Dear Chito Ryu Community:

Sixty years ago, O Sensei introduced Chito Ryu karate to the world - an anniversary that is particularly revered in Japan for its association with rebirth and renewal.  As a way of commemorating the efforts of those who have made the style what it is, Sensei Higashi has proposed that we begin to record and preserve the history of Chito Ryu Karate in Canada.  This would involve collecting the stories, photographs, articles, letters, interviews and the like, to document the development and progress of Chito Ryu since is was first brought to Canada.  To initiate the process, several Chito Ryu leaders across the country have already been asked for help and contributions in documenting our history. 

          At the moment, there are no particular expectations for what kind of items are wanted, except that it should have a connection to the Canadian Chito Ryu story.  We do not want to restrict our request to just our active members, but also those who, for whatever reason, have left the style.  The hope is that we can focus on the history of our martial art.  As to the ultimate purpose of this project, there are three possibilities:

1. To record and preserve the history before it is lost or forgotten;
2. To use these collected works to form the basis of a new history manual, which could then be made available to all Chito Ryu karate-ka.
3. To add a condensed form of this history to the Kyu and Yudansha manuals, with a larger, more comprehensive history compiled as a stand alone document (see #2).

          On behalf of Sensei Higashi, please take some time to search your memories (and your basements) for anything that might be worth adding to this project.  If you have computer files that you could share, please make copies and send them to me.  If you have large amounts of documents, or other memorabilia, perhaps you could describe their contents so we can discuss ways of adding such items to our collection.
          If you know of anyone who should be contacted as a possible contributor, please forward their names and contact information so that we can broaden our search.   
          This history project is just getting started and there is no telling how it will develop.  If you have any ideas for locating, soliciting, collecting and documenting historical documents of this kind, we would love to hear them.  After all, this is a project for all of Chito Ryu.

          Thank you for your help.