The Kempo Club won the men’s division of the 39th National University Invitational Nippon Kempo Championship, held at Yokohama Budokan on June 21, securing the title for the third consecutive year.
The club defeated Aoyama Gakuin University in the second round, Chuo University in the quarterfinals, and Kwansei Gakuin University in the semifinals, winning each match 4–0 to advance to the final. In the final against Kansai University, the first two bouts ended in draws. KODAMA Kanta, a second-year student in the School of Law, then won the third bout, followed by a victory from TSUCHIYA Taisei, a third-year student in the School of Arts and Letters, in the fourth bout. Meiji University won the closely contested final 2–1. TSUCHIYA was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Comment from OTANI Ruiki, Captain, a fourth-year student in the School of Law
We could not have achieved our third consecutive championship without the warm support of so many people, including our head coach and coaches, alumni, members of the University community, and our parents. We will continue to take pride in being members of the Meiji University Kempo Club, strive to reach even greater heights, and work even harder together as a team.
Captain OTANI delivers a punch to the face