He is the current head of The Canadian Chitō-ryū Karate-dō Association, and the Technical Advisor for Karate Canada.
On April 1, 1963, he opened the Higashi School of Karate on Danforth Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He studied and trained intensively in Japan for seven months, attaining his 4th Dan and a special instructor certificate, issued to only a select few.
Higashi was involved in the formulation of the Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association in 1995, and currently sits as the National Chief Instructor[3] In 1979, he received his 7th Dan, and was awarded Kyoshi-go.
[4] He was also designated as the leading authority in Canada for Chito Ryu Karate by its founder, Tsuyoshi Chitose.