73-Year-Old Grandma Wins Tekken 8 Tournament as Panda
Tekken 8
tournament featuring players aged between 60 and 90 is gaining attention across Japan, and reshaping what many thought possible for senior citizens in gaming. The event, hosted by the
Care e-Sports Association
, brought together elderly residents from multiple care homes to compete online in one of the world's most fast-paced fighting games.
What began as a small initiative to engage seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic has now evolved into a full-fledged movement, challenging assumptions about aging, digital literacy and the scope of competitive gaming.
List of Contents:
From Shogi to Tekken
More Than a Game
A New Vision of Aging
Related Posts
From Shogi to Tekken
Founded in 2019, the Care eSports Association initially organized events centered around classic games such as Shogi and Othello. Five years later, it took a bold step: introducing
Tekken 8
to its lineup. The decision was driven in part by the association's PR representative, Shinpei Hama, who also competes professionally in
Tekken 8
as part of the
Rox3Gaming
team.
'Some of the participants are living with dementia, but many really enjoyed the game,' said Hama in an
interview with Game Spark
. 'As they chose characters, they seemed to get more attached to them. Some players practiced with passion, saying they wanted to win at least once. They had about a month to practice before the event, and a few of them stayed up late into the night, playing about 60 games.'
The livestreamed
Amigo Club Cup Tekken 8 Finals
racked up significant viewership online. 'The response was bigger than anything we've done before,' said Hama. 'Even voice actors and game streamers reached out with praise.'
More Than a Game
Beyond entertainment, the tournament sparked deep emotional engagement. Some participants were living with cognitive decline, and were able to find joy, attachment and drive through the game.
Champion Yoshie Murabe, who had never played video games before, chose Panda as her fighter simply because she likes pandas.
Asked by Game Spark about her feelings after the tournament, she said, 'I was happy to win.' While practicing, she said she got the hang of the game quite easily, adding that there wasn't anything in particular she 'found difficult.' During the game, Murabe's only thoughts were to win, and she looks forward to competing in upcoming tournaments beyond
Tekken 8
.
A New Vision of Aging
The success of the
Tekken 8
tournament could open new doors for the elderly. Hama hopes to explore more accessible titles, such as
GeoGuessr
, in future events. 'We've realized seniors are better at video games than we assumed,' he said. 'We still plan to host traditional games like Shogi, but we also want to try something that really breaks the mold.'
The tournament didn't just showcase the digital skills of the older generation, it proved that competitive spirit and emotional engagement don't fade with age. The Care eSports Association is turning gaming into a meaningful, intergenerational bridge and the players are ready for that.
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Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Junichi Masuda: PokéPark KANTO, Where Pokémon Are Always There; Tokyo Facility May Evolve After Opening in Spring 2026
'PokéPark KANTO,' an outdoor facility centered on the Pokémon franchise, will open in spring 2026 within the Yomiuriland amusement park that straddles Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki. In an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, Junichi Masuda, chief creative fellow at The Pokémon Company, who is leading the development of PokéPark KANTO, spoke about the facility and its main Yomiuri Shimbun: What inspired you to create PokéPark KANTO? Junichi Masuda: Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Pokémon video games, 'Pokémon Red' and 'Pokémon Green' (the latter sold as 'Pokémon Blue' overseas). Based on the original video games, the series has grown into a major franchise including anime and card games, creating a growing global fanbase. Whenever I've met fans at events in Japan and abroad, I've felt that it was wonderful how people were connected through Pokémon. As creators, ever since we made the first games, we have always valued communication through Pokémon. We wanted people to meet each other, trade Pokémon and become friends. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were unable to meet each other, and Pokémon events were almost completely canceled. At that time, I wanted to create a place where people could always gather. I wanted a space where people and Pokémon could enjoy themselves together. When I thought about how I could repay the fans who have loved Pokémon for 30 years, I thought, 'It would be fun to have a place where Pokémon are always there.'Yomiuri: Tell us about PokéPark KANTO Masuda: It consists of two areas: 'Pokémon Forest' and 'Sedge Town.' In the games, you travel through forests filled with wild Pokémon, so there's a real sense of relief when you finally arrive in a town and the atmosphere changes to one of safety. I think you'll get that exact feeling here. Pokémon Forest is a lush forest where Pokémon live. There are many Berries, attracting many Pokémon. As you walk through the forest, you will encounter many Pokémon, most of which are wild. We hope visitors will enjoy the adventure of feeling like Pokémon Trainers. Sedge Town is centered around Pokémon Trainers' Market where you can enjoy shopping for many kinds of merchandise. We want visitors to have fun like it's a festival, so we're planning a parade and greetings with Pokémon. There are two other attractions, which we also hope they'll also created a Pokémon Center, Poké Mart and Gym [modeled on those] that appear in the games. I was impressed when I saw the Pokémon Center. Yomiuri: What aspects did you focus on? Masuda: We deliberately separated this project from digital [technology] and focused on the idea of 'a world where Pokémon exist' and 'can be touched.' In Pokémon GO, when you hold up your smartphone, it looks like there are Pokémon in the real world. But when you reach out, they're not there. I thought that having Pokémon that are really there and that you can touch is something we haven't done before, so I wanted to give it a reason for choosing an outdoor setting is that wild Pokémon live in forests and other natural environments. They fly through the sky and move around freely. [In the forest,] you can feel the wind blowing and smell flowers, and Pokémon are there too. I thought that being in nature is very important for living creatures. We are pursuing the appeal of the outdoors. Yomiuri: What points would you like visitors to pay particular attention to? Masuda: Pokémon are living creatures, so just like humans, each one has its own unique character. There are over 600 Pokémon in PokéPark KANTO, and we have created a story for each and every one of them. For example, if it's shy, it might be looking downward a little. We want [visitors] to pay attention to what each Pokémon is looking at, where its gaze is mannerisms are all different too. If two are standing side by side, they might be friends. If they have their backs turned to each other, they might be fighting. I hope visitors will talk about it with their friends and let their imaginations run wild. We hope that visitors will enjoy this facility in a way that is different from previous Pokémon experiences. Yomiuri: What is your message for children? I think that children today don't have many opportunities to play in the woods or touch the soil. In the woods, their feet may get dirty, but I want children to enjoy that. Some Pokémon are so big that visitors have to look up at them, so I want the visitors to compare the size of Pokémon to their own body. There are also Pokémon that visitors can ride on. Yomiuri: What future plans are there for PokéPark KANTO?Masuda: PokéPark KANTO will not be complete when it opens. The Pokémon available at the facility may change depending on the weather or season, and some may even evolve in the future. Since they are living things, they are not always the same. I think that some parts of the facility may change little by little over the years. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to fans around the world who have continued to support Pokémon. I am truly grateful that we were able to create this facility to coincide with our 30th anniversary. I hope that visitors will find their favorite Pokémon and think, 'I'll come back to see them again.'Junichi Masuda Masuda was born in 1968 and is originally from Yokohama, Japan. As a founding member of GAME FREAK inc., he is one of the original authors of the Pokémon video game series. Masuda has been involved as a director, producer and video game composer for the Pokémon video game series since 1989. He has been in his current position since 2022. ©2025 Pokémon. ©1995-2025 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.
