Takatsuki City's 3rd Grader Yui Tanaka and 1st Grader Risa Tanaka Report National Kempo Championship Qualification to the Mayor

On Tuesday, June 16, Reiwa 8, siblings Yui Tanaka, a 3rd grader at Shiba Elementary School in Takatsuki City, and Risa Tanaka, a 1st grader, visited Takatsuki City Hall to report to Mayor Takeshi Hamada that they will both compete in the youth division of the '44th All Japan Kempo Championships,' to be held in Osaka Prefecture on Sunday, September 27.

Influenced by their father, a kempo practitioner, and their older siblings who also trained in kempo, Yui and Risa developed an interest in the martial art and joined a local dojo. At home, they continue training under their father’s guidance, taking turns as mitt-holding partners, encouraging and improving each other through mutual practice.

The siblings competed in the West Japan Youth Kempo Tournament held on Sunday, May 10, Reiwa 8. Yui, leveraging her signature roundhouse kick, placed third in the boys' 3rd-grade division, which featured 26 participants, securing her third consecutive national championship appearance. Risa, competing in her first official tournament, advanced through the girls' 1st-grade division—where eight participants competed—by effectively applying combination techniques honed through daily practice, ultimately earning third place. As a result, both siblings have qualified for the '44th All Japan Kempo Championships – Youth Division.'

During their visit to City Hall, Yui and Risa expressed their determination, saying, 'We want to win first place,' to which Mayor Hamada responded with encouragement: 'Showcase the results of your training and compete with no regrets.'