Sosai

Sosai (総裁) is a Japanese term that translates to “president” or “director-general.”

The Japanese word Sosai (総裁, “Sōsai”) is a Japanese term that has two meanings, translating to “president” or “director-general.” :

• Political
  • Sosai, or president of the government, was only once the title of the imperial prime minister: from 1 January 1868 (before there was no cabinet, only chief advisers: Kampaku to the nominally reigning Tenno (emperor) and both Roju and Tairo to the de facto ruling Shogun) until 11 June 1868: Prince Taruhito (b. 1835 – d. 1895); next the prime ministerial office is styled U Daijin ‘Ministers to the Right’, in 1871 shortened to Daijjin
  • Sosai also was the title of admiral Takeaki Enomoto (1836-1908), the elected president (27 January 1869 – 27 June 1869) of the short-lived rebellious Ezo Republic on the present Hokkaido Island, vanquished by Imperial troops.
• Sports
  • The highest rank a fighter can obtain in a Japanese martial art career. The preceding rank, kancho, is held by very few martial artist nowadays.

In the context of Kyokushin Karate, Sosai refers to the founder and head of the organization, Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達).

Masutatsu Oyama (1923-1994) was a Korean-Japanese martial artist who founded Kyokushin Karate, one of the most influential and widespread styles of karate in the world. Kyokushin is known for its emphasis on full-contact sparring, rigorous training, and focus on developing strong mental and physical discipline.

Oyama was born in Korea (which was under Japanese colonial rule at the time) and moved to Japan in his teens. He began training in martial arts at a young age, studying various disciplines such as Shotokan Karate, Goju-Ryu Karate, and Chinese Kempo. Oyama also studied under Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of modern karate.

In 1953, Oyama opened his first dojo in Tokyo, where he started teaching his unique style of karate. He called it “Kyokushin,” which means “the ultimate truth” in Japanese. Kyokushin Karate quickly gained popularity due to its effective techniques, emphasis on physical conditioning, and Oyama’s demonstrations of incredible feats of strength and skill.

As the founder and head of the International Karate Organization (IKO) Kyokushinkaikan, Oyama was often referred to as “Sosai,” signifying his leadership role within the organization. Under his guidance, Kyokushin Karate spread to more than 120 countries and continues to be practiced by millions of people worldwide.

The highest rank a fighter can obtain in a Japanese martial art career. The preceding rank, kancho, is held by very few martial artist nowadays. Sosai Masutatsu Oyama earned his degree after creating a Karate style called Kyokushinkai.

Sosai Masutatsu Oyama’s legacy lives on through his students and the many Kyokushin practitioners who continue to practice and uphold the principles of the martial art he created.

Please follow and like us: