Karate Club (Shinsei) member Kenji Mori wins gold at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
Ritsumeikan University Karate Club (Shinsei) member Kenji Mori (3rd-year, College of Social Sciences) took home the gold medal in the men's individual kata at the 25th Summer Deaflympics Games in Tokyo (Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics), which were held at the Tokyo Budokan (Adachi, Tokyo) for three days from Sunday, November 23 to Tuesday, November 25. His remarkable performance was further bolstered by winning bronze in the men's individual kumite (under 60 kg division).
The Deaflympics are an international sports competition for deaf athletes held every four years, and this year marked a milestone year—the 100th anniversary of the games. The games were held over 12 days from Saturday, November 15 to Wednesday, November 26, with approximately 3,000 athletes from 70 to 80 countries and regions competing in 21 events.
Mori is a world-class athlete who also competed in the 24th Summer Deaflympics Games in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil in 2022, where he took home a bronze medal in the men’s individual kata. He also had an outstanding performance at the World Deaf Karate Championships 2024 held in Malaysia, winning two bronze medals as a member of the Japanese national team.
On the 23rd, Mori competed in the men's individual kata, delivering commanding performances all the way from the preliminaries through the finals. He captivated the judges with a variety of techniques that showcased his signature speed and successfully secured the gold medal.
Then, on the 24th, he competed in the men's individual kumite (under 60 kg division). From the preliminaries through the semifinals, he advanced by accurately blocking his opponents' attacks. Although he narrowly lost in the semifinals, he achieved a commendable third-place finish.
Winning a gold and a bronze medal amidst high-level competition featuring top athletes from around the world is a testament to Mori's extraordinary dedication. Thanks to the support and encouragement of everyone, Mori was able to achieve the brilliant accomplishment of winning medals at an international competition. Thank you to everyone who cheered him on.
Comment from Kenji Mori (3rd year, College of Social Sciences)
I would like to sincerely thank everyone for all their support. I was able to compete in the tournament thanks to the power I received from all of you. I won gold in the kata and bronze in the kumite, and while I feel a mix of both joy and regret, I am genuinely happy to have brought home two medals. Above all, it was a great joy to compete alongside everyone on the grand stage of the Deaflympics, which is only held once every four years. I will use this invaluable experience as fuel to grow even further.
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