Issuu

JAPAN KARATE DIPLOMACY 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUKF 2026

19 JUNE - 29 JUNE, 2026

JAPAN CITIES TOUR JUNE 2026

TOKYO Tokyo is the capital of Japan and home to 37 million people (over half of Japan’s population). Tokyo was previously known as Edo. In 1868, the Meiji emperor moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo and renamed it Tokyo (“Eastern Capital”). From historical districts like Asakusa to hyper-modern shopping districts like Ginza and Shibuya, Tokyo offers a immense variety of culture, entertainment, and remarkable dining to locals and visitors alike. Tokyo is also home to the historic Nippon Budokan, a keystone location for martial arts practitioners. Built for the 1964 Olympics, the Budokan has hosted historic karate, judo, and kendo competitions over time, including the JUKF’s annual allJapan competition. The venue has also hosted such remarkable guests as the Beatles and Metallica.

HIMEJI

Himeji is the second largest city in Hyogo Prefecture after Kobe. Home to over 500,050 people, the city acts as a major bullet train stop between Osaka and Hiroshima. It is most famous for Himeji Castle, a stunning 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage site and national treasure. Also nicknamed the "White Heron Castle," Himeji Castle is widely known as Japan’s most well-preserved feudal fortress, featuring brilliant white walls and complex wooden architecture.

OSAKA The second-largest city in Japan, Osaka has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries. Originally known as Naniwa, Osaka was the very first capital of Japan, prior to the Nara period. In the 1500s, warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka to build now-famous Osaka Castle. Osaka could have become Japan’s political capital at the time; however, a series of battles between the Tokugawa shogunate and the Toyotomi clan, known as the Siege of Osaka, led to the Toyotomi clan’s destruction and ultimately to the establishment of government in Edo (now Tokyo). The Kansai region is known as “Japan’s kitchen,” and Osaka offers culinary delights like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and Kobe beef. It is also home to Japan’s oldest temple, Shitenno-ji, built in 593.

KYOTO Kyoto serves as the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, and it remains a cultural center of the country to this day. It is home to numerous Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines and still preserves remarkable palaces and traditional gardens. Some of the most remarkable sites include Kinkakuji, the temple of gold; Kiyomizu, the pure water temple; Fushimi Inari and its 10,000 tori gates; and Arashiyama’s bamboo forest. Kyoto also includes over 15 Unesco world heritage sites and 1 in 5 of Japan’s national treasures.

YAMANASHI Yamanashi is located in Japan’s Chubu region. It is a landlocked area bordering Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Nagano, and Saitama. Surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Fuji, Yatsugatake, and the Southern Alps, it is a basin covered in forests. One of the biggest attractions of Yamanashi is the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji in the Five Lakes region (“Fujigoko”) at the foot of the mountain. Fujigoko is also known for its hot springs, museums, and excellent hiking paths. With abundant water flowing from the mountains and the basin’s distinctive climate, marked by large temperature differences between morning and evening and between summer and winter, the area is also very agricultural: known as the Fruit Kingdom, Yamanashi ranks first in Japan for grape and peach production. Yamanashi wines are highly regarded in Japan.

DAY 1

SATURDAY, JUNE

WELCOME TO TOKYO

Our first day of Japan! Cassiano and Steven arrived at Narita airport in the afternoon, and took the trains to Akasaka. After getting dinner together and catching up, we returned to the hotel to rest and acclimate to Japan.

DAY 2 SUNDAY, JUNE

VISITING HASHIMOTO SENSEI’S DOJO IN TOKYO

On our second day in Japan, Vazrik and Amandine were flying in to arrive at Narita like Cassiano and Steven did yesterday. In the evening, Cassiano and Steven had received an invitation to train with Hashimoto Sensei at his dojo in Sedai in Tokyo. Hashimoto Sensei taught not only basic Shotokan Karate fundamentals, but also techniques on how to really apply these movements in self defense in street fight situations. Afterwards, Hashimoto Sensei took Cassiano and Steven out to dinner to celebrate the start of the visit to Japan and to talk about future Karate activities to collaborate on. The dinner was in a traditional Japanese restaurant in Hashimoto Sensei’s dojo’s neighborhood.

