Sensei Shintani Interview

Masaru Shintani 44 Samuel Road Hamilton, Ontario L3K 3G2
Bruce Perkins
R.R. ¦1
Simcoe, Ontario
N3Y 4J9

Dear Bruce:
I'm responding to your letter dated October 21, 1994 in which you requested a response to the allegations made by Mr. Hideho Takagi, director of the International Division of the JKF Wado-Kai.

In this letter you enclosed copies of letters which stated that we are not members of the JKF or Wado Kai. It also stated that our dan certificates are "an example of a fraudulent document."

I am very glad to have received this letter from you because I feel it is time the truth was told and the black belts in all of karate were made aware of the situation in Japan, and how it evolved to its present state.

First of all, let me address the statement that I applied to join the JKF in or around 1985 or 1986. This statement is totally untrue, and I would like to see the so called application that I was to have submitted. I would also like to see a copy of the letter of refusal that I was supposed to have been sent. If these cannot be produced, then this just becomes another fabrication of information by these people now running the JKF."

In regards to the statement that our organization, Shintani Karate Federation of North America, does not belong to the JKF or Wado Kai.

I received my 8th degree ranking from Otsuka Sensei Sr. on the 15th of November 1979. At the same time he also gave me my ninth degree rank certificate. At first, I thought he had made a mistake but now I know that he knew exactly what he was doing. Dr Maizune is also a ninth degree black belt, and one of Otsuka Sensei only true followers. At the time of Otsuka Sensei Sr.'s death, January 29, 1982, both of these ranks were in effect, and given by Otsuka Sensei Sr. to Dr Maizune and I.

Also at the time of his death, Otsuka Sensei Sr. was the Chairperson of the Japan Karate Federation. He was the President of all of the martial arts in Japan. He was even presented with the merit of honour from the Emperor of Japan. So for these people to say they don't recognize me or my organization, this is ridiculous and nonsense. I outrank all of them and I have the certificates to prove this. Dr. Maizune also outranks them all and they have forced him to resign. So who are these people and where did their authority come from? They say they don't recognize me and I don't care.

The other issues that needs to be addressed is the issue of my handing out "fraudulent documents". In the letter from Mr. Hideho Takagi, he makes reference to the fact that Mr. Hashimoto succeeded Mr. Boh as the president of Wado Kai in April of 1991 and therefore all certificates from that date forward should be signed by Mr. Hashimoto.

I would like to point out that Mr. Hideo Boh did not resign, he was ousted. He was kicked right out of the organization. A man that Otsuka Sensei Sr. said "was like a god." I have this information in a letter to back this up. To add further to this, Otsuka Sensei Sr.'s signature has been removed from the certificates, his picture has been removed from the walls of their dojos. His name no longer appears on their registration forms. The reason this was done is because Jiro Otsuka claims to be his father not his father's successor. He claims to be his father, the founder of Wado Kai.

I have been, and will continue to pay my respects to Otsuka Sensei Sr. by giving a portion of the certificates to his name, and I will also honour an oath I made to Sensei by keeping the cost of black belt certificates grading at ¤35.00. This is an oath I made to Sensei with a handshake and a bow.

So to sum it up, I don't care if the JKF recognizes me. As far as I'm concerned, I outrank them all and I will be meeting with Dr. Maizune who also outranks them all. The issue of the certificates, to me feel they should be ashamed of themselves for not even having Hironori Otsuka Sr.'s name on them.

Bruce, I hope this response helps clear up the issues in the letters that you sent me. Once again I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to get this information out to my black belts.

Respectfully yours,

Masaru Shintani, 9th Dan Supreme
Instructor