A project to set up the JKA Archieve.

A Trip to the Roots of Karate! A Project to Set Up the Japan Karate Association Archive!

It has been 100 years since karate was introduced to mainland Japan by the great master Funakoshi Gichin. The Japan Karate Association (JKA) will set up an archive room within its headquarters to preserve and pass on the true history and spirit of karate to future generations. JKA’s goal is to share the karate’s true essence of courtesy, integrity, and self-discipline to a wide audience. We ask you to join us on this journey, transcending styles, generations, and nationalities while united in spirit to ensure the future of karate.

INTRODUCTION

Hello, everyone. We are the Japan Karate Association (JKA).

It has been nearly 100 years since Supreme Master Funakoshi Gichin, often called the founder of karate-do, brought tode-jutsu from Okinawa to mainland Japan, and in 1929, renamed it karate-do.
With determination and belief at its core, karate-do has become one of Japan’s world-renowned martial traditions, spreading to more than 150 countries and practiced by an estimated 150 million enthusiasts all over the world.

Established in 1948, we, JKA, inherited the legacy of karate-do.

For many years, we have worked with society, seeing karate not just as a sport but as “martial arts education” that trains the mind and body.

In 1958, JKA was approved as an incorporated association by the then Ministry of Education. In 2012, we went on to be certified by the Prime Minister, taking a new step forward as a non-profit organization. We have continued to earn high recognition both domestically and overseas for our mission to improve people’s physical fitness, fostering respectful individuals, and contributing to world peace, all through increasing the popularity of karate-do.

Since our establishment, we have focused on nurturing specialized instructors. Through an exclusive training program, we have built a solid foundation for the techniques and spirit of karate-do.
Today, our instructors are appointed to educate children in schools all over Japan, producing great results in their development. Our main dojo is home to over 30 specialized instructors, coaching practitioners from all parts of the globe. We have also expanded to branches in over 140 countries overseas.

We are now embarking on a new challenge, to set up the JKA Archive.

We hope this archive will serve as a place to explore the roots of karate-do and witness its history, while also acting as a gateway to communicating the true essence of karate and what makes it so great. As a base to learn the history, understand the spirit, and connect with future generations, the goal is to make the archive a space that offers new insights and inspiration to those who have never experienced karate before.

What karate has cultivated is not simply a skill, but personal development, the passing on of tradition, and training of the mind.

We quietly and confidently believe that the archive will be the home to a new chapter in the story of karate-do.

WHAT IS THE JKA ARCHIVE?

The year 2024 marked a major milestone, with it being 100 years since karate was introduced from Okinawa to mainland Japan.

In 1929, Supreme Master Funakoshi Gichin renamed tode-jutsu to karate-do, beginning a new era for karate in Japan. To ensure this 100-year legacy lives on, we have now decided to set up the JKA Archive for future generations.

Karate is not just a skill but has a profound appeal.

Karate trains both the mind and body, teaches courtesy and respect for others, and develops the mental strength to overcome difficulties.
Karate is not just a combat sport but a way to improve yourself as a person. At its core, it is a martial art, an education, and a culture.

In the course of its long history, however, karate has also been wrongly portrayed as something that delinquents do or a show of breaking tiles.
Until now, there has not been a place that properly conveys the original sacredness and profound depth of karate correctly and clearly to everyone.

JKA holds many precious materials dating back to the birth of karate through to the modern era.

We have artifacts that enable visitors to experience the true essence of karate, including uniforms and equipment used at the inception of karate, approximately 200 out-of-print books documenting the techniques and philosophy of karate, and a historical timeline that shows the advancement of karate through the decades.

The archive will use these materials to showcase technique, spirit, and education, which are the three pillars of karate, from multiple perspectives.

With digital access to materials via a tablet device or computer, the archive will be available as a learning environment open to all kinds of people: from instructors, teachers, and researchers knowledgeable about karate, to the general public who have little or no knowledge about the martial art.

Admission will be free.
We will create an environment where everyone can easily visit and experience the appeal and history of karate.

[Examples of what will be displayed]

About 200 precious historical books about karate (available in digital format)
Exhibition of actual uniforms and equipment used when karate was first founded
A historical timeline that illustrates karate’s evolution through the decades
A space to search and browse materials using a tablet or computer

[Examples of the archive’s intended use]

To be a place where children who attend a dojo experience not only the skills of karate but also the history and mindset behind it.
To be a place where Japanese culture is studied as part of school martial arts education or integrated learning programs.
To be a place where overseas karate practitioners and travelers gain a deep understanding of the roots and beliefs of karate.
To be a place where people with no knowledge of karate experience its appeal and are encouraged to join a dojo.

We hope the archive will bring new insights and inspiration to visitors as a place where people can discover the dignified strength, beauty, and profound philosophy of karate.

What we want to achieve with this project is to convey the true value of karate to everyone.

GOALS OF THIS PROJECT

As our next step, we will set up the JKA Archive within the JKA headquarters.

Karate emerged from Okinawa, developed on the mainland of Japan, and has become a “world-renowned Japanese martial art” that has now reached over 150 countries worldwide.
Despite these great advancements, however, the essence of karate— embodied in respect, self-discipline, and character building—is not widely understood.

We believe we must urgently tackle this situation.

That is why we have now made a firm commitment to establish an archive where visitors can see, feel, and learn the roots and true essence of karate.

