Hiroga Hamachi, 3rd-Year Student at Takatsuki Municipal Seventh Junior High School, Reports National Karate Championship Victory to Mayor

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Hiroga Hamachi, a third-year student at Takatsuki Municipal Seventh Junior High School, visited Takatsuki City Hall to report to Mayor Takeshi Hamada his victory in the junior high school boys' heavyweight division at the '40th POINT & K.O. All Japan Karate Championship,' held in March at the Tokyo Budokan.

Hamachi began practicing karate at a local dojo during kindergarten and achieved his first dan rank in the Shidenryu Karate Association's official grading examination in his first year of junior high school. He has previously earned third place at the 2nd All Japan Karate Championship CHAMPION CUP 2025, the All Japan Junior Championship at the National Youth Karate Selection Tournament, and the Adidas KARATE GRAND PRIX 2024.

At the Kansai Selection Tournament held on December 21, 2025, despite not being in peak condition due to injury, he secured second place, qualifying for the national championship. On March 20, 2026, at the Tokyo Budokan, he competed in the junior high school boys' heavyweight division at the 40th POINT & K.O. All Japan Karate Championship. In the 12-competitor single-elimination tournament, he triumphed in a close final match against an opponent weighing over 20 kilograms more than him.

During his visit to Takatsuki City Hall, Hamachi said, 'I want to keep working hard so I can win again next year when I become a high school student,' to which Mayor Hamada responded, 'I hope this victory inspires you to advance even further.'