the newspaper was delivered was more than a kilometer away from the house. My task in the mornings was first to collect the eggs from the chicken coop and then make my way to the mailbox to pick up the newspaper.
When I returned, the first thing my grandparents would look at was the obituary section of the newspaper, and they would talk about people they knew. Both of them were already over 70 years old at the time. Most of those who had passed away were acquaintances rather than close friends. When it came to close friends, they did not have to learn such sad news from the newspaper; they would be informed by telephone by relatives or people close to them.
I remember a conversation with my instructor, Jhonny Bernaschewice, in November 2024, during which we spoke about his last meeting with Gakiya Yoshiaki Sensei. In 2014, Jhonny travelled with a group of students from Naha to Nago to visit Gakiya Sensei and receive a training session at his dōjō. After returning to Europe, Jhonny received an email asking him to refrain from visiting Gakiya Sensei again.
Each of these visits was very difficult for Gakiya Sensei. On the one hand, he was of course happy to see his students again, but on the other hand, it was very painful for him that he was no longer able to train himself—something he had dearly loved to do and that had brought him great joy. Those who trained under Gakiya Sensei will understand the passion he had for training.
In 2024, I asked Yogi Josei how Gakiya Sensei was doing, and he replied that he did not know, as he too was no longer in contact with him. Gakiya Sensei had therefore largely withdrawn from public life.
At this point, I do not know exactly where the alleged report of his death originated, but it came from Okinawa. During my trip, international practitioners also heard this alleged news of his death, and it was quickly shared on social media without first being verified.
Just as my grandparents used to look through the obituary notices in the daily newspaper to learn about the deaths of acquaintances, there are similar ways of obtaining such information in Okinawa. Examples include the obituary notice for Yogi Josei Sensei or the recently published sad announcement of the passing of Takushi Seiki Sensei.
I pray for Gakiya Sensei’s well-being and, at the same time, would like to urge everyone not to accept and spread everything they read on social media without careful consideration—especially when it concerns something as serious as the death of another human being.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 