2018 Japanese Ambassador’s Karate Tournament

     The Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Zambia co-hosted 2018 Japanese Ambassador’s Karate Tournament with the Martial Arts Federation of Zambia on 3^rd and 4^th November 2018 at National Sports Development Centre 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 Karatekas from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola and South Africa, participated in the tournament to compete in Kata, Semi-Contact and Full-Contact categories and demonstrated the results of their practices.
 
     On 4^th November, Mr. Gibson Muyaule, Deputy Director for Sport, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development and Mr. Hidenobu Sobashima, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of 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 a selection of 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 made by Ambassador Sobashima at this event, please click here.