Shuri Sanka 首里三箇 encompasses the regions of Akata 赤田, Sakiyama 崎山, and Torihori 鳥堀, where, before the war, 64 breweries were bustling with the production of awamori from dawn. The chimneys emitting black smoke testified to the industry’s prosperity, and hanging white clothes outside risked them turning black from soot. During that era, coal served as the primary fuel for manufacturing. The residual coal tailings from the breweries were commonly spread on the roads. Additionally, many residents of Sanka were known for their robust and assertive temperament.
In the past, what we now know as Shuri-te (Shui-dī) was simply called “ Tī,“ developing around Shuri Castle. Interestingly, Tōdī Sakugawa, hailing from Toribori like me, played a significant role in this development. From an Interview with Ishikawa Seitoku 石川精徳 (1925-2013).
Ishikawa Seitoku: Ishikawa Sensei was a student of Shiroma Shinpan 城間眞繁, Chibana Chōshin 知花朝信 and Shimabukuro Tarō 島袋太郎. He was 2013 awarded as a “Intangible Cultural Property in the Field of Karate and Kobudō”. Ishikawa Seitoku sensei was known as one of the Shuri-te masters.
My following article handles a karate demonstration that was held in the Taishō period and included 10 famous masters at the time. The article will be published (14. December 2023) in Japanese, maybe in the near future there will also be an English translation.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 