5 days ago
Yoichi Shibuya, Founder of 'Rockin'on' Magazine, Dies at 74
Tokyo, July 22 (Jiji Press)--Prominent Japanese music critic Yoichi Shibuya, who launched Western music magazine "rockin'on" more than 50 years ago, died of aspiration pneumonia at the age of 74 on July 14, the Rockin'on group said on its website Tuesday. He played a key role in popularizing rock music in Japan through his activities as critic and music event promoter. Shibuya was leader of the Rockin'on group, which oversees music event promotion and publishing. Born in Tokyo, Shibuya began his music critic career in 1971, when he was 19. The following year, he launched rockin'on, which became a long-running magazine focusing on Western rock music. In 1986, he launched "Rockin'on Japan," a sister magazine featuring Japanese rock. In 2000, he founded the Rock in Japan Festival, one of the largest music events in the country. The summer festival has been held every year except in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also a popular radio disc jockey, serving as host of programs including "Sound Street" of Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Japan Today
18-07-2025
- Japan Today
North Korean defectors make debut in new K-pop boy band
Members of K-pop boy band 1VERSE, including Hyuk and Seok who defected from North Korea, as well as Aito, Nathan and Kenny, perform their new single in front of a camera in Seoul, South Korea, May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon By Hyun Young Yi and Hyunsu Yim A new K-pop boy band made their global debut on Friday with two members who defected from North Korea and an album that includes a song about the consequences of escaping one of the world's most repressive states. 1VERSE, pronounced "universe", is made up of five men in their 20s from North Korea, Japan and the United States, who go by their first names, Hyuk, Seok, Aito, Nathan, and Kenny. At midnight, the group performed a live-streamed showcase of their first EP "The 1st Verse" featuring three tracks, including the debut single "Shattered". A video to accompany the song will drop later on Friday. Recorded earlier this year, it shows the group sporting make-up and slick hairstyles, dancing against a stroboscopic background. Yu Hyuk, originally from the northeastern county of Kyongsong in North Korea, has been living in South Korea since 2013. As well as enjoying the freedom to show off his talent to the world, the 25-year-old also appreciates being able to eat three meals a day. In North Korea, he started work at the age of nine and said he was sometimes forced into desperate measures to get food, eating spoiled rice or worse, and resorting to theft. "After I was caught stealing, I was beaten hard until I was bleeding. I was really hungry and instinctively I was thinking about survival," he told Reuters at the group's studio in the South Korean capital. North Korea has stepped up control over people's lives since the COVID-19 pandemic when all borders were sealed, and abuses such as executions, forced labour and reports of starvation continue, a U.N. official investigating rights in the isolated state told Reuters last month. Hyuk escaped North Korea as a child - fleeing to China and then across other international borders with the help of a broker arranged by his mother, who was already in South Korea. While he is happy with his new life, he recalls that it was a wrench to leave his home. "I was hungry and tired, but I was happy surrounded by the people I like which made it tougher for me to want to come here at first," he said. The song "Shattered" encapsulates his feelings when he learned about the death of his father in North Korea, he said. Kim Seok, the other North Korean defector in the group and also 25, used to live in a border town near China. He was exposed to K-pop by a friend who shared music videos on a portable media player, including Psy's 2012 smash "Gangnam Style". Seok escaped with his father and grandmother when he was 20 years old. Recent reports have suggested that Pyongyang is stepping up its crackdown on the consumption of South Korean culture, including a case where teenagers were sentenced to hard labour for watching K-pop, as well as suppressing South Korean speaking styles. Michelle Cho, producer and CEO of 1VERSE's label Singing Beetle, said she wanted to create a more authentic group in an industry often seen as picture-perfect. "Who doesn't love the story of someone from a humble background chasing their dreams, especially K-pop," she said. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the bandmates said they had plenty in common. "I mean isn't it fun? Like our group is just a unique type of global," said Kenny, who is Chinese American. While the group has drawn attention for having North Korean defectors, Hyuk hopes they will be judged by the quality of their work. "I want to become an idol that brings energy and the message that cheers up many people, that they aren't alone and there are even people like me." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
