Japanese Athletes Win 16 Medals at 22nd Asian Senior and 5th Asian Para Karate Championships

Photo courtesy: Asian Karate Federation

From Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, the 22nd Asian Senior Karate Championships and the 5th Asian Para Karate Championships were held in Bali, Indonesia.

Organized by the Asian Karate Federation (AKF) and held annually, the Senior Championships featured 17 events combining individual and team competitions, with 327 athletes from 31 countries and regions participating.

Japan entered 23 athletes across 16 events in the Senior Championships, winning a total of 13 medals—5 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze—and ranked first among all participating nations in the medal tally.

In the concurrently held Asian Para Karate Championships, three Japanese athletes competed, winning 2 gold and 1 silver medal for a total of 3 medals.

Overall, the Japanese delegation secured 7 gold medals across both championships.

Soh Nishiyama, who achieved his fifth consecutive title in Men's Individual Kata

Aiko Komori, competing in the Women's Visually Impaired Kata category

Award ceremony for Men's Visually Impaired Kata (from left: Yasunori Ohba, Toshihiro Imai)

In the Senior Championships, female athletes particularly stood out. Mana Oono won her first Asian title in Women's Individual Kata, defeating her strongest rival, Grace Lau, on her third attempt. Additionally, Sarara Shimada, who had won bronze in the previous three editions, finally claimed gold in the Women's Kumite -61kg category. The Women's Team Kata squad, composed of fresh debutants, delivered a stable and confident performance to win the championship in their first appearance.

Mana Oono performing Super Rinpei in the final match

Sarara Shimada (in blue belt) showing fierce offense and defense in the -61kg final

For the Japanese team, the next major international event is the Asian Games, to be held in Toyohashi, Japan, from September 20 to 22. Karate events are scheduled early in the competition, raising expectations for Japan's first medal of the Games. Please stay tuned.

Tournament Results

Japanese Athletes' Results Men's Individual Kata: Soh Nishiyama (Smash Selection) – Gold Medal Women's Individual Kata: Mana Oono (Kikkoman) – Gold Medal Men's Team Kata: Ijin Kitazawa (Manatec), Ken Okamoto (Aomori Prefecture Talent Development Headquarters), Ryoshosuke Kikuchi (ALSOK Gunma) – Gold Medal

Women's Team Kata: Kotomi Sato (Teikyo University), Sho Okamoto (Teikyo University), Misa Kobayashi (Teikyo University) – Gold Medal

Men's Kumite -60kg: Taimu Hashimoto (SAGA SPORTS PYRAMID) – 5th Place

Men's Kumite -67kg: Yuki Ozaki (SAGA SPORTS PYRAMID) – Bronze Medal

Men's Kumite -75kg: Yusuke Sakiyama (Takamatsu Chuo High School Staff) – Bronze Medal

Men's Kumite -84kg: Rikito Shimada (Maruki Unyu) – 5th Place

Men's Kumite +84kg: Kenta Yamauchi (Kiryukai) – Bronze Medal

Women's Kumite -50kg: Aika Okazaki (Tashigoe) – 5th Place

Women's Kumite -55kg: Rina Kodou (Aomori Prefecture Talent Development Task Force) – Silver Medal

Women's Kumite -61kg: Sarara Shimada (Kokushikan University Staff) – Gold Medal

Women's Kumite -68kg: Tsubasa Kama (RER) – Silver Medal

Women's Kumite +68kg: Yuzuki Kataoka (Gotenba Nishi High School) – Bronze Medal

Men's Team Kumite: Bronze Medal

Women's Team Kumite: Silver Medal

Para Karate (Kata Events) Visually Impaired Men: Toshihiro Imai (Gunma Prefecture) – Gold Medal Visually Impaired Men: Yasunori Ohba (Miyazaki Prefecture) – Silver Medal Visually Impaired Women: Aiko Komori (Gunma Prefecture) – Gold Medal