What we truly want is more people to begin learning karate.

It doesn’t matter what age, gender, or nationality you are. Karate has the power to strengthen the mind and body and improve all those who experience it.

Karate is a culture that is open to everyone, and possess the power to change lives.
That is why we want to share the true value of karate with as many people as possible through this crowdfunding project.
Establishing an archive is a step toward bringing our wish to life.

Our dreams don’t stop here.

In the future, we want to establish a system where families and local children who have difficulty even buying a uniform can receive karate lessons free of charge.

We want to reduce the number of people who want to start learning karate but can’t. That is why we really want to make this step a success.
This endeavor may be a small step, but we believe that it can become a major force in shaping the future of karate.
We believe in the potential of karate—for all who love it and for all who are yet to experience it.
We will give our all to make this project a success.

FUNDING REWARDS

The following crowdfunding packages are available to those who support us abroad in this cloud funding project.Please take a look and contact us by e-mail to keiribu-9@jka.or.jp to be our overseas supporters.
*Only credit card payment is acceptable.Thank you for your understanding.

1. Individual sponsor : JPY 5,000

This is a reward given to JKA’s individual sponsors.
We will print your name on a wooden tag on the wall of the archive as recognition of your support.
*The size of the wooden tag will be half that of the 10,000 yen support.

2. Individual sponsor : JPY 10,000

This is a reward given to JKA’s individual sponsors.
We will print your name on a wooden tag on the wall of the archive as recognition of your support.

3. Corporate sponsor (Bronze) : JPY 100,000

4. Corporate sponsor (Silver): JPY 200,000

These are the rewards given to JKA’s corporate sponsors:
(1) We will print your company’s name on a wooden tag on the wall of the archive as recognition of your support.
(2) We will also publish your company’s name in our tournament pamphlet of “the Funakoshi Gichin Cup 17th Karate World Championship Tournament” held in 2027 .
(3) We will include your company’s name as a sponsor on the JKA Instagram account.

5. Corporate sponsor (Gold): JPY 300,000

SCHEDULE

August 2025: Start work to build the Japan Karate Association Archive
September 2025: Start crowdfunding efforts
End of October 2025: End crowdfunding efforts
End of October 2025: End work to build the Japan Karate Association Archive
End of November 2025: Open the Japan Karate Association Archive to the public

CLOSING MESSAGE

Karate has the power to change people’s lives.

Karate, which not only trains the body and mind but teaches respect, consideration for others, and the essence of strength, is a world-renowned Japanese martial arts culture with the power to develop people much needed in our society going forward.

Karate is a way to strengthen your mind and your body. It is also a path that respects courtesy and cultivates consideration for others.
Looking within oneself, those who practice karate learn to control their anger and pride and develop a gentle strength.
We believe the spirit of karate is essential in today’s ever-changing world.

It is said that there are currently between 200 and 300 styles of karate in the world.
Each has its own precious history and culture, and has been built up through unique training over time.
However, opportunities for networking are limited, with fewer and fewer chances to learn each other’s techniques and principles.

That being said, the essence of karate is respect and co-existence, not confrontation.

We feel strongly that for karate to flourish in the years ahead, it is vital that we transcend all styles/schools of karate, connect in spirit, and learn from each other.

JKA is prepared to lead the way in shaping the future of karate as a whole while teaming with karate stakeholders in Okinawa, where it originated, as well as karate stakeholders all over Japan and the rest of the world.
We openly welcome those from different schools or organizations to get in touch with us.
What is important is not what school you belong to, but your love for karate. If you have a love for karate, we welcome you as a partner to collaborate with us.

We also wish to say this loud and clear:

Karate is a martial art that anyone, man or woman, young or old, can start at
any stage in their life.

For example, karate is a way for children to learn courtesy and the ability to concentrate.
Karate is also a means for hard-working adults to foster mental composure.
Karate also acts as a life skill that helps keep senior citizens healthy and happy.

Karate is also a means for women to be confident, protect themselves, and train their mind and body with grace.
Karate not only plays a role in self-defense, but it also fosters mental stability, strengthens the core, and empowers us to approach each day positively.
In modern society, many women are seeking the power to live true to themselves.
We believe that choosing karate as a way to achieve this is far from something exceptional, but a natural choice as a step in the right direction.

Karate is a “way of life” open to all people.

We want to share what makes karate great with as many people as possible.
That is our wish.

The Japan Karate Association Archive will be a base to properly pass on the soul of karate to future generations.

The archive will contain a collection of karate artifacts such as precious books, uniforms, and equipment.
These will not simply be exhibited items, but stories to move the hearts of all our visitors.

For those who don’t know anything about karate, the archive will be a door to a new world. Meanwhile, for those involved in or with knowledge of karate, it will be a spiritual dojo where one can rediscover and face one’s origins.

Karate is said to be a modern-day legacy of the way of life that samurai once learned through the sword.
The courage to pursue justice, the commitment to live with integrity, and the determination to master oneself:
it is our responsibility and mission to share these values with future generations and the world.

Sharing the true value of karate with the Japanese society of tomorrow.

And to all the people around the world who are in need of the spirit of budo.
We aim to establish an age in which karate once again supports many people as a “pillar of the mind.”

We hope this future-oriented challenge will inspire many people and becomes the driving force to create a new chapter in the history of karate. If this mission resonates with you, please join us on this journey.

We truly appreciate your support.