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