I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Branch Chiefs, Contacts, and associates around the world who dedicate themselves daily to dojo management and the development of athletes. It is your consistent efforts that shape the collective strength of our organization.

The year 2026 marks an important turning point for us.
The holding of the 2nd KCC has been announced. In addition, we will host the Karate Dream Festival 2026 International Championship at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, utilizing both the First and Second Gymnasiums simultaneously.

However, these are not stand-alone events.
From this point, the World Series 2026–2027 ―Evolution of Fullcontact Karate ― begins, leading toward the 14th World Championship scheduled for October 2027.

KCC and the Dream Festival International are positioned as the World Prelude. Through national and regional selection championships, competitors will advance to the World Championship Final. Following this, the Shinkyokushinkai International Training Camp will be held at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Competition. Qualification. Championship. Fellowship.

These four components form the backbone of the World Series.
While maintaining the distinct identity and Budo character of Shinkyokushinkai, we also bear a responsible role in the development of the Fullcontact Karate community as a whole.

We must establish clear selection systems with international coherence while respecting the realities of each region.
We must unify competition standards and enhance transparency and fairness.
And we must present a consistent competitive structure that leads clearly to the world stage.
This is not merely an operational reform.

It is a challenge to give form to a true global standard in Fullcontact Karate and to build a competitive structure that the next generation will inherit.

The World Series is not a temporary concept. With the 14th World Championship as a milestone, it will continue to develop as the standard model leading into future world championships.

The flow that begins in Yoyogi will culminate at the 14th World Championship and then be carried forward to the next generation at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Advancing competition while preserving Budo. Realizing both within an international framework—this is our mission.
We sincerely ask for your continued understanding and cooperation this year.

Osu
Kenji Midori
President, WKO

Dear WKO Branch Chiefs and Contacts,

As this year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have continued to challenge themselves under the name of Shinkyokushinkai—our athletes, instructors, and everyone who supports the daily operation of our dojos around the world. The steady efforts of each and every one of you have shaped the progress we have made this year.

Our athletes, in particular, have given their all—not only at world championships, but also in the demanding tournaments held in each region. Since the passing of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, the world of fullcontact karate has gone through repeated divisions and reorganizations. In Japan, however, many organizations—large and small—have continued to cooperate, and numerous competitions have been held, sometimes jointly and sometimes independently. These opportunities for serious competition, fought with pride for one’s organization, have further elevated the level of our athletes and accelerated their growth.

In recent years, national and world champions have emerged even from relatively small dojos. We have truly entered an era of intense competition. This trend is not limited to fullcontact karate alone; with the expansion of various martial arts and sporting events, athletes now have more choices than ever before. In such an environment, I would like to express my deepest respect and appreciation to those athletes who continue to love fullcontact karate, compete with the spirit of “lifelong devotion,” and proudly carry the banner of Shinkyokushinkai.

This year, we successfully hosted the 1st WFKO World Championships at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, marking a historic moment in which the global fullcontact karate community came together as one. In addition, for the first time in the more than 50-year history of the All Japan Karate Championship, a non-Japanese athlete claimed the title. I believe this year clearly demonstrated that the internationalization of fullcontact karate has entered a new and tangible phase.

Global activities are supported by the daily, steady efforts made in each dojo—by training, by nurturing people, and by cultivating strong athletes. Today, approximately 400 branch chiefs and dojo leaders around the world devote themselves each day, each moment, to their students. These accumulated efforts will continue to expand into a powerful network, strengthening the global foundation of fullcontact karate.

We are also receiving reports from many regions about new groups and individuals wishing to join Shinkyokushinkai as fellow members. I sincerely ask our existing national federations and branches to welcome these new colleagues with open hearts. By easing hesitation through dialogue and mutual understanding, and by respecting different cultures and environments, we can gradually build new and stronger organizational forms together.

This requires understanding and respecting one another’s positions, setting aside personal interests, and never losing sight of our greater purpose. In a reorganized and renewed structure, I hope that both existing members and newcomers will participate together in management, openly exchange ideas, and build constructive relationships that will carry us into the future.

It has now been a quarter of a century since I was appointed as the representative of Shinkyokushinkai. Throughout this time, I have continued to ask myself what true “strength” means, while witnessing changes in society, values, and human connections. In this era of artificial intelligence, I believe it is more important than ever to reconsider the role of human beings, the significance of martial arts in developing people, and the mission that Shinkyokushinkai must fulfill.

Looking around the world, we see that international conflicts and many serious challenges still remain. While what we, as martial artists, can do may be limited, I firmly believe that fostering respect for others, engaging in dialogue, and teaching the proper use of strength will surely contribute to society in meaningful ways. I sincerely hope that these issues will move toward resolution as soon as possible, and that children everywhere will be able to envision their futures with peace of mind.

