Masters Seikichi Iha & Kochi Nakasone - A conversation at the Dojo Bar, Okinawa

In 2019 we interviewed karate master Koichi Nakasone for episode 3 of the Sensei: Masters of Okinawan Karate series, later we interviewed his teacher, 87-year-old, Intangible Cultural Asset Holder, Seikchi Iha, for episode 8. In January 2020, Seikichi Iha Sensei returned to Okinawa for a visit, and we arranged for Koichi Nakasone Sensei to meet him at the Dojo Bar in Naha City for a chat. We recorded their conversation and over the following 18 months have worked on transcribing and translating their priceless memories and wisdom. Seikichi Iha uses a mixture of Japanese and Uchinaguchi (the Okinawan language). Even in Okinawa, few people under the age of 70 use Uchinaguchi. This made translation very difficult, as there is such a limited group of people who speak both Uchinaguchi and understand the technical vocabulary of martial arts. This episode required a huge investment in time and effort from those who transcribed and translated, but I believe these stories are vital parts of Okinawa