LAST UPDATED JANUARY 23, 2005
 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEGAL BATTLE OF SOSAI MASUTATSU OYAMA WILL

In this page you will find the latest news about Kyokushin around the world. if you would like to contribute to this page, please do so, just send me and e-mail (angel@kyokushincanada.com) with the information you may have. thank you. osu!

In the last few years we have witnessed many events happening in the Kyokushin organization around the world. Many important members of the different Kyokushin factions have left their organizations to join other groups or to create a new Kyokushin organization. Below is a resume of some of those events.

YEAR 2001

In June, 2001 Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe and Shigeru Tabaka resigned from the IKO 2 (June, 2001), and join forces with other Kyokushin Branch Chiefs to create a new Kyokushin organization called the "Kyokushin Union".
 

YEAR 2002

In November 19, 2002 Shihan Hatsuo Royama, was expelled from the IKO 1. He join forces with Dr. Yoshiharu Umeda to create the Kyokushin-kan and also to reestablished once again the "Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation".

In November 25, 2002 Sensei Hajime Kazumi (World Kyokushin champion and All Japan champion), resigned from the IKO 1. He join Shihan Tsuyoshi Hiroshige.  After that he also left Shihan Hiroshige to create his own organization with 6 others independent Kyokushin Dojos. the latest rumors are that Sensei Kazumi join Shihan Royana Organization (Kyokushin-Kan).

In November 26, 2002 Shihan Tsuyoshi Hiroshige (Sensei Kazumi's teacher), resigned from the IKO 1.

In November 29, 2002 Shihan Koyoma Akio (Shihan's Royama student), resigned from the IKO 1.

In December, 2002 Shihan Henri-Oh chairman of the North American Kyokushin Organization (NAKO) resigned from the IKO 2, so the North American Kyokushin Organization became an independent Kyokushin Organization. Some of their members got associated with other groups.

YEAR 2003

In April 19, 2003 Dr. Yoshiharu Umeda after many months of demanding negotiations with the Japanese Ministry of  Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, finally succeeded in reregistering Sosai's Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation.
The Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation (Zaidan Hojin Kyokushin Shogakukai) was first registered in the 1960's in Sosai Oyama name to insure that the integrity of his Karate was preserved for all time. Sosai's Oyama wanted all revenue generated through fees and donations to the organization be collected by the Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation, so that the money was use in the benefits of the students. This Foundation was suspended temporarily on July 15, 1990, less than four years prior to Sosai's death. According to Shihan Cameron Quinn, It is possible that the tremendous volume of paperwork required by the government to maintain accountability may have ultimately become too much for Sosai.

In, 2003 Shihan Cameron Quinn, Resigned the IKO 1and join Shihan Hatsuo Royama organization as a General Secretary of the Kyokushin-Kan, Shihan Royama's group, which is recognized by the Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation.

RESULTS OF LAWSUIT ABOUT kYOKUSHIN'S NAMES AND MARKS

Below are the results of two independent lawsuits made at the Tokyo district court and the Osaka district court by 10 Shihans affiliated with the all Japan Kyokushin Union.

IN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003  The Tokyo district court ruled in favor of the Claim made by five regional Branch Chiefs of Kyokushin Karate who had filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court claiming that their being prevented from using the names and marks of Kyokushin Karate by regional representatives of the Tokyo Honbu was illegal.  The lawsuit was filed with the Tokyo District Court, by:
Shihan Daigo Oishi,
Shihan Yasuo Takahashi,
Shihan Shigeru Tabata,
Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe and
Shihan Yasuhiro Kuwajima,
All of them member of the All Japan Kyokushin Union.
Also with the Osaka District Court, plaintiffs Mr Yukio Okada, Mr Kazuyuki Hasegawa, Mr Riichi Setto, Mr Jun Miwa and Mr Shigenori Sakamoto, another 5 Shihans from their side. So, they had 2 independent lawsuits going on at the same time, of which by coincidence the judgment came one after the other (See below the result of this lawsuit).

The court found that Sosai Oyama passed away in April, 1994. Matsui, claiming he had been named the successor in Sosai’s Will, registered the names “Kyokushinkaikan”, “Kyokushin Karate” and so on. As well, Shihan Matsui directed that others could not advertise in the telephone directories. As a result, the Branch Chiefs claimed that their member enrolments were affected and so requested compensation.

It was acknowledged that the validity of the Will naming Shihan Matsui as successor had been previously been denied in a separate lawsuit (Sosai Masutatsu Oyama's family filed a protest against the Will, as they suspected it to be a forgery. First the Tokyo Family Affairs Court, next the Tokyo High Court and last the Supreme Court ruled that "It cannot be recognized that this Will originates from the real intention of Sosai Oyama). As a result, the court found, it was only natural that it be deemed that Sosai Oyama did not name a successor while he was still alive. The court also found that Shihan Matsui’s demands that the Branch Chiefs could not use the name and logos was an abuse of any rights held by him.