The coming year will begin with our traditional Kagami-biraki training session on January 11 at Zojoji Temple in Minato Ward, Tokyo. We are also honored to welcome Shihan Remigiusz Karpinski, Chairman of the European Region, on this occasion. As WKO, we aim to move forward together into the next phase of fullcontact karate, with Japan and Europe maintaining a strong partnership while walking in step with all other regions.

With deep gratitude for the past year, I wish each of you a fruitful and fulfilling year ahead.
Merry Christmas, and my best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Osu
Kenji Midori, WKO President

Dear WKO Branch Chiefs and Contacts,
Thank you sincerely for your deep understanding and support of the philosophy and activities of WKO. I would like to once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your sincere efforts and contributions in your communities, which have underpinned the growth of WKO today.
Here in Japan, autumn is deepening, and the trees in Tokyo are beginning to turn color. Gentle sunlight and crisp air fill the city, bringing peace to the heart. In this serene setting, I am pleased to share this newsletter and connect with all of you.
It has already been two years since the 13th World Championship and the General Assembly in 2023. As I stand at the midpoint of my four-year term, it is a time for reflection and reassessment of the path forward. Over the past two years, we have achieved several significant milestones.
First, the 1st Karate Champion of Champions (KCC) held in 2024 demonstrated its value as a new pinnacle tournament, successfully impressing upon the world the premium nature of full-contact karate. Then, in May of this year, we hosted the 1st World Fullcontact Karate Championship in Tokyo, assuming part of the responsibility as one of the main organizing bodies under WFKO. This event allowed us to fully appreciate the grand scale and global momentum of full-contact karate.
Furthermore, in South America, where instability persisted, we took cooperative and mediating action based on the spirit of “One for All, All for One,” and began to see positive progress toward restoring trust and order. What I have valued most in these efforts is advancing together without haste or panic, steadily through dialogue and alignment. WKO is a community built on the thoughts and aspirations of every individual. For the remaining two years of our term, I hope to continue listening to your voices and join forces with you to create a better future.
One recent activity was our visit to the Hungarian Summer Camp in August. We were graciously invited, and I visited alongside several world champions from Japan. In Hungary, following the passing of Shihan Furko Kalman, a new organizational structure was forming under the leadership of Country Representative Janos Zsuga and Chairman Toshiaki Hasebe. I felt firsthand the strengthening unity of the region.
During the camp, we had vibrant exchanges with branch chiefs and athletes from neighboring countries, and I was deeply impressed by the high level of European competitors. The champions from Japan actively joined kumite sessions, creating a field of spirited training across borders. We also had a heartfelt reunion with Ms. Ieva Krivickaite, who moved the world with her performance at the World Championship. She shared that Shinkyokushinkai and her own dojo are where she truly belongs. Her words, tearfully interpreted by Ms. Brigita Gustaityte, deeply moved me. I sincerely thank the instructors of the Lithuania Branch who support her training and the members of the Hungary Branch for their warm hospitality during our stay.
On October 18-19, the 57th All Japan Karate Championship was held in Tokyo as an open tournament welcoming international competitors. As WKO centers its activities around the World Championship, the rise of the next generation has been remarkable, and that energy was clearly evident in this event. WFKO World Champion in the light-heavyweight division, Mr. Kazushi Watanabe, advanced to the final as Japan’s representative, facing off against Kazakhstan’s emerging talent, Mr. Anjey Kinzersky. Anjey claimed a decisive victory by ippon and was crowned champion. Amazingly, he won two other international tournaments held in the weeks before and after this championship, achieving three consecutive titles. This marked the first-ever All Japan victory by a non-Japanese athlete in the event’s 50-year history, and I express my deep respect. At the same time, we in Japan renew our commitment to nurturing stronger athletes toward the 14th World Championship two years from now.
This year also saw the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and branch chiefs under the AIN (Individual Neutral Athletes) framework. While we continue to uphold our firm stance of opposition to war, I felt deeply the importance of listening to the personal voices of individual karateka. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains dire. Thinking of the suffering of our branch chiefs and athletes, I am reminded of the urgent need to pursue peace carefully, without haste.
In times like these, it is the spirit of “Osu” — to press forward with patience and humility — that guides us. Let us continue walking this path through open dialogue, mutual respect, and unwavering resolve.
On September 27, the European Championship was held in Hungary. In the men’s divisions, Lithuania’s Mr. Paulius Zimantas won the heavyweight title, while Georgian athletes dominated other categories. In the women’s divisions, Ms. Brigita Gustaityte once again showed her champion spirit, capturing the heavyweight crown, while other top competitors from across Europe won titles in other categories. The atmosphere of talent cultivation across Europe is steadily growing, and regional competition is sharpening both skills and spirit. I hope that the friendships formed through this process and the human development fostered by karate will continue to shine as the core values WKO offers the world.
In closing, I firmly believe that in these troubled global times, karate’s role in nurturing the heart is a guiding light toward peace. I sincerely ask for your continued understanding and support as we unite to build a brighter future together.
Osu
Kenji Midori, WKO President