Introducing the "Monument in Honor of Chihana Asanobu, Founder of Kobayashi Ryu," a historical site within the Shuri-Tomote lineage, situated in Shuri, Naha City.
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It is about an 11-minute walk from Giho Station on the Yui Rail. While strolling through the residential area of Shuri, near Shuri Castle and Ryutan Pond, you will encounter a magnificent banyan tree reaching into the blue sky. Standing in the shadow of this banyan tree is the "Monument in Honor of Chihana Asanobu, Founder of Kobayashi Ryu." Chihana Asanobu was a renowned master of Shurite, one of the three major styles of Okinawan karate, and later etched his name in history as the founder of Kobayashi Ryu. Born in Shuri Toribori-cho and hailing from a samurai family in Shuri, Chihana embarked on his journey by studying under Shuri-te master Itosu Anko in 1899 at the age of 15, in pursuit of honing his techniques. After approximately 13 years of training under Itosu, he established a dojo in Shuri in 1918 at the age of 34. Continuing to propagate karate, he later opened another dojo in Kumoji, Naha City. Among Chihana Asanobu's notable students were Miyahira Katsuya (Shidokan), Nakazato Shugoro (Kobayashi-date), Higa Yunao (Kyudokan), and others, laying the groundwork for the global dissemination of Kobayashi Ryu.