Masaki san, Steven from BU, Johanna from University of Oxford, and Cassiano joining Hashimoto Sensei’s Karate training 08

DAY 3 MONDAY, JUNE

VISITING YAMANASHI AND VIEWS OF MT. FUJI

On Monday, we had the opportunity to go sightseeing with a focus on Mt. Fuji! We reunited with Masaki san who had visited Boston several times, and had promised to help us sightsee in his hometown area of Yamanashi prefecture. We took the train in the morning to Tokyo station with Hashimoto Sensei who was also joining for the sightseeing, and went to Otsuki station in Yamanashi prefecture. We got to see the lakes near Mt. Fuji, and a beautiful view of all of the greenery that was growing on its mountain side. We were able to visit the UNESCO heritage site of Oshino Shibokusa village and enjoy lunch while seeing the stunning view of Mt. Fuji along our walk. We were lucky that in the rainy season of Japan, the day of our visit provided such a clear view of the mountain. Someday we hope to climb it!

VISITING HOTEL SEKIFU

Masaki san had organized several different events for us: wine tasting at Monde Winery, as well as a visit to Sekifu Hotel, which was a special hotel with fine dining and an onsen. The owner of the hotel was a friend of Masaki san, and also a Harvard University graduate. He kindly had opened the hotel during the weekday when it was normally closed just for us to be able to enjoy the onsen experience and a dinner. We were very grateful for this demonstration of hospitality. The dinner was a multicourse experience, featuring a variety of meats, including seafood, as well as vegetables. There were both traditional Japanese dishes as well as Western influenced dishes, and each bite was an incredible taste experience. The waitress was so kind that she even taught us how to cook several of the dishes with the flame in front of each of us, so that the meal was at the right temperature and cooking level. As a signal of our gratitude, we provided gifts that we had brought from Boston for the owner of the hotel, for Masaki san, and for Masaki san’s wife Ayako san. We even provided a gift for the kind waitress of a pin from MIT to remember us by! Afterwards, we took the train back to Tokyo and reflected about our Mt. Fuji adventure and the kind people that we met during the day.

DAY 4 TUESDAY, JUNE

TRAINING AT WASEDA UNIVERSITY (TABATA SENSEI ALMA MATER)

On Tuesday, our 4th day in Japan, we had some free time in the morning to walk around Akasaka area. We got to go to the nearby shrine Hie Jinja, and observe several people starting their day with a prayer at the shrine. In the afternoon, we were personally invited to train at Waseda University, the alma mater of Kazumi Tabata Sensei. Joining us was Osada Sensei (JUKF Chairman) and Inoue San (President of the Waseda University Karate Alumni Association). Osada Sensei was in the midst of all of the preparation for the 70th Japan University Karate tournament in Himeji this upcoming weekend, but still wanted to join us for this special opportunity to visit Waseda University together.

At Waseda University, we were able to reunite with Imaizumi Sensei, one of the Karate instructors for the Karate club. In addition, we saw students we had met previously as well as met the new Karate club captain and other students. There were even European students attending Waseda University for both study and Karate. Jose was a student from Portugal who was completing his PhD at Waseda University and training in the club, while Mari was from Sweden and part of the national team in Sweden and was training at Waseda. It was a very international training experience. After the training together, we took a team picture with our college flags and also took a picture in front of Tabata Sensei’s plaque on the black board wall inside the dojo space.

We met Jose (PhD student at Waseda from Portugal and European kata champion) and Mari (visiting student from Finland JKA National Team)

In the evening, we got to enjoy dinner together with our friends and the Karate students of Waseda University. We talked about past experiences and also made plans for future Karate adventures together. We provided gifts to both the instructors and students of Waseda University as a gesture of our appreciation for their kindness, and they reminded us that Waseda University is “our second home”, and that we are welcome anytime we wish to train here.

Imaizumi Sensei of Waseda Karate club receives our photo album gift

DAY 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE

JOURNEY TO OSAKA AND KYOTO

On day 5, it was time to depart from Tokyo and go to Osaka! We took the shinkansen, and were amazed at how fast and smooth the trip is (500 km in only 2.5 hours!). On arrival at Shin-Osaka station, we reunited with Kobayashi Sensei and Paku san, our friends from Osaka Institute of Technology (OIT). They had kindly reserved lodging for us at OIT dormitories, and after getting settled in the afternoon, we got to enjoy a dinner with Osada Sensei, Kobayashi Sensei, and Paku san. We talked about the logistics about the upcoming tournament in Himeji, as well as the logistics for the JUKF visit to Boston.

