The following article was published in the Nitiniti Omagari - Akita Newspaper in Northern Japan. During translation we encountered that the language of Omagari - Akita is slightly different than that of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto of which we are more accustomed to. The language of the region is more pronounced, defined and polite [can you get more polite in Japanese?] as in England polite compared to the deep South of the United States where the language is more relaxed. Why tell all of this??? Because during the translation the [Japanese] writer described Mr. Seiichi Fujiwara Sensei as a "God" like figure.
We thought we were either reading the Kanji wrong, losing our minds or just plain had the wrong article to start with. So off it went to Mrs. Lisa Azuma [Santa Monica] for translation. She returned to us a near translation. [Thank you Mrs. Azuma!] We feel it was weird and wonderful that the most humble man we've come come to know in so many years is being called a "God" like figure in his hometown and that if we republish a translation we should unmistakably let the readers know that Mr. Seiichi Fujiwara Sensei is without a doubt not the type to reference to himself such a description.
The photo to the right is of Seiichi Fujiwara in the Omagari Budokan in 1992. In the 2nd picture to the right, Seiichi Fujiwara Sensei performs Sanchin during the 8th Dan Shinsa [audition]. The 3rd picture is of Fujiwara in Poland 1992. The Picture to the bottom is Los Angeles California with the 2nd Vice President of Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai and the USA Chief instructor of both the JKF Gojukai and Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai.
Born in 1950 [age 52 at the time of this article] Mr. Seiichi Fujiwara Sensei in his time of studying Gojuryu Karatedo, has been an All Japan National Kata and Kumite Champion.
Today he has earned the ranks of 8th Dan JKF Gojukai, 8th Dan Seiwakai Gojuryu and 7th Dan Japan Karatedo Federation. Fujiwara Sensei is also a Director and Coach of Akita Karatedo Federation Gojukai.
He serves as a senior member of the Overseas Committee for the JKF Gojukai and is Vice President of the Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai Association, one of the largest Gojuryu Karatedo Associations in the world. As of the writing of the newspaper article [October 2002] he has served as a JKF Gojukai Overseas Director [for now 15 years].
He makes 3 - 4 trips each year to coach mainly Europe and America. Currently his students number over 8,500 and in his home region, Omagari City he instructs 150 students at the 7 branches. He also instructs High School students at the Omagari Tachidake Gymnasium [Budokan]. Currently his Seiwakai Akita Omagari Dojo [the Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai Honbu Dojo] is located at 18-5 Wakatake-cho, Omagari-shi, Akita-ken, Japan.
