Family History
I love delving into family history and learning about my ancestors and even distant relatives. Several of my cousins asked for copies of my notes so I started posting them online. My parents are both from Hawaii.
New! Posted August 24, 2022:
Here are some links to my
Okinawan grandfather’s family history
My father’s cousin karate master Kanki Izumikawa.
Recently, I have learned that genetic testing has found that native Okinawans or Uchinanchu are descended from the same people as the Ainu who came from Russia and that the genetics are distinct from the Japanese who did not mix with the Uchinanchu. The islands were isolated from each other. I have also had my DNA analyzed on 23andme.
My Japanese grandfather’s family history. My maternal grandmother’s family. I’ll try to restrict my posts to stories about those that have passed on.
Books
My father’s family is mentioned in Baldovi’s book.
My Uncle Stanley Izumigawa wrote a memoire about serving in the 44nd. He also has several volumes of oral history.
My mother’s family is the subject of her uncle Minegoro Niiya’s memoire.
My cousin Brian Niiya edited the Encyclopedia of Japanese American History.
My grandmother’s uncle is mentioned in Uchinanchu A History of Okinawans in Hawaii and that family published a family history.
Karate master Katsuya Izumikawa has written a book entitled KARATE NO AIKI & AIKI NO KARATE BOOK. The book is in Japanese, but my cousin Katsuya explains that he is the successor of Goju-ryu karate:
Born in 1945 as the second son of the first master, Kanki Izumigawa. The first generation was the first Goju-ryu karate master to move from Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, to the mainland, and inherited the techniques of ancient traditions.
Vids
My Uncle Stanley Izumigawa’s oral history.
My father talked a little bit about growing up in Hawaii.
I’ve posted several videos on YouTube of trips to Japan and Okinawa. Seifa Utaki, sacred site in Okinawa.
Here is a video of the Shintani family cemetary in Kumano, Japan.
I’ll try to keep posting! Follow for updates! And please clap for me!
