The celebration took place during the Karatedo Mount Fuji Junior Championship, established as a legacy of the sport’s inclusion at the previous Summer Olympics.

The tournament gathered together youngsters to compete in an event that celebrated the popularity of karate in Japan.

During the tournament’s Opening Ceremony a video message from the World Karate Federation’s general secretary Toshihisa Nagura was played.

Nagura’s message stressed the many values of karate and talked about the governing body’s efforts to return the sport to the Olympic programme, after it was left off the Paris 2024 edition.

Karate is one of nine sports on a shortlist for inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Viviana Bottaro and Luigi Busa, who both medalled for Italy in karate at Tokyo 2020, sent video messages thanking the city of Gotemba for its support.

Bottaro and Busa were among the Italian team which prepared in the city in advance of the Games, with Busa claiming gold in the men’s under-75 kilograms Kumite category and Bottaro taking the bronze in the women’s kata discipline.

Japan Karatedo President Takashi Sasakawa also attended the ceremony.

Hosts Japan topped the karate medals table at Tokyo 2020, winning one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.