The Okinawan Prefectural Government has announced that five karate/kobudo masters have been recognised as Intangible Asset Holders:

• Ishikawa Seitoku sensei (Shorin-ryu)
• Uehara Takenobu sensei (Uechiryu)
• Hichiya Yoshio sensei (Gojuryu)
• Nakamoto Masahiro sensei (Bunbukan / Kobudo)
• Higaonna Morio sensei (Gojuryu)

The contributions of these five gentlemen are recognised in a way that only 9 others before them have been. Their contributions to the advancement of karate/kobudo in Okinawa and around the world are amazing, and it is pleasing to see the esteem in which they are held to be recognised by the Okinawan government.