Mr. Hiroshi Shirai, a former Shihan of the JKA, passed away on October 9, 2024 at the age of 87. After being a trainee, Shirai became an instructor of the JKA HQ, and as a player, he won the national tournament in 1962 in both kata and kumite and won the overall championship.

After that, he crossed the ocean and spread the JKA’s karate to the world with his excellent skills in various countries from Europe to Africa, and together with the late Sensei Taiji Kase Shihan and late Keinosuke Enokieda Shihan, he greatly contributed to the overseas spread of JKA karate. Although he parted ways with the JKA in later years, we, JKA and JKA/WF would like to express his heartfelt gratitude and deep condolences for his achievements.