THE FIRST JAPANESE AMBASSADOR’S KENDO CHAMPIONSHIP
29th November, 2014 |
On Saturday, 29th November 2014, His Excellency Shuichiro Nishioka, Ambassador of Japan to Malawi presided over the ‘1st Japanese Ambassador’s Kendo Championships’ at Blantyre Youth Centre. The tournament was organised by the Kendo Association of Malawi with support from Embassy of Japan in Malawi. The event was graced by the presence of Principal SecretaryII for Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Joseph Mwandidya as well as His Worship the Mayor of the City of Blantyre, Mr Noel Chalamanda.
Speaking during the event, Ambassador Nishioka was deeply touched by the depth of friendship between the Malawian and Japanese Kendo players, and also noting that the first Ambassador’s Kendo Championship was taking place in the year which significantly marks the golden jubilee of Malawi’s independence and also that of the Japan-Malawi friendship. He added that, the development of Kendo in Malawi is one of the most remarkable success stories of the people to people exchange between Japan and Malawi.
Currently, Kendo Association of Malawi is mainly run by Malawian Kendo players with support from Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV). Ambassador Nishioka then thanked the Malawian Kendo players for contributing to the promotion of the Japanese culture in Malawi and consequently the Japan-Malawi relations. This led the Government of Japan to award ‘the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation’, which is a prestigious award, to the Kendo Association of Malawi in 2013 making the Association become the first Malawian group to receive such commendation.
Ambassador Nishioka also disclosed during the championship that the Saga Supporting Organization for Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and the Saga Overseas Cooperation Association have decided to donate Kendo equipment to the Kendo Association. He then urged the entire members of the association to use the equipment with proper care so that many Kendo players can benefit from the donation for a long time.
For interview of Mr. Somba, the President of Kendo Association of Malawi (KAM), click here |
The matches for junior players
Japanese team and Malawian team commending each other after a group match
Ambassador handing a trophy to the winner of Boys' (junior) championship
Ambassador posing with the VIP guests as well as the winners of the event
(from left: Mr. Somba, the President of KAM, Ambassador Mr. Nishioka, Ms. Kadammanja, Mr. Hara, Principal Secretary II Mr. Mwandidya, Mayor of Blantyre Mr. Chalamanda , Mr. Somba)
Ambassador handing over the list of donatation from the Saga Supporting Organization for Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and the Saga Overseas Cooperation Association
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