Organization and Activity Plan
Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1973–1989 | Uechi-ryu is organized as the Uechi-ryu Karate-do Kyokai. It later splits into 13 groups. |
| 1998 | The Uechi-ryu-kei Karate-do Rengokai is founded by 11 groups. |
| 2018 | The association is renamed the Uechi-ryu Karate-do Association (Uechi-ryu Karate-do Rengokai). The statue of Kanbun Uechi is unveiled in Motobu. |
| 2020 | Two members, Shintoku Takara and Tsutomu Nakahodo, are additionally recognized as holders of “Okinawan Karate and Kobudo”, an intangible cultural property designated by Okinawa Prefecture. |
| 2026 | Nobuhide Asato is additionally recognized as a holder of the same intangible cultural property. |
| 2028 | The association celebrates its 30th anniversary. |
Today the association brings together dojos in Okinawa, mainland Japan and overseas. See Member Dojos for the full list.
Board
Elected at the 29th Annual General Meeting on May 17, 2026.
| Position | Name | Dojo or note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Master | Shintoku Takara, Hanshi 10th dan | 高良 信徳 | Holder of Okinawa Prefecture intangible cultural property |
| Supreme Master | Tsutomu Nakahodo, Hanshi 10th dan | 仲程 力 | Holder of Okinawa Prefecture intangible cultural property |
| Supreme Master | Nobuhide Asato, Hanshi 10th dan | 安里 信秀 | Holder of Okinawa Prefecture intangible cultural property |
| Adviser | Seishin Shirado | 志良堂 清眞 | Former chairman |
| Adviser | Masataka Uenten | 上運天 政孝 | Former chairman |
| Adviser | Seigi Ishikawa | 石川 清義 | Former chairman |
| Adviser | Sakae Uechi | 上地 榮 | Former chairman |
| Chairman | Mitsuo Namihira | 波平 三雄 | Urasoe Dojo |
| Senior Vice Chairman | Kensho Kina | 喜納 健昌 | Uruma Ishikawa Dojo |
| Vice Chairman, tournaments | Choshun Kishaba | 喜舎場 朝春 | Ramses Ireikan |
| Vice Chairman, demonstrations | Yoshiharu Toma | 當間 義治 | Shutokukan Association |
| Vice Chairman, external affairs | Hitoshi Sumida | 角田 仁司 | Kanagawa Yamato Dojo |
| Vice Chairman, public relations | Michi Gisuji | 宜壽次 美智 | Ageda Women’s Dojo |
| Vice Chairman, women and children | Yoshino Shimojo | 下條 克乃 | Ageda Dojo, Misato Branch |
| Executive Director and Treasurer | Kunihiro Arakaki | 新垣 国広 | Shutokukan Association |
| Deputy Executive Director | Haruki Goya | 呉屋 春樹 | Goya Dojo |
| Head of External Affairs | Viktors Garkavijs | ガルカビス・ビクトルス | Uruma Ishikawa Dojo |
| Secretary General | Kiyoto Yogi | 與儀 清斗 | Ryuseikai |
| Deputy Secretary General | Naoshi Fukuhara | 普久原 直志 | Urasoe Dojo |
| Auditor | Katsuaki Teruki | 照木 勝昭 | Pangainun Association |
| Auditor | Tsuyoshi Oshiro | 大城 剛 | Urasoe Dojo |
The chairman, the executive director and the secretary general form the council of three officers. The executive committee is made up of the chairman, the vice chairmen, the executive director and the deputy executive director, the head of external affairs, the treasurer, and the secretary general and the deputy secretary general.
Our principles
- Bring the member dojos together and run the association smoothly.
- Grow the association and keep it financially sound.
- Serve society, holding to the belief that karate-do is a way of peace.
- Build character while pursuing karate-do.
Looking ahead, the association is preparing for its 30th anniversary and for the 10th anniversary of the Kanbun Uechi statue, both in 2028, and is expanding the English version of its website.
Activity plan for fiscal 2026
April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (PDF in Japanese)
| Date | Activity | Place |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2026 | 29th Annual General Meeting | Nishihara Town Central Community Center |
| October 25, 2026 | 12th Memorial Demonstration for the War Dead | Cornerstone of Peace, Itoman |
| November 8, 2026 | Karate Day events | Kokusai Street and other locations, Naha |
| November 23, 2026 | 16th Boys and Girls Karate Championship | Okinawa Karate Kaikan |
| January 16, 2027 | Dedication demonstration at the Kanbun Uechi statue | Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park, Motobu |
| January 16, 2027 | Opening of the Motobu Cherry Blossom Festival | Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park, Motobu |
| February 23, 2027 | New Year party | NBC |
Throughout the year the association also holds board, director and adviser meetings and dan examinations, supports events of member groups, works with Motobu Town and other organizations, and prepares for the 10th anniversary of the statue and the 30th anniversary of the association in 2028.
