What is Shotokai and its meaning?
Kanji Origins, Funakoshi's Pen Name, and the Association of Shoto
The name Shotokai is formed by three ideograms or kanji: the first one Sho denotes a Pine, the second one To means wave, and the third one Kai means association or organization. Japanese ideograms do not merely represent isolated words; normally they express poetic nuances not easily conveyed in a few words.
In this context, Shoto was the artistic pseudonym that Master Gichin Funakoshi chose to sign his poems and literary works. Shoto denotes the sound generated when the wind blows through pine needles - a whispering wave-like sound. Funakoshi deeply enjoyed meditating in pine forests under the gentle breeze.
Thus, Shotokai is literally the "Association of Shoto" - Master Gichin Funakoshi's own association, which he presided over until his death in 1957, and the only organization he officially represented at the time of his passing.
