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

The “1st World Fullcontact Karate Championship” will finally be held at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. With this historic tournament just around the corner, I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to everyone who has supported dojos around the world and nurtured athletes through their daily efforts.
Even during the difficult times of the new coronavirus, you have kept the lights on in your dojo, and have remained true to our pride and responsibility as a martial artist, and this was the true strength that supported the realization of this championship.
This championship is the first step in creating a future together with organizations from all over the world coming together under the banner of the international federation WFKO. During this time, Shinkyokushinkai has quietly but powerfully supported the whole thing through its sense of unity as an organization and its accumulated training over many years. We are proud to have taken the initiative in serving the unity of Fullcontact karate, and our true value is shown in the spirit of “OSU”, perseverance, patience and determination.
Our role is to support the future of the entire karate world, transcending organizations and regions, while keeping this pride within us. I believe that this is our responsibility as Shinkyokushinkai in the current generation.

In the WFKO championship, athletes representing each country and region will compete with national pride in their hearts, aiming for the top of the world. In this environment, our Shinkyokushinkai athletes fight while representing our country while also carrying the pride and bonds to the mother organization of theirs at the same time. I believe that this multilayered sense of pride will give our athletes even more strength and dignity.

We ask that all members of Shinkyokushinkai around the world come together as one and support our athletes. To all the athletes, I hope you will complete your last training session to the fullest and face this big stage with all your might, aiming to monopolize the first places in all categories.

The performance and attitude of Shinkyokushinkai athletes at this championship will be the embodiment of our philosophy and training result, and at the same time it will provide hope and inspiration to karateka around the world. The 2nd JFKO International Championship and the 1st JFKO International Senior Championship will be held concurrently with the WFKO Championship. I hope that all the competitors competing here will take on the competition stage with pride for their country and pride for Shinkyokushinkai, just as the representatives in the WFKO Championship.
I sincerely hope that your challenges will become a light that illuminates the future of the karate world.

Together, let us persevere, be sincere, and build the foundation for a new era.

Lastly, we regret to announce the passing of Branch Chief Sebastian Scarlatta of Uruguay. Branch Chief Scarlatta was known as a prominent fighter in his county and in South America region. He remained active throughout his life as fighter, securing the 3rd place in Heavyweight category in the South America Fullcontact Karate Championship in last November. His untimely passing is truly sorrowful. I am deeply saddened by this unexpected news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his students, fellow Branch Chiefs and instructors, including Shihan Eduardo Garcia, the Uruguay representative. May his soul rest in peace.

It is such a devastating experience to lose our dear comrade, but we still focus on our daily training and activities to promote Budo Karate and continue to devote ourselves in our activities in the honor of Branch Chief Scarlatta.

OSU

WKO President
Kenji Midori