Cassiano and Vazrik with a view of Mt. Fuji from the Shinkansen

Our first dinner in Osaka with Osada Sensei (JUKF Chairman) 16

DAY 6

THURSDAY, JUNE

Day 6 was a day full of sightseeing and Karate! This morning, we spent time in Kyoto. Kobayashi Sensei and Takahashi Sensei, Karate instructors for the OIT Karate club, kindly drove us from Osaka to Kyoto for sightseeing. They brought their boys, Haruto (Takahashi Sensei’s son) and Kouki (Kobayashi Sensei’s son), to join us on the sightseeing as they had a holiday from school. Vazrik practiced his Japanese vocabulary with the boys, while they practiced their English with us. While it was raining all day, the visit to Kinkakuji was nonetheless beautiful. We were able to walk through the grounds of the temple, which was packed with tourists aiming to enjoy the views. We bought some gifts in the temple store as souvenirs for our friends back in Boston.

EXPLORING KYOTO AND KARATE AT OSAKA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Visiting Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple) with Kobayashi Sensei, Takahashi Sensei, and their boys Kouki and Haruto 17

In the evening, after returning from Kyoto, we joined Karate practice at OIT. Several students were preparing for the upcoming tournament in Himeji. The training was first led by Takahashi Sensei focusing on the importance of hip rotation in basics, and then the Karate club captain led the 2nd half focusing on free sparring drills. We worked on kizami zuki, gyaku zuki, and combos with partners to develop distancing, timing, and reflexes. After training, we enjoyed dinner at a restaurant and connected with the OIT Karate club students. We learned about their different fields of study, i.e. some students were interested in studying patent law, some biology, etc. It was an opportunity to learn more about each other outside of dojo.

We gave gifts to Kobayashi Sensei, Seki Sensei, Ebiki Sensei, and the OIT Karate club students

Kobayashi Sensei providing kumite technique details 20

DAY 7 FRIDAY, JUNE

EXPLORING HISTORY OF OSAKA

On our 7th day in Japan, we went sightseeing in Osaka. Kobayashi Sensei, Hitomi san (Kobayashi Sensei’s wife), and Seki Sensei took us to the Osaka Museum of History, where we learned about the history of Osaka, and its importance as both a cultural center and also a center of power over the centuries. We then went to Osaka Castle, inside which there were further exhibits describing the relation of Osaka to Tokyo and other nearby centers of power in Japan.

At night, we went to dinner with Steven and Arisa and enjoyed yakiniku in Osaka Station. It was an opportunity to catch up about professional careers and life outside of Karate, as well as plans and dreams for the future.

DAY 8

SATURDAY, JUNE

JUKF 70TH ANNIVERSARY KARATE TOURNAMENT

Saturday was the day of the big tournament and the 70th anniversary celebration of the Japan University Karatedo Federation (JUKF). This was the banquet that we were personally invited to take part in and offer our words of congratulation. In the morning, we took the Shinkansen from ShinOsaka to Himeji, and arrived at the competition center to watch the preliminary kumite matches in the morning. We met various instructors of the JUKF from the various universities we have visited over the years, coaching the students who had qualified and were competing at the Karate tournament.

JAPAN UNIVERSITY KARATE FLAGS COMPETING IN HIMEJI Waseda University

REUNITING WITH OUR DEAR FRIEND RUIKI SAN (FUTURE HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STAR) In the afternoon, after the morning matches were complete, we had the opportunity to visit Himeji Castle with Ruiki san and Risa san. We had the luck of finding a tour guide that explained the importance of Himeji Castle, why it was built, and what it signified in the power struggle between Tokyo and Osaka in the past centuries. Most of the castle had been repaired and maintained in its original form, and so it was an amazing experience to see and walk through this element of history.

JUKF 70TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET

We had a special table for us as international special guests at the 70th Anniversary Banquet celebrating the decades of service of the JUKF towards Karatedo and building the next generation of Karatedoka.

