Kawano sensei began his study of Goju Ryu Karate directly under Masafumi Suzuki sensei in 1958 at the original Nippon Seibukan Dojo located on the grounds of the Shimogamo Shrine. After Suzuki Sensei passed away in 1991, leadership was passed to Kawano Yasuo, Suzuki sensei's designated successor. During this transition period, the Seibukan dojo went back to the Shimogamo Shrine and the organization became dormant in the majority of the countries outside Japan. The modern Nippon Seibukan under Kawano Hanshi is headquartered at the Zuirin-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, and regularly utilizes the Butokuden for special training, as well as attending special events and demonstrations there.