2017 Japanese Ambassador’s Karate Tournament

　

           The Embassy of Japan in Zambia co-hosted the Seventh Japanese Ambassador’s Karate Tournament with the Martial Arts Federation of Zambia on 21^st and 22^nd October 2017 at Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies in Lusaka.
 
           Against the background that Karate was selected as one of the Olympic Games at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, about 100 male and female Karatekas of such Karate schools as Kyokushin-kan, Shoto-kan, and Dento-kan, in Zambia as well as from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Malawi, participated in the tournament to compete in Kata, Semi-Contact and Full-Contact categories and demonstrated the results of their practices.
 
          On 22^nd October, Ms. Agnes Musunga, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sport and Mr. Hidenobu Sobashima, Ambassador of Japan to Zambia addressed the gathering before the finals. The winners received their medals. The results in this tournament are so significant as may affect the selection for the national team.
 
　

          The Embassy hosted a reception at the Ambassador’s Residence inviting the people related to Karate, among others. At the reception, the Embassy introduced Japanese food and Japanese Sake, among other food and drink items, for the attendants to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture.


　
 
          It is hoped that the yearly Japanese Ambassador’s Karate Tournament will help further development of Karate in Zambia, Karate will play a role in enhancing mutual understanding between Japan and Zambia, and the exchanges between the two countries will further widen.
 
          To read the speech by Ambassador Sobashima, please click here.