TOKYO, October 3 (RIA Novosti) – Japan hopes to continue martial arts exchanges with Russia, Yoshio Mifuji, the head of the organizing committee in Japan, said Friday.
"We hope to continue exchanges with Russia in the field of martial arts. This sentiment was expressed by the International University of Martial Arts in Japan. Our exchanges have great potential," Yoshio Mifuji said.
The head of the Russian delegation Grigory Kabelsky said that both countries were ready to continue having Russian-Japanese martial arts exchanges if the leaders of both countries agreed to it.
Russian martial arts representatives are currently visiting Japan to carry out exhibition performances, demonstrate national and traditional Russian sports as part of the year of martial arts bilateral exchanges between Russia and Japan.
During the four-day visit, the Russian delegation will take part in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Nippon Budokan arena, in the Japanese capital of Tokyo where members of the Japanese imperial family are expected to be present, as well as the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, policymakers and athletes. Akie Abe, the wife of the prime minister, is expected to participate in a demonstration of naginata, the Japanese national martial art.
The agreement to hold the year of bilateral exchanges was reached when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Japan and met with the Japanese prime minister last year.