In handing down his decision, Judge Toshiaki Limura said that (Shokei Matsui) and the regional dojo operators working directly under the (IKO1) Honbu did not hold the rights and privileges of the first Chairman of Kyokushin Karate, Masutatsu Oyama, and so had no right to prevent others from using the names and marks of Kyokushin Karate.

The court found that while the defendant (Shihan Matsui) had assumed the role of the second chairman upon the death of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, many regional Branch Chiefs did not accept him as the successor and in fact the Kyokushin Karate organization had split up. The defendant had registered various names and marks of Kyokushin Karate and had demanded that the plaintiffs (Branch Chiefs) cease from using these marks.

Judge Toshiaki Limura ruled that the successor to Sosai was never fully determined and ordered that Shihan Matsui pay the sum of ¥2.5million in compensation to the Branch Chiefs.

So basically, this means that Shihan Matsui can no longer stop anyone who was a Branch Chief under Sosai in Japan from using the Kyokushin names and logos.
 

IN SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 The Osaka District Court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by five Karate dojo operators and students of the late Sosai Masutatsu Oyama seeking ¥50 million in damages and compensation was decided upon in the Osaka District Court. The lawsuit was filed with the Osaka District Court, by:
Shihan Yukio Okada,
Shihan Kazuyuki Hasegawa,
Shihan Riichi Setto,
Shihan Jun Miwa and
Shihan Shigenori Sakamoto,
All of them member of the All Japan Kyokushin Union.

The plaintiffs (the Shihans mentioned above) claimed that registration of the name and other trademarks of the school by Shihan Shokei Matsui, Chairman of the IKO 1 Kyokushinkaikan (Honbu in Tokyo), the karate school founded by Kyokushin Karate’s Masutatsu Oyama, as well as actions by Shihan Matsui preventing other students of Sosai Oyama from using the names and marks, was an abuse of his rights.

Judge Kazuo Komatsu, in ordering Matsui to pay compensation of ¥2.1 million, said that there was no real evidence existing to support Matsui’s claim that he was the successor to the karate organization.

It was said that Shihan Matsui assumed office in 1994, claiming authority through Sosai Oyama’s Will. However, this was opposed by many others students of Sosai Oyama and the organization split into three groups.

In 1997, Shihan Matsui acquired trademark rights to 8 different variations of names and marks relating to Kyokushin Karate. Shihan Matsui had appealed to NTT forbidding publication of telephone directories in which the plaintiffs had inserted dojo advertisements which included registered names and trademarks.

In relation to his judgment, Judge Komatsu pointed to the fact that the validity of Sosai Oyama’s Will had been denied by the High Court in 1997. He stated, “Any claim by Shihan Matsui that he was the rightful successor was lost then.”

The court also declared that the defendant (Shihan Matsui) had no right to prohibit others from using the name and marks of Kyokushin Karate.

In October, 2003 Shihan Pedro Pino The Representative and founder of the Kyokushin Karate in Chile (IKO 2), and others Branch chiefs in South America left the Shinkyokushin Organization (IKO 2) and Join the Kyokushin Union.

Year 2003 Sensei Kenji Yamaki, left the IKO 1 to teach his own style of knockdown Karate, which he called "Yamaki-ryu". Sensei Kenji Yamaki, became very well known in Kyokushin Karate for his achievements.
In 1989 and 1994 he won the "All Japan Open Karate Tournament".
In 1993 he won the "All Japan Weight Class Karate Tournament".
In 1995 Sensei Kenji Yamaki, successfully completed de 100-Man Kumite. Also in 1995 he became the iko 1 world champion in the "the world open karate tournament".
Sensei Kenji Yamaki, moved to the United states (U.S.A.) where he opened his own Dojo in the "Los Angeles suburb of Culver City".

YEAR 2004

In April, 2004 The all Japan Kyokushin Union announce that they will be presenting another lawsuit against Shihan Shokei Matsui. This time is against the use of the name "Kyokushin Kaikan Kancho" by Shihan Shokei Matsui.
This time The All Japan Kyokushin Union is inviting all Branch chiefs who were under Sosai Oyama, and their sub Branch Chiefs (sub branch chiefs are all the persons who had a dojo under any branch chiefs who received a certificate directly from Sosai Oyama) around the world. If you were a Branch Chief or Sub Branch Chiefs under Sosai Oyama, and are interested in joint the lawsuit, you can send your information to Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe. Below are the complete information for you to read. 

Those people who were made Shibucho or Bun-shibucho whilst Sosai Masutatsu Oyama was reigning and are still actively operating dojos, no matter with which Kyokushin Karate faction, as Shibucho or Bun-shibucho, may apply to be one of the plaintiffs.

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