So where did the Shotokan tiger logo come from???

I've heard two stories on the matter. One seems more the truth. The second is a more, well, let's say, mystical.

First story;

     Hoan Kosugi (a famous artist in Japan) told Funakoshi that if he would write the book about karate, Kosugi would design it and provide a painting for the cover. When Gichin Funakoshi produced the book ,Entitled "Ryukyu Kempo: Karate". Hoan Kosugi produced the now famous Shotokan tiger.

His idea for the tiger came from the expression "Tora no maki." Tora no maki, in Japanese tradition, is the official written document of an art or system, which is used as the definitive reference source for that particular art. Since no books had ever been written about karate, Hoan Kosugi told Funakoshi that his book was the tora no maki of karate, and since "tora" also means "tiger", he designed the tiger as a representation of Funakoshi's art.

Second Story;

Hoan Kosugi (a famous artist in Japan) studied the art of karate under Funakoshi's guide. He became so overwhelmed with the idea of Funakoshi writing a book on karate he was compelled to design a cover picture for the book. It would be the first ever! A Tora no Maki.

The  tiger is a traditional Chinese design which symbolizes the keen alertness of the wakeful tiger, subtle power from within, and the serenity of a peaceful mind. Feeling this with in himself as he trained/studied karate, Hoan began at once on the tiger painting.

Funakoshi was so over pleased with the painting when Hoan Kosugi presented it to him. It reminded him of the feeling he experienced while listening to the pine waves (wind blowing through the tall pine trees) on Tiger's Tail Mountain.

Funakoshi, who owned little more than the cloths on his back, offered to pay what he could for use of the painting. Hoan Kosugi responded by stating that Funakoshi had left him with a dept by teaching him this wonderful art of mind and body that no painting, no matter how grand could repay.

Both men remained good fiends. Hoan also designed the book it's self.

 

**  The characters by the tiger's tail denote the name of the artist.

I'm not sure if either of these stories is true to fact. There are so many variations of both. But perhaps somewhere in the middle of both stories lies the truth.

It could also have been that after trying a tiger roll at a local sushi bar Master Funakoshi was inspired. It took the strength of a tiger to eat it. the stomach of a tiger to digest it, and the will of a tiger to ask for another.........