Saiko Shihan Shunji Watanabe (born 1938) is the chief instructor of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha World Federation, based in Baltimore, Maryland.

One of the chief proponents of Shorinjiryu Karate Do, and a leading disciple of Shinan Kori Hisataka, Kaicho Shunji Watanabe, 9th Dan is chief instructor and president of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha World Federation.

Kaicho Watanabe was born in Japan in 1938, and began his martial arts instruction with Shinan Kori Hisataka in 1955 at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo. (See image below.) He was promoted to Shodan in 1958, and most recently promoted to shichidan in 1985.

In 1967, Kaicho Watanabe came to North America, by way of Canada, to demonstrate Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate at the Montreal Expo. He made the journey along with Shihan Masayuki Hisataka, the son of Shinan Kori Hisataka. Kaicho Watanabe was asked by Shinan Kori Hisataka to remain in North America and help to develop Shorinjiryu Karatedo in the United States and Canada. Kaicho Watanabe made his home in Baltimore, Maryland and started the Japan Karate and Judo Center, which he maintains to this day.

Kaicho Watanabe has carefully preserved the styles and principles taught to him by Shinan Hisataka and maintains a traditional Japanese dojo; something rarely found in the United States today. Kaicho Watanabe makes no compromises in his ideas or methods of teaching for the sake of modern concerns. The Baltimore dojo is for those dedicated students who love traditional Japanese karate and are not afraid of hard work. Kaicho Watanabe believes the most important goal in martial arts training is the continual effort towards self-improvement, not just the perfection of fighting techniques. He expects his students to demonstrate respect, responsibility, manners, and effort.

In 2004, Kaicho Watanabe was named as Honorary Technical Advisor to the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai, a sign of recognition of his many years of diligent study, promotion and loyalty to the Shorinjiryu Karate of Shinan Kori Hisataka.

Along with Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka, Kaicho Watanabe is quite probably the most senior of Kaiso Kori Hisataka’s students that is still actively teaching Shorinjiryu Karate. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Shihan Watanabe, and also visiting him at his dojo in Baltimore on 2 occassions for training. It is a fine traditional dojo, and the training is intense, with focus on the kata, kumite, weapons and shiai, much as Kaicho Watanabe learnt from Shinan Hisataka.

In 2007, Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia hosted Kaicho Watanabe, along with Shihan Dan Hayes (7th Dan), Shihan Page Christis (7th Dan) and Sensei Richard Alicea (3rd Dan) on a 10 day visit to Australia.  Having now trained with Kaicho Watanabe in his dojo and in Australia, I can say without a doubt he is one of the most humble and nice people you could meet, as well as being a talented and powerful karate master.  At almost 70 years of age, Kaicho Watanabe epitomises the term “karate master”.