Introduction to the Honbu Committee and the Legal IP Compliance Framework

Preface

This is a manifesto—an invitation to reflect on where we came from and how we can now rebuild with purpose. The Honbu Committee exists not to divide, but to clarify and protect Sosai’s legacy for future generations.

Introduction to the Honbu Committee and the Legal IP Compliance Framework

As we move forward in protecting and honoring the true legacy of Sosai Mas Oyama, it has become necessary to establish a framework that upholds both ethical martial arts practice and legal accountability.This is not an attempt to create another faction—it is a foundational structure for anyone who wishes to teach, represent, or preserve Kyokushin as it was originally intended.

Historical Authority of the Honbu Committee

In Sosai Mas Oyama’s original contractual agreements with branch chiefs, the authority to appoint, regulate, and remove representatives was granted to Sosai himself and a governing structure composed of selected board members (such as national presidents) and a body referred to simply as the “Honbu Committee.”Though not often named in public records, this committee held formal authority over branch appointments and oversaw subcommittees regulating tournament rules, regional administration, and technical standards.We are now restoring this original governance model by reactivating the Honbu Committee as the legal and cultural custodian of Sosai’s system—in direct alignment with the structure he created. This allows us to proceed not through personal interpretation, but through documented legitimacy grounded in Sosai’s own design.

Three Pillars of Ethical Operation

For any dojo or organization wishing to operate within a lawful and spiritually aligned Kyokushin framework, three key principles must be upheld:

1. Foundational Alignment – Respect for Sosai’s original teaching format, syllabus, and vision

2. Legal Recognition – Acknowledgment of the Oyama family’s rights to Sosai’s name, image, methodology, and historical materials

3. National Compliance – Adherence to tax laws, registration requirements, and sports governance policies in each country when publicly representing Sosai’s legacy

These are not limitations—they are the minimum threshold for true integrity, transparency, and long-term legitimacy.

Launch of the Licensing System

To support this mission, my legal team and I are introducing an interim international licensing structure:

• $880 USD per year for national or organizational representatives

• $1 per student per month for dojos using Sosai’s name, image, or system

This is not a donation—it is the beginning of a practical and enforceable framework.In countries such as Denmark, former Ukraine/Russia, and Korea, certain individuals have used the Oyama family name without permission—initially presenting themselves as supporters, only to later shift their focus to other relatives or use the association for personal recognition. Many of these individuals were never part of Sosai’s original branch chief network and could not demonstrate any formal lineage. Their association became an unfortunate stepping stone into the Kyokushin world.The licensing system is already being applied in jurisdictions where Sosai’s legacy has been misused. In Denmark, for example, a former representative falsely collected affiliations under my name and refused to sign any agreement or remit fees. Rather than handling such violations privately, we are now working with sports authorities and tax regulators—both in Japan and abroad—to enforce intellectual property protections and expose fraudulent use.

What Is the Honbu Committee?

The Honbu Committee is a confidential custodial board composed of 11 carefully selected members and a few affiliated law firms. It serves as a legal and ethical oversight body dedicated to protecting the legacy of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama—including the Kyokushin name, image, system, and tournament formats. Committee members were selected for their:

• Deep understanding of Sosai’s original philosophy and teaching

• Proven legal, martial, or regulatory expertise

• Complete independence from existing factional politics or branch chief hierarchies

Although member identities remain private, the Committee operates with full transparency, internal oversight, and a commitment to impartial governance.

Core Functions of the Honbu Committee

• Issuing licenses and permits for public use of Sosai’s Kyokushin name

• Legally protecting Sosai’s intellectual property from distortion or commercial abuse

• Liaising with national governments and sports bodies for official recognition

• Offering legal guidance and support to dojos navigating compliance issues

The Committee does not interfere in local rank structures, affiliations, or styles—so long as no civil, criminal, or ethical violations are involved. This is a neutral legal layer, designed to support all legitimate expressions of Kyokushin—not replace them.

The New Era of Kyokushin Governance

Sosai Mas Oyama did not create multiple factions. He created one system, one vision.Today, the Honbu Committee stands not as a new style or breakaway group, but as the legal successor to the structure Sosai initiated through IKO Kyokushinkaikan, in accordance with inheritance and corporate governance law.We are no longer willing to see his name, image, and system exploited under false pretenses or preserved only through nostalgia. Legacy is not something inherited through position—it must be earned through truth, responsibility, and respect.The Honbu Committee does not seek to control or replace any organization—but it exists to ensure that those who use Sosai’s name do so with legal clarity, spiritual integrity, and recognition of the family’s custodial rights.Our goal is infrastructure accountability for operational groups using Sosai’s system—whether in teaching, grading, or tournament formats—so that anyone representing Sosai does so with lawful clarity and shared respect for what he created.We are currently pursuing legal proceedings for the return or nullification of unauthorized trademark registrations in multiple countries. Lawyers who withheld key evidence in previous misrepresentation cases are now facing disbarment and may be ordered to compensate the Kyokushin community.Based on international copyright law, the Honbu Committee retains the rights to the Kyokushinkai dōgi calligraphy and the Kanku logo—both artistically created by my mother—and copyrighted nationally and internationally.

A Personal Statement by Kuristina Oyama

This message is shared not out of resentment, but out of responsibility—to clarify history, protect Sosai’s legacy, and offer a foundation for the next generation to build upon with integrity.For decades, individuals holding titles such as Branch Chief or Regional Chairman misrepresented their obligations to Honbu. Some withheld payments, falsified student records, issued unauthorized certificates, or misused Sosai’s name for personal gain. These actions quietly undermined the ethical and financial stability of Kyokushin.Even today, individuals continue to use the Oyama family name—with or without permission—to elevate their own public image, attract students, or justify fundraising activities, often without any legal standing. These distortions mislead the public and obscure Sosai’s real vision. The word “organization” is often used by splinter groups, but most are not organized in the founder’s interest. Training is meaningful—but it does not equate to legal custodianship unless juridically established. Even those who claim to have grading committees must acknowledge that, without legal foundation, such roles are self-assigned.At this point, it seems clear: ranks alone do not entitle anyone to represent what Sosai created—especially when those ranks are used to evade legal compliance or unity with the rightful inheritance.The legal advisory board has begun restoring the Honbu Committee—guided by those who knew my father and understand the legal and ethical structure he intended.

To those who have quietly supported this effort with honesty and courage, I offer my deepest thanks. To future leaders and students: I grew up watching my parents create Kyokushin Karate and the foundation of its organization. Kyokushin cannot thrive on ambition alone. The word Kyokushin embodies Sosai himself and every being who shaped his path. It lives on through the philosophy of the founder and the truth expressed in the Kyokushin Dōjo Oath and his written words. Let those be our guiding light. Om and Osu,—

Kuristina Oyama

Disclaimer

This document reflects the current structure and scope of the Honbu Committee and its licensing/permit framework. The governance structure draws upon key historical milestones in the development of Kyokushinkaikan and IKO, including:

• Era of Oyama Dojo / Kyokushin Karate

• 1963–64: Formal naming of the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan and Kyokushin Karate

• 1994: Passing of Sosai Mas Oyama; initial formation of the inherited custodial structure

• 1999: Establishment of the Masutatsu Ōyama Memorial Hall

• 2000: Accession of Sōke Mrs. Chiyako Oyama

• 2006: Passing of Chiyako Oyama; accession to next Soké—written in the Trust article and charter

• 2018–2025: Review by the board of trustees and formation of the legal division governing Sosai’s intellectual property

  
  

Certain terms or procedural elements may be revised as the governance structure continues to develop.