HISTORY … FROM PAGE 3

The association continued to develop, alongside some groups who adhered to Master Kimura's organization, which is why there are two Shukokai organizations in some countries.
1977: We started to issue our newsletter "Forum" twice yearly. "Forum" continued to be published until 1982.
In 1978, Keiji Tomiyama moved to England leaving Sensei Shimabukuro to look after Belgium.
1979 : The Euro-Cup was held in Paris. Keiji Tomiyama was appointed General-Secretary. It was decided to formalize our organization and to collect a membership fee from every member (£1/year) to pay for administration costs and services. Belgian representatives disagreed : at the same time Sensei Shimabukuro left Belgium to engage in business and the "Central Dojo" was closed, bringing the end of Tani-ha Shito-ryu in Belgium.
1980 : The Euro-Cup was held in Peterborough, England. Sensei Suzuki attended the event and conducted a grading examination for Mess. Omi, Okubo, Kamohara and Tomiyama in lieu of demonstrations during the event: all were awarded 5th Dan.
Also in 1980, Master Tani visited Europe with his wife and several instructors. On that occasion, Master Tani asked for a World Cup to be organized the following year in Europe. So, we organized a World Cup in Edinburgh in 1981. Master Tani brought Mr. & Mrs. Inagaki with him, who later formed Nippon Kofukan.
Sensei Suzuki finally went back to Japan that year, called by his company, thus Senseis Omi and Tomiyama became the leaders of the organization. Some other Japanese instructors had also by this time left the organization, leaving just three resident in Europe, including Hiroshi Okubo.
Kofukan
At the beginning of the 80s there were many groups called themselves "Shukokai", especially in Britain. The majority of these groups were break-aways from Sensei Kimura's organization. This situation made the impact of our organization weaker, being one of many "Shukokai" groups. After many discussions between Sensei Suzuki and Sensei Tomiyama it was decided to call our organization "Kofukan", the name of Sensei Suzuki's Dojo, instead of "Shukokai World Karate Union Europe". We became the one and only "Kofukan" with a strong identity. Master Tani understood the situation and we, naturally, remained as a part of his "Shukokai" organization.
1986 : Master Tani visited Europe and awarded Mess. Omi, Okubo and Tomiyama 6th Dan.
1987 : Master Tani attended our Euro-Cup held in Slovenia (then Yugoslavia). Our member countries then were Sweden, Norway, Scotland, England, France, Channel Islands and Yugoslavia.
1990 : From this time on there was a rapid expansion of the organization.
In 1990 Bulgaria joined with Dimitar Savov at the head, also Georgia, ex-USSR, under Vladimir Japaridze and Shota Shartava.
Portugal rejoined under the leadership of Joao Dias in 1991 and Denmark also joined.
After a chain of contacts, Kofukan was well established in Zimbabwe, Botswana & South Africa by the end of 1991.
Also in 1991 we were joined by Matthew Beaumont's group in Australia and in 1992 by Brian Davis in New Zealand.
After an initial contact by Emmanuel Rajasekaran in 1989, the United Arab Emirates & India became members in 1992. Sensei Tomiyama visited India for the first time in 1993.
In 1992 Karl Skrabl, previously training in Slovenia, moved to work in Switzerland and started a group there.
Good contact was maintained with Mr. & Mrs. Inagaki from 1981 onwards, including many group visits to their home town of Izushi, and in 1994 they received permission from Master Tani and Sensei Takahara to leave Sensei Takahara's Seikenkan group to become independent as Nippon Kofukan (Kofukan Japan).