The Darkest Moment in Karate

By Master Genshin Hironishi

President of Shotokai International Association Headquarters Japan.
The last surviving 5^th Dan of the 12  Godan Karatekas that existed by the end of the Second World War

Our Master and father,  SHOTO, GICHIN FUNAKOSHI, died on  April 26^th 1957.

The next day  we had a very urgent meeting to analyze a very complicated matter that  immediately arose after his death, the (Kyokai) Japan Karate Association (JKA)  would not assist to the funeral ceremony if they where not the ones organizing  it.

The JKA (Kyokai)  attitude surprised us all in a disagreeable way. Their attitude was  unacceptable, even more so considering the words of Master Giei Funakoshi  primogenitor of O-Sensei, who insisted on the following:

“The  burial of my father shall be in the hands of the  Shotokai School because he  had no other position than director of the Shotokan Dojo and the Shotokai  School. Now that the Dojo has burnt down and disappeared, it is only logical  that his burial should be in charge of the school. “

  We  know that in a traditional hierarchical society as the Japanese, the  primogenitors wish is the one that counts most with respect to the funeral, the  (Kyokai) JKA requirement was not accepted.

At that  moment the (Kyokai) JKA agglutinated some of the main Universities that  concentrated a long history as Keio, Takushoku and Hosei, while Chuo, Noko,  Seijo, Gakushin and Senshu Universities were loyal to the Shotokai School, fully  backing the organization of the funeral by the latter.

With respect  to Waseda University, there was a complicated internal situation. Mr. Ohama,  director of the Physical Education Coordination Department and a fellow  countryman of Master Funakoshi and a very dear friend, was in charge of  coordinating the funerals, while on the other hand the club had taken (Kyokai)  JKA position, actively acting on behalf of the latter. They could not boycott  the funerals ignoring Mr. Ohmas intentions but neither did they offer to back up  the reconsideration of the (Kyokai) JKA. Thus they were present at the meeting  but they did not give their opinion on the subject. This complicated and tense  environment preceded the meeting where around 50 Karatekas were convened. I was  present as a moderator limited to that position, Master Egami and his helper  Yanagizawa (Chuo representative) would be in charge of convincing the (Kyokai)  JKA that they should reconsider their attitude.

All through  the meeting Master Egami repeated his call to reason in the name of the  primogenitor Giei, with his short and precise sentences, very much convinced  that it would be a grave mistake if they did not assist to the funeral. The (Kyokai)  JKA on the other side from the beginning maintained a rigid attitude “if  the funerals were not organized by the(Kyokai) JKA they would not assist”

Hours and  hours passed and no agreement was reached. It was clear that for the (Kyokai)  JKA there was no possibility of reconsideration. The representative of Takushoku,  Keio and Hosei retired taking with them their clubs flags that had been left for  the pre-funeral ceremonies. They said they would need them the next day for some  university ceremonies.

After long  hours of discussion, we were obliged to reach a conclusion, whatever it was.

“The  assistance, or non assistance, to the funerals would be a personal decision…”  We had no other solution than to do it that way.

The only  reason sported by the (Kyokai) JKA consisted in the fact that Master Funakoshi,  besides being President of the Shotokai School, he occupied the position of  highest technical councillor of the (Kyokai) JKA. As I have before stated, I acted as a moderator at the meeting and  I limited myself to that role. I made no comments on the subjects, I only commented on a personal  plane to correct an error which was the following.

“The(Kyokai)  JKA does not recognize the Taikyoku (Kata), thus it is not practiced by them. It  says the Kata was created by and perfected by Master Gigo Funakoshi. But this is  not so. The Taikyoku is the result of many years of training by many people. Mr.  Kuguimiya

 (Takushoku) is one of those Karatekas. During  the Second World War “Karate-Do  Kyohan” was published  (the Second Edition) the book was  written by Master Funakoshi, as we all know. In the supplement of that book the  author presents the Taikyoku under his own signature. Once that is said I call  to your attention one thing: if the KJA considers Master Funakoshi as the  highest technical councillor and it doesn’t practice the Taikyoku, this would be  incoherent.”

After  that encounter what had to happen happened. In December of that year Mr.  Nakayama came to see me and we had the following conversation.

“Become  a member of the (Kyokai) JKA Stop your subtly and become a member”

To this  invitation my response was final.

“Before  inviting me to enter the (Kyokai) JKA you have to do two things; Go to the house  of the Funakoshi and ask them to forgive you, How can I become part of the  organization that boycotted our Masters funeral?, and you will also have to  recognise the Taikyoku as official. If you fulfil these two compromises, I will  consider it”

 (Reply) “Well you may be  right. But let’s not discuss now. Join the Kyokai (JKA) and later on impose your  reasons”.

The JKA (Kyokai)  at the moment of our conversation already recognized the Taikyoku as created by  Master Funakoshi. But they still did not practice it, something I could not  understand.“Look  Nakayama, we are Karate technicians. We have trained together and shared hard  times. I hope you understand me. You have students and if people say to them:  you are from the association that boycotted the burial of Master Funakoshi; that  hurts you, doesn’t it, no? Go to the home of the  Funakoshi and beg for forgiveness. its a mere formality, I know, but you must do  it”.

This  was the last time I saw Mr.Nakayama.

 Genshin  Hironishi.  

Footnote

I  personally can not find adequate words to express my personal upsetting feelings  with regards to the above statement by Master Genshin Hironishi. So strongly do  I personally feel that I fully intend to write an essay with regards to my  feelings and implications! Of the above statement, however it may give you a  flavour of them when I say that I have just removed from my home the Dojo Kun  that was by the hand of Mr. Nakayama. Just as an aside “Hypocrisy be it  the size of the galaxy or the size of a fleas balls is the same. You are free  to disagree.

Ronnie  Colwell

Liverpool  2005