The Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Masami KINEFUCHI, attended the handover ceremony of sports equipment to the Karate Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Japan Karatedo Federation has provided the Karate Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with equipment, including 100 tatami mats. Equipment also includes Karate belts for competition, Karate uniforms and protectors for Karate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan covered the transport costs from Japan.
Ambassador Kinefuchi said that Japanese martial arts are not just about acquiring skills, but also have a traditional spirit of developing “Reisetsu” (civility and manner) and training both body and mind. Karate also plays a major role in helping many children grow up to be young people of respectable character. Karate aims to develop the kind of character that will be respected by society and by others, and that will obey the rules and manners of society. He expressed his satisfaction that many people in Bosnia are familiar with Karate, and Japan and Bosnia and Herzegovina aim to use the provision of equipment as a starting point to develop Karate exchanges between both countries in the future.
In addition to the Ambassador, Vice-President, Mr. Denis Muhović and Secretary- General, Mr. Admir Zukan, attended on behalf of the Karate Association of BiH, and they showed their appreciation for this valuable donation.
On behalf of Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, Assistant Minister, Mrs. Anđa Kalem-Perić, thanked for the support Japan has provided to sports in BiH, including karate, judo, gymnastics etc. Representative of the Olympic Committee BiH, Mrs. Dejana Planinić, expressed her wish that karate becomes an Olympic sport in the future.
Together, they watched a demonstration of karate skills shown by young Karate- ka(i.e.Karate athlete), it was stated by the embassy of Japan in BiH.
