On Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the Hollywood Hotel in Ilidža, a ceremony was held to hand over sports equipment to the Karate Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina donated by the Karate Federation of Japan, and the ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Masami KINEFUCHI.

The Karate Federation of Japan provided the Karate Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with equipment, including 100 tatami mats. The equipment includes karate belts for competition, karate uniforms and karate guards. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan covered the costs of transportation from Japan.

Ambassador Kinefuchi said that Japanese martial arts are not only important for acquiring skills, but also have a traditional spirit of developing "Reisetsu" (politeness and good manners) and training the body and mind. Karate also plays a major role in shaping children who grow up into young people of respectable character. Karate aims to develop a character that will respect society and others, and who will adhere to the rules and manners of society. He expressed his satisfaction that many people in BiH are familiar with karate, and Japan and Bosnia and Herzegovina aim to use the purchase of equipment as a starting point for the development of karate exchange between the countries in the future.

On behalf of the BiH Karate Federation, the ceremony was attended by the Vice President, Mr. Denis Muhović, and the Secretary General, Mr. Admir Zukan, who expressed their gratitude for this valuable donation. On behalf of the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs, Assistant Minister, Ms. Anđa Kalem-Perić, thanked for the support that Japan provides to sports in BiH, including karate, judo, gymnastics, etc. The representative of the BiH Olympic Committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dejana Planinčić expressed her wish for karate to become an Olympic sport in the future.

After the ceremony, those present watched a demonstration of karate skills by young karate fighters.

【INFORMATION ABOUT KARATE】

Currently, about 3 million people in Japan and 40 million competitors in 173 countries and regions around the world practice karate. Karate contributes greatly to achieving world peace and developing healthy and useful youth through international exchange. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, many people start practicing karate at an early age to improve their health, and there are about 180 clubs that are members of the Karate Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which 3,000 to 4,000 people compete, and more than 20,000 people are well-versed in karate, including enthusiasts.