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Soke Hirano was born on January 16, 1938 in Yokohama, Japan.
He began his life in the martial arts at the age of 12, under Sensei Yoshio Kawaguchi, and Master Hironori Otsuka, founder
of the Wado system of Karate. With rigorous daily training, Soke Hirano attained the rank of Shodan, or beginning black belt,
by the age of 16. Later, he began traveling across Japan with Master Otsuka, promoting karate through demonstrations and exhibitions.
In 1957 Soke Hirano was the first person ever to receive a karate scholarship to Nihon University. This unprecedented
honor bestowed upon him was largely due to the efforts of Mr. Takaichi Mano, late Vice President of the Japan Karate Federation
(JKF), and Secretary-General of the World Karate Federation (WKF). Mr. Mano saw great potential in the young man from Yokohama,
and shortly would be proven very right. Soke Hirano went on to become the 1960 All-Japan Karate Champion, and during his senior
year he captained his Nihon University team to first place in Japan.
It was on a fateful day in 1962, that Soke Hirano
arrived in Hawaii on yet another demonstration tour to promote karate. This demonstration was different from the others, however,
because after this one was over, Soke had become so taken with Hawaii that he made the decision to stay. On July 1st of that
year, he founded the All-Japan Karate Federation Wado Kai Hawaii Branch, and later incorporated the Japan International Karate
Center.
Over the next several years Soke Hirano would instruct many promising students who would go on to become great
teachers themselves. By the late 70’s and early 80’s, JIKC's membership swelled to over 3000 students in Hawaii alone with
an additional 4000 students on the mainland U.S. and in Japan.
At the height of JIKC’s growth, a heart attack on April
1, 1988 redirected and extended Soke Hirano’s lifework towards alternative healing. Failing to respond positively to modern
conventional therapy and fearful for his life, Soke Hirano sought out from Japan, China, and even Korea, traditional means
of natural healing. The results were more than could have been hoped for and Soke grew stronger and healthier than ever. He
soon became a licensed KI therapist from SAS International Ki Science Association, Tokyo, Japan, and a Master of QiGong, from
Shanghai, China. On November 11, 1993 he was awarded a doctorate of philosophy in Parapsychology from the Intercultural Open
University. He is also a member of the International Federation of Alternative Medicine. Soke Hirano founded the International
Ki Institute of Health Management and Research in Hawaii on September 30, 1990, and since it’s beginning nearly 10,000 people
have regained their health and confidence for living through alternative healing arts.
Along with his work in healing,
Soke Hirano simultaneously began to reassume an active role in the day-to-day teaching of karate. The lessons and philosophies
that he encountered through his studies had a positive impact upon his karate students and JIKC experienced a new period of
growth and development.
Today, at the start of a new millennium full of hope and potential, Soke Hirano guides his
students still, with words of encouragement and support, wisdom, and daily lessons which remind us that learning is truly
life-long, and that we will always be full-time students of life. His karate is world-renowned, his compassion is empowering,
and his experience is a treasure that sets JIKC apart from any other school of martial arts. As we celebrated our 40th Anniversary
in 2002, the instructors and students of Japan International Karate Center take pride in the knowledge that our history is
a very long and proud one.
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