Emiri Iwamoto

Emiri Iwamoto has transitioned from a world-ranked karate champion to a respected instructor and entrepreneur, sharing her deep knowledge and passion for martial arts. After culminating over a decade of representing Japan in numerous domestic and international competitions, Emiri Iwamoto achieved the world’s number one ranking in karate in 2017. Her decorated competitive career included multiple victories in the prestigious Karate1 Premier League, with first-place finishes in France (2015), Netherlands (2016), and Germany (2017). Earlier in her professional career, Emiri was accepted onto the All-Japan National team, where she honed her strategic approach and persistent training, also securing a memorable win at the Asian Championships while representing Japan.

Throughout her intensive competitive journey, Emiri balanced demanding training, sometimes up to 10 hours daily, with rigorous academic pursuits. She earned a Master’s in Sports Science Research from Waseda University, where she applied scientific principles to optimize her training methods. This academic rigor allowed her to refine her approach, reducing training sessions to 3-5 hours while maintaining and improving peak performance. Emiri officially retired from competitive karate in December 2023, transitioning her focus to instruction and entrepreneurship.

Through Tokyo Katete Tours LLC, Emiri aims to expand ‘martial arts tourism,’ offering unique cultural experiences centered around karate. She envisions establishing her own permanent dojo to provide both traditional karate and innovative karate fitness sessions. Emiri is committed to blending traditional principles with modern approaches, striving to make the sport accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience, with a particular focus on empowering women and fostering personal growth through the discipline of karate.