Monday, March 13, 2023

During todays browse of Okinawa Times, I discovered this Photo.


 

Uruma City Acer Festival and all Okinawa 

Boys and Girls Karate Tournament, 

the event photograph taken by the paper cameraman in Maine

 



 

I was translating various articles on OkinawaTimes today and found they also have an entire section of articles about the US Military presence on Okinawa.


I am not going to share those articles but I want to note they are a negative Okinawan perspective of the American Military presence on the island. A constant reminder to themselves what that presence means to Okinawan’s

 

Think back a mere 100 years how few young people on Okinawa considered training in karate, Now look at what is there today. I remember in the Cyberdojo days someone mentioning around 1971 when Okinawa was returned to Japan, everyone began working up to Japanese standard hours, and almost no on Okinawa had the time to train. Then in 1984 they developed a youth karate phys ed program, With new forms for phys ed classes, and things started changing. About 20 year ago it was mentioned that the majority of Okinawan schools were for youth programs. The number of youth in this photo seems to support that. Proof that times change.

 

 

Michael Craig One can walk the streets in Okinawa and find all sorts of signs telling us to leave.

 

Victor Donald Smith I understand, I have been browsing the Okinawa Times site for karate news for a while, they do link karate together there. But after taking the time to translate the page, the articles are definitely for the Okinawan people, offering an insight to what Okinawa thinks, Many of the articles are teaser links for their subscribers. Quite a different perspective to Okinawa.

 

Ron Wanderlich

But in the 40s&50s...They were kissing our Butts to save them and their Island !

 

Victor Donald Smith I am not sure that is exactly the case, nor were they happy with Japan in the least. But as we made very plain that we were not going to grant their freedom and return them to Japan in 1972, it made it easier for the average Okinawan to develop differe...See More

 

Michael Craig And then we started raping and killing their women, hurting their children, and destroying the island with our drunk driving.

 

Victor Donald Smith True, standing military forces since the beginning of time, have had that continual problem. Just saying.

 

Michael Craig Agreed. But that's why we no longer have a base in the Philippines.

 

Victor Donald Smith Those bases are our problem, but it has happened throughout world history all too often.

David Hansen The Okinawan’s protested often outside the Gate to Camp Hansen. Their was at times incidents in town of Kin. The Marines gave much to financial growth of that City. Most didn’t mind our presents and also very polite. I have much respect for the Okinawan people and their way of Life.

 

Victor Donald Smith I don't think it is so much of an issue of respect, as it is a desire for home rule. For example if 1/3 of your county was continually occupied by another foreign power, how do you believe you would feel? It becomes more complicated as the Okinawan karate establishment is involved everywhere in the world. But for the average Okinawan, who does not do karate. well their opinions are their own right.

 

David Hansen Any of the Dojo l visited in Okinawa were strict and were unyeilding to any outside influences. The Jutsu is very much alive in Okinawa. The older Dojo didn’t have much of sport.

 

The younger generation are no different than any other place. Disrespectful, defiant, wanting to be noticed.

 

The Okinawan’s would not lower their standards to any other outside influences. Same methods and in some cases the same equipment used for generations.

 

 The Tournaments l did attend were only Traditional Kata would of been allowed. Real Kobudo no toothpicks. The Kumite was strict with very little flash only good solid technique would scor

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