Latest news with #CareeSportsAssociation
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
She chose Panda — and won: First-time gamer, 73, steals the show in Japan's ‘Tekken 8' tournament (VIDEO)
TOKYO, July 19 — When 73-year-old Yoshie Murabe picked Panda as her fighter in a national Tekken 8 tournament, her reason was simple: she just likes pandas. What followed was far from simple — Murabe, a grandmother with zero gaming experience, powered through the competition to become Japan's newest esports champion. Murabe won hearts and headlines after clinching the top spot at the Amigo Club Cup Tekken 8 Finals, a tournament featuring players aged 60 to 90 from care homes across Japan. Hosted by the Care e-Sports Association, the event was livestreamed and quickly went viral, drawing praise from game streamers, voice actors and viewers nationwide. 'I was happy to win,' Murabe told Tokyo Weekender following her unexpected victory. Asked if anything about the experience was difficult, she replied without hesitation: 'There wasn't anything in particular I found difficult.' During her matches, her mind was clear: 'My only thought was to win.' The event marked a bold step for the Care e-Sports Association, which began in 2019 by hosting tournaments for traditional games like Shogi and Othello. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the group began exploring more modern titles, and this year introduced Tekken 8 to its roster. That move was driven in part by Shinpei Hama, the association's PR rep and a professional Tekken 8 player with Rox3Gaming. 'Some of the participants are living with dementia, but many really enjoyed the game,' Hama told Tokyo Weekender. '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.' Murabe was among them. Participants were given a month to prepare, and some dove deep — one even clocked in 60 matches in a single night. For Murabe, the experience of picking up a controller for the first time — and finding joy and success — was transformational. 'The response was bigger than anything we've done before,' said Hama. And it wasn't just about gameplay. Many seniors found emotional engagement, focus and confidence through gaming — even those living with cognitive decline. Murabe's story has become the face of a growing movement. As a grandmother competing in a world typically dominated by younger generations, she's proving that age is no barrier to having fun — or winning big. Hama hopes to expand the programme to include other accessible games like GeoGuessr, while continuing to host both modern and traditional tournaments. 'We've realised seniors are better at video games than we assumed,' he said. 'We want to try something that really breaks the mould.'
Tokyo Weekender
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
73-Year-Old Grandma Wins Tekken 8 Tournament as Panda
A fierce 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. Related Posts Middle-Aged Man Trading Cards Go Viral in Rural Japan Town Nike Collaborates With Tekken To Produce a Shoe Befitting a Main Protagonist Kick Back With Some Cocktails at This Tekken 8 Bar in Kyoto
