TEAM CANADA

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20th WKC | May 27-30 2027 | Tokyo, Japan

Countdown to the World Kendo Championships

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2024 National Team Program [Completed]

A New Chapter of Excellence

The 19th World Kendo Championships in Milan marked a defining moment for Canadian kendo. Over four thrilling days of competition, our national team proudly stood among the world’s best, showcasing the strength, skill, and heart of Canadian athletes. With three Fighting Spirit awards and both men’s and women’s teams advancing to the quarter-finals, our delegation made an indelible mark. Highlights included Betty Park’s top-eight finish in both individual and team events, and exceptional performances by Juah Paik and Kunhee Shawn Kim, each earning Fighting Spirit honours. These achievements are a reflection of the team’s relentless perseverance, unity, and the unwavering support of the Canadian kendo community.

As we celebrate these milestones, we also look forward with renewed purpose. The narrow misses—just shy of the podium—have only strengthened our resolve. For many on the team, Milan was their first World Championships, and their remarkable showing signals a bright future. With continued investment in athlete development, refereeing standards, and community support, Canada is poised to rise even higher on the world stage. United by passion and driven by excellence, we thank everyone who contributed to this unforgettable journey and look ahead with determination to the next chapter of Canadian kendo.


To follow the journey of the team through the eyes of the team members, follow TeamCanadaKendo on Instgram.

Women's Team

Captain: Betty Park (Renbu Dojo, BC)
Assistant Captain: Kianna Darbyshire (Vancouver Kendo Club, BC)

Natasha Fracassi (Shidokan Kendo Club, QC)
Shannon Hiyori Kwok (Renbu Dojo, BC)
Yuka Lee (Renbu Dojo, BC)
Yura Schlegel (Renbu Dojo, BC)
Tiffany Huang (UBC Kendo Club, BC)
Juah Paik (Renbu Dojo, BC)

 

Men's Team

Captain: Kunhee Kim (North York Kendo Club, ON)
Assistant Captain: Rogerio Asato (Vancouver Kendo Club, BC)

Hyoung Joon Kim (Renshin Kendo Club, ON)
Eiji Kita (Renbu Dojo, BC)
Shingo Nicholls (Youshinkan Dojo, BC)
Shion Miyashita (Sturgeon Kendo Club, AB)

 

2024 Team Canada Management

General Manager: David Westhead

Head Coach: Dean Ara

Assistant Coach (Men's): Shigemitsu Kamata
Assistant Coach (Women's): Juneko Kurahashi
Associate Coach (Ontario): Ryo Yasumura
Associate Coach (Prairies): Kyle Lee
Associate Coach (Quebec and East): Kenji Toida
Special Assistant Coach: Daiki Kiwada

Event information: 19th WKC in Milan Italy

Team Canada Prospects at JCCC Tournament

Thank you for all your support!

When the National Team reached out for support, you stepped up with heart and purpose!

Thanks to your incredible generosity, over $40,000 was raised to fuel the team's training and travel efforts. Every one of our coaches is a volunteer, and each athlete is an amateur—balancing school, work, and rigorous training to represent Canada at the highest level. While the Canadian Kendo Federation provides a core budget for coaching travel, facility rentals, and training camps, your donations directly offset the additional costs that would otherwise fall on the players themselves. Your support lightens their burden and inspires them to be their best—thank you for being an essential part of Team Canada's journey.

Give to Team Canada

The Canadian Kendo Federation is a federally registered not-for-profit sports organization (Federal BN: 133424457RR0001). All donors will receive a tax deductible receipt and all funds will go directly to the current team.

Kendo Team Canada

The Canadian Kendo Federation manages and sponsors the development of amateur athletes across Canada under the Team Canada program. Team Canada consists of a Men’s Team and Women’s Team, who train towards the World Kendo Championships (WKC) hosted every three years.

The 2027 Kendo Team Canada selection process is underway. The team will compete at the 20th WKC to be held May 27-30, 2027 in Tokyo, Japan. Final team members will be announced in Winter 2026, following the final selection process.

Event information: Coming Soon

Photo courtesy of Kendo Photography

Men's Team Canada at International Training Camp -December 2023

Team Canada Support

Kendo is practiced throughout the world, with 56 countries participating in the most recent 17th WKC in 2018. Canada enjoys a very high profile within the global Kendo community with an impressive record of two 2nd place finishes and nine 3rd place finishes at the WKC— most recently the Women’s Team placing third in 2018. Only teams from Japan, Korea, Brasil, Canada, and USA have placed in the top 2 over the 40-year history of the Championships.

Despite these international successes, Kendo in Canada remains strictly an amateur sport. The CKF Board of Directors, referees, instructors, and coaches even at the highest levels devote their time and resources on a volunteer basis. Athletes work regular full-time jobs or are students trying to complete degrees while competing internationally. Much of the funding provided by the CKF goes towards training, while expenses to attend the Championships is self-funded.

The CKF welcomes corporate and individual sponsorship through financial support, facility use, equipment, team wear, travel, and training expenses.  Please contact [email protected] to learn how you can help, or make an on-line donation here.

Give to Team Canada

The Canadian Kendo Federation is a federally registered not-for-profit sports organization (Federal BN: 133424457RR0001). All donors will receive a tax deductible receipt and all funds will go directly to the current team.

Team Canada Prospects and Development Program

The selection process for the 2027 Team Canada Program is underway. All inquires should be directed to Team Manager, David Westhead.

Planning for Team Canada and prospects selection for Team Canada begins two years before the next WKC. Prospects for Team Canada must hold a Canadian Passport and be a CKF member in good standing. A call for prospects is distributed by the CKF to all active members upon selection of Team Canada Management.

Any new prospects should speak to a CKF Director or current Team Canada Management to learn more about the Team Canada Program.

Team Canada History

The first World Kendo Championships (WKC) were hosted in Japan in 1970 and is held every three years in locations around the world. Canada had the honour of hosting the 8th WKC in Toronto in 1991. Canadian teams have had great success throughout the 40 years of the championships, with 2nd and 3rd place finishes over the years.

Year Championships Hosting Country Category Medal Finish
1973 2nd WKC San Francisco, USA Canada Men’s Team 2nd Place
1976 3rd WKC Milton Keynes, Great Britain Canada Men’s Team 2nd Place
1985 6th WKC Paris, France Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1988 7th WKC Seoul, South Korea Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1991 8th WKC Toronto, Ontario Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1994 9th WKC Paris, France Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1997 10th WKC* Kyoto, Japan Wendy Nakano, Women’s Individual 3rd Place
2000 11th WKC Santa Clara, USA Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
2000 11th WKC Santa Clara, USA Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
2003 12th WKC Glasgow, Great Britain Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
2006 13th WKC Taipei, Taiwan Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
2018 17th WKC Incheon, Korea Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
*Women’s Individual and Team matches started in 1997 at the 10th WKC.
17th WKC Women's Kendo 3rd Place

 2018 Team Canada – Women’s Team 3rd Place at the 17th World Kendo Championships in Seoul Korea

 

1991 Team Canada WKC in Toronto

1991 Team Canada – 8th World Kendo Championships in Toronto, Canada

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