Dissertation title: “A Study of Okinawa’s Bubishi:Mainly Relations with Okinawan Karate”
I am from Fujian Province, China. 12 years ago, following the footsteps of my ancestors, the “Kume Sanjyuroku Sei (36 Fujian clans of Kume),” I came to Okinawa, “the land of Kyuyo,” blessed with a rich natural and cultural environment. Here on the island I encountered karate, and learned that its origin was not in mainland Japan, but in Okinawa. Being in a unique geographical position, Okinawa has absorbed various cultures and created many new features of its own. Karate is one such cultural product that Okinawa is proud to present to the world. I was intrigued by this martial art and wanted to research karate from both theoretical and practical aspects. However, there were no universities or research institutes that specialized in karate, and I almost gave up on my dream. Fortunately, Professor Eikichi Hateruma of this doctoral program kindly became my academic supervisor, going beyond the existing research fields of this university, and I was able to complete my dissertation.
Doctoral students in our field are participating in various research themes, stimulating and encouraging one another. Thanks to my fellow doctorate students, I have learned the “joy of acquiring knowledge.”