Happy New Year!
I am thankful that we can welcome the new year of 2024 in good health.
This year’s Japanese Zodiac sign, which cycles every 60 years, is Kinoe/Tatsu.
“Kinoe” is the first kanji of the zodiac sign, and represents rapid growth, flowering, and development. The zodiac sign “Tatsu” or Dragon, represents an image of the whole body being bathed in sunlight.
According to the Yin-Yang-Gogyo philosophy, the year of Kinoe/Tatsu is said to be the year in which spring sunlight helps people grow.
60 years ago, Kinoe/Tatsu was in 1964. It was the year that the Tokyo Olympics were held, and which caused the Japanese economy to skyrocket.
It was also the year that I went to the United States for a year to further my training and to develop an international mindset.
This year your efforts and growth will be nurtured, and your hidden talents may also bloom.
Analyze where you stand, solidify your footing, and improve with confidence.
Last year, the All Japan Karatedo Goju-kai visited Okinawa to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the passing of Goju-ryu Karatedo’s founder, Chojun Miyagi Sensei. At his gravesite, we vowed to further dedicate ourselves, pass on the tradition, and further develop Karate-do.
We will return to the origins of Goju-ryu Karatedo’s philosophy and techniques, continue to train, and aim to enrich and expand our organization. We will continue “nurturing young people” and focus on “unity and mutual support”.
The annual JKGA national tournament will be held on September 1st at the Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium.
We have received requests from Asian countries to hold the 8th Asia Pacific Championship Seminar in Thailand and this is currently under consideration.
This year, we will begin planning and organizing the 8th Karate-do Goju-kai Global Championship to be held in Japan in 2025, and we hope that it will be a successful event. We appreciate your continued support and efforts.
We sincerely hope that we can revive the international exchanges that had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. I hope this will contribute to raising awareness of global environmental issues and realizing world peace without war.
2024 Motto:
黙して地に伏し 天を仰ぐ (mokushite chi ni fushi ten wo aogu)
猫虎龍鶴を夢想 空拳を愛しまん (byoukoryukaku wo musou kuuken wo itoshiman)
Meaning: I silently pray and give thanks while shouting my wishes to the sky. I imagine the Cat, Tiger, Dragon and Crane, and continue to love Karate-do.
Goshi Yamaguchi
2024 New Year’s Day
All Japan Karate-do Goju-kai/International Karate-do Goju-kai
President Goshi Yamaguchi
