-pays Sports Minister courtesy call
Japan Karate Association/World Federation (JKA/WF) Founding Director of the Americas, 8th Dan Master Shojiro Koyama paid a courtesy call on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday at his Main Street office.
Seventy-five-year-old Koyama, who has been practising martial arts since the age of three, is in Guyana to conduct a grading exercise today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 08:30 hours.
Over 60 participants are expected to participate in the exercise.
Head of the JKA/WF in Guyana, 4th Dan Sensei Christopher Chaves said that grading will be conducted under strict international guidelines. Further, Chaves noted, with Sensei Koyama’s presence, testing will reflect the highest of standards as occurred during his previous visits.
Koyama, who is from Japan, said that he will be helping with some developmental aspects of the sport before he departs these shores tomorrow. He said that he will also be using the activity today to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
On the other hand, Minister Anthony said that there have been collaborative efforts with the local body to promote the sport in outlying areas of the country. Anthony also told Koyama and Chaves that a partnership with the Japanese Government, JKA/WF and the Government of Guyana (GOG) can add fuel to wider promotion of the sport.
Anthony envisioned that when the logistics are worked out among the entities, the GOG can provide the land for the construction of a dojo for the JKA/WF in Guyana and the Japanese government can be responsible for building the facility.
