Men’s kata king Ryo Kiyuna captured his ninth straight Emperor’s Cup while Kiyou Shimizu failed to keep her streak alive in the women’s event at the 48th All-Japan Cup Karatedo, the annual national karate championship, at the Nippon Budokan on Sunday.
Kiyuna, a heavy favorite to win gold for Japan at next summer’s Tokyo Olympics, outscored Kazumasa Moto 28.74-27.60 with his performance of a convincing Anan kata in the men’s final to win at the annual event
Kiyuna’s ninth straight title moves him past Ryoki Abe for the longest streak in either the kata (forms) or kumite (sparring) categories.