The Shoto Cup, a triennial international karate competition, will be held in Japan this fall from October 17 to 19. The competition hosts two different divisions: one for juniors and one for adults. Two sisters from the high school, junior Akane Wakai and freshman Moe Wakai, will be representing the United States in the juniors division.

“It’s ironic because I’m Japanese and representing America, and I’m going to Japan to fight against Japan,” Akane Wakai said. “But since I’ve been training here, I think it’s right for me to represent this country; I feel more part of the U.S. team than the Japan team. I love this country and I think it’s an honor to be able to represent the U.S.”

Moe Wakai said that, unlike her sister who was enthusiastic about participating in the competition from the start, she was initially unwilling.

“I didn’t want to get hurt!” she said. “But my parents and all the others convinced me to go, so I’m going, I guess.”

The sisters were chosen to take part in the competition based on recommendations from their instructor, Eiji Toryu, at their dojo, the Japan Karate Association of Boston. How they became chosen, however, differs from how competitors would be chosen in Japan. While there are only a handful of teenagers who practice karate competitively in America, it is much more popular in Japan. Therefore, Japan holds elimination competitions, according to Toryu.

Akane Wakai said she is concerned about the level of competitiveness at the Shoto Cup. She said that she anticipates going up against karatekas of a caliber she has never been exposed to.

“My goal is to do my best, obviously,” she said. “It’s interesting, though, because I’m one of the only high school students in America who trains in karate, so I don’t really have anyone to compare myself to right now.”

Despite her nervousness, Akane Wakai said that she knows that she and her sister will support each other through the whole process, as was the case during a tournament held in Connecticut during April vacation.

“I placed second, and I was really overwhelmed with so many different emotions like honor, pride, surprise, appreciation and happiness that I broke down in tears, and she was there for me the entire time,” she said. “I feel genuinely comfortable in her company, and I’m sure the same goes for Moe, and training has helped develop that kind of trust between us.”

Moe Wakai said that training with her sister motivates her to work harder.

“Because my sister is way better than me, I feel as though I am always being compared to her,” she said. “But that pressure also makes me improve and work hard every time I train in order for me to be better than my sister.”

Akane Wakai started karate three years ago, and convinced her sister to try it about two months later. Currently, they practice five to six days a week for one to two hours.

In addition to their bond, karate has brought the entire family closer, according to the sisters. Everyone in their family practices karate, they said.

“We talk about it all the time at the dinner table,” Moe Wakai said. “It creates a greater connection with my family, and it’s fun to talk about something we have in common, especially with my parents whom I don’t get to do things with too much.”

Their father, Yutaka Wakai, also said that karate has brought their family closer.

“We always enjoy talking about our performance, and new techniques,” he said. “It’s neat to have a common hobby that makes more communication.”

They also have their family at the dojo. Yutaka Wakai said that all the members of the dojo are like their family.

“We are all united under the same goal to perfect our karate skills,” he said. “Karate unites all the people who respect others, make effort and try to enjoy the dojo.”

These connections make the sisters enthusiastic about representing the United States in the Shoto Cup even though they are citizens of Japan and not the United States.

“For me, karate doesn’t connect to Japan, but instead connects to Boston and all the people I know at the dojo,” Moe Wakai said.

According to Yutaka Wakai, neither are the sisters’ parents bothered by their daughters representing the United States.

“Even though we are from Japan, it is a great honor to become a team member to represent the country we live in,” he said. “Karate is neither a sport nor fighting, but self-defense—and the way to achieve strength is through perfecting personal character and respecting others. In this manner, members are proud that they are selected not only for their performance, but also their personality and loyalty. Nationality does not matter for us, for it is always the matter of personality.”

JK Suh can be contacted at [email protected].