Kaishi Hakizume Sensei, probably the youngest most skilled karateka of the Japan Karate Association’s headquarters that has won the national “kata” title of this year (silver medal in 2022 and gold in 2021) in Japan has paid a visit to India recently for a period of ten days travelling five cities in three states of our country motivating, guiding, sharing his tips, and mesmerizing everyone present with his copy book style lightening speedy karate “Kata” moves that were world class. It is being talked that Hakizume is one of the strongest contenders of the world kata title in the ‘Funakoshi Gichin Cup 16^th Karate World Championship Tournament’ that is going to be held in Japan this October.

Hakizume Sensei was invited by the JKAWF INDIA, the branch of JKA in India to lead the karate promotional tour in the states of West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala on its 10^th National Gasshuku. Hakizume Sensei has conducted seminars, explained the benefits of Japanese karate-do on children, youth and old, and influenced a total of over 1100 karate practitioners of our country. The local karate centers of the JKAWF INDIA teamed up to host Hakizume Sensei in Kolkata, Krishnagar, Nadia in the state of West Bengal, Nagaon in Assam, and Thrissur in Kerala for the benefits of karate learners.

Hakizume Sensei’s ten-day tour begun from Kolkata on 20^th January with a day’s seminar in Amal Dutta Indoor Stadium that is inaugurated by Mr. Matsuro Yamasaki, the Honorable Deputy Consul General of Japan in Kolkata who addressing the participants and spectators said that karate is a great medium for developing relationship between Japan and India which is already very strong for many years. Karate is a very popular Japanese martial arts and sport that is derived from the islands of Okinawa which is now playing a pivotal role to develop physical fitness and mental health globally. Mr. Yamasaki thanked Hakizume Sensei for his time and effort visiting India to make this age-old Japanese art of unarmed combat popular amongst the men and women of our country. While asked by the local media on the closing day of the camp in Kolkata on 28^th January, Hakizume Sensei expressed his astonishment seeing hundreds of karate enthusiasts and their parents attending the camps even in the remote district towns of the country. He has even identified a few young talents and recommended them to practice diligently and he foresees champion elements in them. Noting the JKA’s all Japan national karate champion’s last line before he departs Kolkata the JKA enthusiasts are now committed to practice regularly repeating each karate moves many hundred times to become like their new idol Kaishi Hakizume Sensei.

The JKAWF INDIA wishes to thank Katsutoshi Shiina Shihan for his mentorship and the JKA HQ for assigning Hakizume Sensei for this trip that turned extremely successful.