Okinawa Karate Kaikan

“Karate”, a martial art of Okinawan origin has now numerous enthusiasts around the world.
The Okinawa Karate Kaikan is a window into one of Japan’s most well-known cultural products.  Recently opened in 2017 on a hill with a view of the sea, the facility was designed to promote the preservation, passing down, and development of traditional Okinawan karate as a unique cultural heritage, and as a base for promoting Okinawa as the birthplace of karate as well as a facility that can be used as a place to learn the essence of Karate.

A dojo named “Special Dojo (Shurei Hall)” made with a red tiled roof symbolizes the status of Okinawa as the birthplace of Karate and wooden walls.  Separate from ordinary use, it can be used for tests of promotion to a higher rank (dan) of high level practitioners and other demonstrations and displays for the Karate Day as well as other special events.

The facilities in Karate Kaikan are fully equipped and have, as the core, a “dojo” that can be used, of course, for the practice of Karate and holding of competitions, as well as for all kinds of events besides Karate, together with a training room, an instruction room and shower facilities.

The Karate Kaikan’s museum recounts the history of karate through various documents in addition to artifacts like uniforms and weapons used in the martial art.  There is also an area with multiple interactive exhibits with ultramodern educational technologies, such as holographs and three-dimensional videos, in which visitors can experience karate training techniques such as fast punching and lifting weights to strengthen the wrists and legs.  The Karate Kaikan also houses a shop and a restaurant.

Website:
http://karatekaikan.jp/en/