Gichin Funakoshi

Gichin Funakoshi

male, deceased (1957)
Gichin Funakoshi was one of Okinawan karate masters who introduced karate to the Japanese mainland in 1921. His student, Hironori Ohtsuka and his...
Sokon Matsumura

Sokon Matsumura

male, deceased (1899)
was one of the well-known original karateka of Okinawa. He studied "Chuan Fa" ("Kempo" in Japanese) in China as well as other martial arts and...
Shoshin Nagamine

Shoshin Nagamine

male, deceased (1997)
Shoshin Nagamine (1907-07-15-1997-11-02) was a Japanese author, soldier, police officer and karate master. Nagamine was born in Tomari, in Naha...
Rimi Natsukawa

Rimi Natsukawa

female, 36 years old
Rimi Natsukawa is a Japanese folk singer who performs Okinawan Japanese music. Her genre is sometimes referred to as Kayokyoku but it is stated on...

Tamagusuku

male, deceased (1336)
Tamagusuku (玉城)(1296?-1336?) was a "king" of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan from roughly 1314-1336. His reign is primarily remembered for his lack...
Teruo Higa

Teruo Higa

male, 68 years old
Dr. Teruo Higa is a professor at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, located to the south of the main Japanese archipelago, and grew up...

Eugene Sledge

male, deceased (2001)
Eugene Bondurant Sledge, (November 4 1923 - March 3 2001) was a Marine and author. "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" is a memoir of his...
Shoukichi Kina

Shoukichi Kina

male, 61 years old
Kina Shokichi (Kina Shōkichi, 喜納昌吉, born June 10, 1948 in Koza (now part of the city of Okinawa), Okinawa, is an Okinawan rock musician who, alon...
Motobu Choki

Motobu Choki

male, deceased (1944)
The Okinawan karate practitioner was born in Akahira village of Shuri, Okinawa. His father, Lord Motobu Choshin ("Motobu Aji Chōsin") was a des...
Kanbun Uechi

Kanbun Uechi

male
Kanbun Uechi was the founder of Uechi Ryū, one of the primary karate styles of Okinawa.