Earlier boards, plans and reports
These are kept from the old English website.
Board, April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Senior Advisers | Shintoku Takara, Tsutomu Nakahodo |
| Advisers | Seishin Shirado, Nobuhide Asato, Masataka Uenten, Seigi Ishikawa |
| Chairman | Sakae Uechi |
| Vice Chairmen | Yasushi Takae, Choshun Kishaba, Kazuya Takara, Kensho Kina, Michi Gisuji, Yoshino Shimojo |
| Executive Director | Mitsuo Namihira |
| Deputy Executive Director | Kunihiro Arakaki |
| Head of External Affairs | Hitoshi Sumida |
| Treasurer | Kunihiro Arakaki |
| Secretary General | Kiyoto Yogi |
| Deputy Secretary General | Naoshi Fukuhara |
| Auditors | Katsuaki Teruki, Tsuyoshi Oshiro |
Board, April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Senior Advisers | Takenobu Uehara, Shintoku Takara, Tsutomu Nakahodo |
| Advisers | Seiko Itokazu, Seishin Shirado, Seisho Ganaha, Kosuke Yonamine, Masaki Irei, Nobuhide Asato, Masataka Uenten, Seigi Ishikawa |
| Chairman | Sakae Uechi |
| Vice Chairmen | Kiyoshi Yogi, Yasushi Takae |
| Executive Director | Mitsuo Namihira |
| Deputy Executive Director | Atsushi Hamada |
| Head of External Affairs | Takashi Arakaki |
| Treasurer | Kunihiro Arakaki |
| Secretary General | Kiyoto Yogi |
| Deputy Secretary General | Hitomi Shiokawa |
| Accounting Officer | Michi Gisuji |
| Auditors | Katsuaki Teruki, Takehiro Tomihama |
Activity plan for 2021 (draft)
| Date | Activity | Place |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2021 | 1st executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| June 21, 2021 | Annual General Meeting | Okinawa Karate Kaikan |
| Early July 2021 | Press interviews (new members) | Okinawa Times, Ryukyu Shimpo |
| Early August 2021 | Celebration of the intangible cultural property recognition (planned) | To be decided |
| Early October 2021 | 2nd executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| Mid-October 2021 | Courtesy visit to Itoman City Hall | Itoman City Hall |
| October 25, 2021 | Memorial Demonstration for the War Dead | Peace Memorial Park, Itoman |
| October 25, 2021 | Karate Day demonstration | Kokusai Street, Naha |
| Early November 2021 | 3rd executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| Late November 2021 | 1st board meeting | Headquarters office |
| Mid-December 2021 | 10th Boys and Girls Karate Championship | Okinawa Karate Kaikan |
| Mid-December 2021 | 4th executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| January 2022 | Dedication demonstration at the Kanbun Uechi statue | Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park, Motobu |
| January 2022 | Opening of the Cherry Blossom Festival | Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park, Motobu |
| February 2022 | 2nd board meeting | NBC |
| February 2022 | New Year party | NBC |
| February 2022 | Dan certification and special rank recognition | NBC |
| April 2022 | 5th executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| May 2022 | Annual General Meeting | Okinawa Karate Kaikan |
Activity report for 2019
| Date | Activity | Place |
|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2019 | 1st executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| June 22, 2019 | Annual General Meeting | Okinawa Karate Kaikan |
| September 29, 2019 | 2nd executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| October 18, 2019 | Courtesy visit to the Mayor of Itoman | Itoman City Hall |
| October 24, 2019 | 3rd executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| October 27, 2019 | Memorial Demonstration for the War Dead | Peace Memorial Park, Itoman |
| October 27, 2019 | Karate Day demonstration | Kokusai Street, Naha |
| November 9, 2019 | 4th executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| December 15, 2019 | Referee seminar | Okinawa City Budokan |
| December 22, 2019 | Boys and Girls Karate Championship | Okinawa Prefectural Budokan |
| December 22, 2019 | Board meeting | Okinawa Prefectural Budokan |
| January 12, 2020 | 5th executive committee meeting | Headquarters office |
| January 19, 2020 | Dedication demonstration at the Kanbun Uechi statue | Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park, Motobu |
| February 9, 2020 | New Year party and dan certification | NBC |