The eighth edition of the Japanese Ambassador’s Cup Karate Tournament, held at Kigali Universe over the weekend, stood out as a major occasion for top karate athletes and officials to showcase sporting excellence and celebrate the strong relationship between Japan and Rwanda. Organised by the Rwanda Karate Federation (FERWAKA), the tournament was attended by Japan’s Ambassador to Rwanda Nakajo Kazuya, representatives from the Rwanda National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports, and members of Rwanda’s karate community. ALSO READ:Road to Abuja: 41 Karatekas selected for Rwanda's national team ... For the first time, the competition was open to the public, attracting a large crowd to Kigali Universe where fans gathered to watch high-level karate action. Japan reaffirms support for karate development During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Nakajo thanked FERWAKA for organising the event and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the development of karate in Rwanda. “The support you have provided is very important. Through the Rwanda Karate Federation, we have consistently organised events like this to promote Japanese karate,” he said. He added that Japan remains ready to support initiatives aimed at strengthening karate in Rwanda, including discussions with the Ministry of Sports and FERWAKA on possible infrastructure projects such as the construction of a dedicated karate arena. The ambassador also highlighted the importance of athlete exchanges, noting that such cooperation could eventually allow Rwandan karateka to train and compete in Japan. For FERWAKA president Damien Niyongabo, the tournament symbolises the strong ties between the two countries. “This eighth Japanese Ambassador Cup represents the strong relationship between Japan and Rwanda through karate,” Niyongabo said. He also noted that this year’s edition had a unique format, as the event was opened to the general public, allowing more spectators to experience the sport beyond the usual karate community. APR dominates the competition The tournament results were largely dominated by APR Karate Club, which secured several medals across different categories. The competition featured 12 athletes in the under-67kg category and 10 competitors in the above-67kg division. APR finished first in both Female Team Kata and Male Team Kata, confirming their dominance in the team events. In the Open Female Kumite, Aline Irakoze of Agahozo Shalom won gold ahead of her teammate Lucie Yezakuzwe, while Paremonique Abayisenga (APR) and Joseline Niyonkuru (Team Rafiki) took bronze. In the Male Kumite under 67kg, the final featured an all-APR contest where Fiston Ntwari defeated teammate Maic Shyaka Ndutiye 11–7 to claim the title. Shariff Dushime (APR) and Arthur Ngoga (The Great Warriors) finished third. In the Male Kumite above 67kg, Paul Kagimbi (APR) secured gold, followed by Jean Claude Munyaburanga (The Great Warriors), while APR duo Harifa Niyitanga and Omar Usengimana claimed bronze. APR coach pleased with team performance APR coach Christian Kamuzinzi expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and the overall success of the tournament. “We are very happy with the competition and we hope that next year it will be even better,” he said. Kamuzinzi also highlighted the promising future of karate in Rwanda, mentioning fighters such as Fiston and Shyaka among the talents who could continue to raise the level of the sport. According to him, APR’s recent dominance does not mean other teams have become weaker. “We did not make other teams weak. If we did that, we would not have opponents. What we did was set a clear goal to compete and win medals,” he explained. Kamuzinzi attributed the club’s success to major recruitments made in recent months, which have increased internal competition and raised the overall standard of karate competitions compared to previous years. The Japanese Ambassador’s Cup continues to grow as an important event on Rwanda’s karate calendar, combining high-level competition with cultural and sporting cooperation between Japan and Rwanda.
