Latest news with #Tekken8
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Japan's newest esports champ? A panda-loving grandma
Published on: Sunday, July 20, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 20, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: TOKYO: When 73-year-old Yoshie Murabe ( pic ) 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. Advertisement 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.' - Malay Mail * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
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
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Tekken 8 tournament sees senior citizens compete in Care Esports' inclusive gaming event in Japan
A unique esports event in Japan has highlighted the growing inclusivity of competitive gaming. Organised by Care Esports, a tournament featuring senior citizens aged between 60 and 93 saw participants face off in Tekken 8 for the title of King of the Iron Fist. Held as part of Care Esports' annual tradition of selecting a new game each year, the 2025 tournament brought full-scale production elements, including live commentary and player profiles. Each profile showcased the participant's chosen character, creating an authentic esports atmosphere. Though Tekken is known for its complexity, the tournament demonstrated how accessible the game can be for new players. The simplicity of its control layout, with each button representing a character limb, allowed many first-time players to quickly learn the basics and even execute combos. The final match was closely contested between Sadayuki, a King main who displayed advanced mechanics like throw breaks and air grabs, and Yoshie, who used Panda's low attacks to pull off a reverse sweep win. All players were interviewed post-match and received trophies for their performances. Although none of the competitors are expected to appear on the Evo stage, their efforts reinforced the idea that gaming is a platform open to all ages and skill levels.
Sharjah 24
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Media City concludes esports tournament successfully
FIFA 25 kicks off tournament with over 300 participants The tournament began on Saturday, 28 June, with strong competition in the FIFA 25 game. More than 300 players took part in the event's two main categories: the 2v2 tournament with a prize of AED 40,000, and the 1v1 tournament with a prize of AED 20,000. Tekken 8 lights up the second day On Sunday, 29 June, excitement continued with the Tekken 8 competition, which drew a dedicated fanbase and top-level players. The event featured impressive performances and high-level play, captivating both the in-person audience and online viewers. Strong attendance and professional organisation The tournament attracted a large audience on site and via live streaming, accompanied by extensive coverage across social media and local media outlets. The event was noted for its professional organisation and interactive environment, reflecting the growing prominence of esports in the UAE. Shams highlights commitment to digital talent Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of Content and Innovation at Sharjah Media City (Shams), praised the event's success, stating: 'At Shams, we believe in supporting digital talent and the gaming industry. We strive to create an enabling environment for creators in this growing sector. This tournament is part of a series of events aimed at empowering youth and boosting Sharjah's digital and creative economy.' Winners crowned in high-stakes finals At the close of the tournament, the winners were honoured. In the FIFA 25 2v2 tournament, ' Ra'ad' team from Egypt took first place after an outstanding group performance and strong tactical play. In the 1v1 category, Ahmed Hassan Ali claimed the title after a series of intense matches. Meanwhile, player Moaz won the Tekken 8 title, impressing the crowd with his skills and quick reflexes. AED 100,000 in prizes supports youth and creativity The total prize pool reached AED 100,000, underlining Shams' commitment to encouraging young talent and supporting the local esports sector. The tournament reinforces Shams' growing role in establishing Sharjah as a regional hub for innovation and digital creativity, and as a key contributor to the UAE's creative economy.