MHKH HONORS JUKF 70TH ANNIVERSARY In order to honor the 70th Anniversary of the JUKF, Vazrik Sensei gave a speech entirely in Japanese to the crowd of more than 300 high level Karate instructors who have spent decades teaching at the university level from universities all over Japan

Osada Sensei (JUKF Chairman) delivering a speech at the banquet”

WATCH VAZRIK’S SPEECH 28

Photo with Watanabe Sensei (JUKF President)

REUNITING WITH KARATE FRIENDS! While in Himeji, we had the pleasure of reuniting with some Karate friends. We saw Nobukawa Sensei (7th Dan Shito Ryu and WKF Referee), Masaki Sensei who showed us Yamanashi and has visited Boston with us before. We saw David Eckford Sensei, professor at KinDai university in Osaka and Karate instructor. We reunited with Kurihara Sensei as he was helping students from his alma mater Komazawa University. We had just seen Kurihara Sensei in New Orleans in the US for a Karate camp just a few weeks ago! Also, we saw Olympian Kumite competitor Ryutara Araga Sensei and discussed plans for bringing him to Boston for a kumite seminar.

David Eckford Sensei of Kindai University

Araga Sensei (Olympic Kumite Competitor)

Nobukawa Sensei (7th Dan Shito Ryu)

Masaki Sensei

Kurihara Sensei coaching for Komazawa University

DAY 9 SUNDAY, JUNE

FINAL EVENING IN TOKYO

On Sunday, we took the Shinkansen from Himeji back to Tokyo. We said our goodbye to Steven in Kyoto, knowing we would see him again soon. In Tokyo, we were able to reunite with Kenta san, Eriko san, and their twins Uta and Arata. With all of our events throughout this trip, we wanted to make sure to leave some time to reunite with dear friends, and to see how Eriko’s family has been doing in Japan. Arata has been keeping up with his rugby training as well as swimming, while Uta has been continuing her Karate training with her mother. She even showed us a demo of Heian Godan and Tekki Shodan outside, excited to show us her progress in Karate. When she left Boston, she only knew Heian Shodan!

GIFT EXCHANGE WITH UTA AND ARATA

At night, we also reunited with Kawamo san for dinner in Akasaka. Kawamo san told us about activities in the Karate club at Science Tokyo (the merged universities of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical University), as well as his recent activities for his personal career.

Uta and Arata prepared individualized gifts for us

Uta wanted to show us her Tekki Shodan

Gift exchange with the Uchida family

FINAL DINNER IN TOKYO WITH KAWAMO SAN At night, we also reunited with Kawamo san for dinner in Akasaka. Kawamo san told us about activities in the Karate club at Science Tokyo (the merged universities of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Medical University), as well as his recent activities for his personal career.

DAY 10 MONDAY, JUNE

FINAL TOKYO DAY AND RETURN TO BOSTON

Our 10th day was our final day in Japan. We had the opportunity to do some final sightseeing and souvenir shopping in Japan before heading to the airport. We went to Ginza and purchased some gifts for family and friends back home in Boston. Then, we took the train to Narita Airport to fly back home. It was a memorable trip, one in which we met new friends, reunited with old friends, and created new opportunities for Karate adventures for the future. As always, the best is yet to come!

MIT BOS --> HND

PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

ANSELMO CASSIANO ALVES

BRAZIL

UNIVERSITY:

HARVARD UNIVERSITY BOS --> HND

PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

AMANDINE FROMONT

FRANCE

UNIVERSITY:

GEORGETOWN LAW & WELLESLEY COLLEGE

BOS --> HND

PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

STEVEN CHEN

TAIWAN

UNIVERSITY:

BOSTON UNIVERSITY TPE --> HND

BOARDING PASS

UNIVERSITY:

BOARDING PASS

NATIONALITY:

ARMENIA/USA

BOARDING PASS

PASSENGER NAME:

VAZRIK CHILOYAN

BOARDING PASS

MHKH DELEGATION JUNE 2026 PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

KENTA UCHIDA

JAPAN

UNIVERSITY:

MIT BOS --> HND

PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

ERIKO UCHIDA

JAPAN

UNIVERSITY:

MIT BOS --> HND

PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

ARATA UCHIDA

JAPAN

UNIVERSITY:

MIT BOS --> HND

PASSENGER NAME:

NATIONALITY:

UTA UCHIDA

JAPAN

UNIVERSITY:

MIT BOS --> HND

READ OUR LATEST ISSUES

CONNECT WITH US Vazrik Chiloyan vazrik@mit.edu

Anselmo Cassiano Alves anselmoc@mit.edu

Amandine Fromont afromont@wellesley.edu

Iyit Benusia ibenusia@lesley.edu

SEE YOU SOON!