> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.gojukarate.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Celebrating Soke Meitatsu Yagi's 80th Birthday
- URL: https://www.gojukarate.com/celebrating-soke-meitatsu-yagi-80th-birthday/
- Published: 2024-06-25T15:30:28.000Z
- Updated: 2024-06-30T21:10:55.000Z
- Description: Soke Meitatsu Yagi, the son of Meitoku Yagi, will celebrate his 80th birthday on July 7, 2024. In recognition of his work and the Yagi family's connection to Goju Karate and Sensei, a special matched set of shodo has been created to celebrate that milestone.
- Author: Goju Karate
- Tags: Sensei

On July 7, 2024, Soke Meitatsu Yagi will celebrate his 80th birthday and Sensei and the entire Goju Karate dojo join in wishing him a wonderful celebration and an amazing birthday year.

### The Yagi Family's Connection to Goju Karate

Meitatsu Yagi is the son of Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi ([read more about Meitoku Yagi here](https://www.gojukarate.com/meitoku-yagi-monument/)) – Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi awarded the first Goju Ryu Karatedō blackbelt ever issued to a Westerner to Sensei Anthony Mirakian, one of two Goju Ryu Karatedō blackbelts who conferred a blackbelt on our Sensei. 

![At the Meibuken dojo in Okinawa, circa 1990: Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi (center) and Sensei Anthony Mirakian (right). ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/9e/eb9ebba1-1832-4ab5-9b46-96567d9f3273/content/images/2024/06/dai-sensei-meitoku-yagi-sensei-anthony-mirakian.jpg)

At the Meibuken dojo in Okinawa, circa 1990: ****Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi** (center) and ****Sensei Anthony Mirakian** (right). 

Our dojo has a direct connection and a deep appreciation for the Yagi family and of course, Meitatsu Yagi.

### Honoring Soke Yagi's on his Birthday

In appreciation of Soke Yagi and his efforts on behalf of the global karatedō community, and in recognition of the connections that tie us together, Sensei created and presented a matched pair of shodo of the character **kizuna** **絆** – "community" or "the ties that bind." [(Read more about **kizuna** **絆** here.)](https://www.gojukarate.com/kizuna-community/)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/9e/eb9ebba1-1832-4ab5-9b46-96567d9f3273/content/images/2024/06/kizuna-community-kanji-shodo-goju-karate.jpg)

Matched Set of original Shodo of the character ****kizuna 絆**: "Community" or "The Ties that Bind"

The inscription on the side states "Happy Birthday Soke Yagi" and carries the official dojo hanko (official signature seal). 

One *shikishi* board will be presented to Soke Yagi for his dojo in Okinawa; the other board will be displayed at the Goju Karate dojo shinzen.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/9e/eb9ebba1-1832-4ab5-9b46-96567d9f3273/content/images/2024/06/kizuna-letter-shinzen-goju-karate.jpg)

Shikishi board with the ****kizuna 絆** kanji and accompanying letter from Sensei to Soke Yagi, displayed at the shinzen at the dojo.

Here's a few close-ups of the presentation:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/9e/eb9ebba1-1832-4ab5-9b46-96567d9f3273/content/images/2024/06/kizuna-community-kanji-shodo-shikishi-board.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/9e/eb9ebba1-1832-4ab5-9b46-96567d9f3273/content/images/2024/06/soke-meitatsu-yagi-letter-from-sensei.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/9e/eb9ebba1-1832-4ab5-9b46-96567d9f3273/content/images/2024/06/shinzen-soke-yagi.jpg)

Shodo of ****Kizuna 絆** and accompanying letter