We hope this letter finds you well.

JKA HQ has decided to cancel “Funakoshi Gichin Cup 15th Karate World Championship Tournament” & “Funakoshi Gichin Cup 15th Junior Karate World Championship Tournament” (World cup) that was scheduled to be taken place in October 2021.

Covid-19 is still running rampant globally since January 2020 and its impact has been threatening many people’s lives in danger as well as hitting every activity badly. Japan, the organizer of World cup is no exception to this. A state of emergency was declared for Tokyo and 10 areas. Medical care in Japan is in imminent danger of collapsing. Japanese immigration system became stricter and there is no sign of lifting.

Considering such situation that we can’t prepare the good training environment for athletes, we judged it is not wise to hold World Cup with such unstable factor. For athletes, World Cup is limited chance once in three years. Their disappointment can hardly be imagined. Please understand that it was a very bitter decision for us to make. It is not so long before that we can take back the ordinary daily life by spreading of vaccine, new medicine and treatment, it is said. Let’s overcome this difficulty with unbending spirit which we had gotten through Karate-do. This is the time we JKA family should join forces. 

We wish very early end of COVID-19 pandemic and looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Seizo Izumiya
Managing Director,
Japan Karate Association