A Record of One Man’s Love, Passion, and Lifelong Dedication to Myanmar’s Ancient Art of Bare-Knuckle Fighting
Based on original testimonies by Takuya Takamori, coordinator of the Myanmar-Japan Lethwei goodwill tournaments (2004–2017) and identifier of the Bagan Lethwei murals (2005).
Myanmar VS Japan 2005
The 2004 Myanmar vs. Japan tournament in Yangon was not the end of a journey; it was the beginning of a new chapter. The event had proven that Japanese fighters were willing to step into the unknown world of Lethwei, and it had revealed the skill and toughness of Myanmar’s fighters to a Japanese audience.
For Mr. Yoshinori Nishi of Wajutsu Keishukai, the experience was particularly influential. After his two fighters suffered defeats in Yangon, the result became a catalyst for him to bring Lethwei to Japanese soil by inviting Myanmar fighters to compete in Japan.
Once again, Takuya Takamori took on the role he had played throughout the previous seven years, not as a promoter or businessman, but as the bridge connecting the two countries. He acted as the coordinator and liaison between the Japanese and Myanmar sides, continuing his collaboration with Win Zin Oo and Mr. Nishi to make the exchange possible.
On September 11, 2005, at Nagasaki Peace Hall in Nagasaki Prefecture, the first Lethwei matches involving Myanmar fighters were held in Japan as part of the International Martial Arts Tournament, Kushima’s Fight 10. For many Japanese spectators, it was their first opportunity to witness authentic Myanmar Lethwei fighters competing live.
The Myanmar team was represented by two fighters: Saw Zwe Lay and Lone Chaw. Both of them would become recognized figures in the early internationalization of Lethwei. Their opponents came from Wajutsu Keishukai, the very organization that had participated in the 2004 exchange in Yangon.
The first contest saw Saw Zwe Lay face Seiji Wakasugi of Wajutsu Keishukai Fukuoka. The bout ended in a draw, showcasing the competitiveness of the Myanmar and Japanese fighters.
The second match left an even stronger impression. Lone Chaw fought Hiroshi Imamura of Wajutsu Keishukai Headquarters and secured a dramatic victory by first-round knockout. It was a powerful demonstration of the intensity that had made Lethwei famous in Myanmar, and it further established the reputation of Myanmar fighters in Japan.
The Nagasaki event became the first step in a continuing series of Myanmar–Japan Lethwei exchanges. It was followed by further tournaments in Tokyo in 2006 and 2007, additional international team competitions in Myanmar in 2009, 2011, and 2013, and later events in both countries. Through all of these efforts, Takamori continued to work behind the scenes as the person connecting fighters, organizations, and cultures.
What began as the defeat in Yangon transformed into a lasting relationship between Japanese combat sports practitioners and Myanmar Lethwei fighters.
For Takamori, it was another realization of the dream he had carried since first witnessing Lethwei in Hinthada in 1997: to allow the beauty and spirit of this Myanmar’s traditional martial art to be seen beyond its borders.
Continued in Part 5.
