Shimabuku 島袋 was born in Chan village on September 19,1908, Meiji 41 – year of the “Monkey”.  His given Okinawan name was “Kana” and his given Japanese name was “Shinkichi“.  As an adult, he chose the name “Tatsuo” – 龍夫 Dragon Man.  When naming his sons, he split the characters for Shinkichi, naming his first son Kichiro and his second son Shinsho.