The World Karate Federation awarded WKF Honorary Membership to Japan National Olympic Committee president and IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda. Karate’s international governing body decided to bestow the organisation’s highest honour to Mr. Takeda for his support and contribution to the ancient modality. 

The World Karate Federation awarded WKF Honorary Membership to Japan National Olympic Committee president and IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda. Karate’s international governing body decided to bestow the organisation’s highest honour to Mr. Takeda for his support and contribution to the ancient modality. 

The decision was confirmed at the 2017 WKF Extraordinary Congress following the proposal by the WKF Executive Committee. The recognition was approved by acclamation by the plenary session of the organisation during the meeting which was held in Tenerife (Spain). 

IOC member since 2012 and Vice-President of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo organising committee since 2014, Tsunekazu Takeda has acted as the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee for the past 16 years. Mr. Takeda participated in the Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Olympic Games in equestrian jumping events. 

“Mr. Takeda has been incredibly supportive of our sport through his leadership role at the Japan NOC. From his pioneering efforts at the Japanese sports governing body to his extensive and successful career in sports management, Mr. Takeda has elevated the way of understanding sports. It is a great privilege to bestow WKF Honorary Membership to him and to consider him a friend of Karate,” said WKF President Antonio Espinós.