Ukraine Evacuees Interact With Japanese Children Through Karate
A karate organization in central Japan held an event on Saturday to welcome people who have evacuated from Ukraine.
Karate master Ozawa Takashi, who has given lessons in Ukraine, heads the martial art club in the town of Takamori, Nagano Prefecture. The town has accepted nine women and children who have fled Ukraine.
At the event, the evacuees were entertained by Japanese cuisine and a video showing a karate competition that took place in Ukraine three years ago with Ozawa taking part as a guest.
Four of the Ukrainian children who had practiced karate before interacted with local children through the martial art.
They reacted with cheers when Ozawa and the Japanese children performed karate moves and cracked wooden boards and concrete blocks by hand. The Ukrainians were given new karate uniforms as a gift.
A 10-year-old boy, Vitalii Kuznietsov, has come to Japan with his sister, leaving his parents in Ukraine.
He said the meal was delicious, and the performance of breaking concrete blocks was impressive. He said that he will put on the new karate uniform after his old one wears out.
13-year-old Miyazawa Sosuke, who demonstrated the karate moves, said he was glad to have performed, and that he wants to practice the martial sport with Ukrainian counterparts.