A major international partnership in Kolkata is positioning sports, especially karate, as a gateway to international career opportunities at a time when youth unemployment in India is still a problem. The All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation’s initiative, in collaboration with the Japan Education Center and Information Foundation, is gaining recognition for its ability to connect martial arts training with internships, job exposure, and international mobility.

The lack of suitable local job opportunities is still a major issue as young professionals from West Bengal are increasingly moving to cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Noida in search of better opportunities. Industry observers point out that many young people struggle to access structured career pathways within the state, despite their education and skills, which makes such international collaborations more pertinent.

Over 400 karate students from all over West Bengal attended the workshop, demonstrating a robust grassroots response to the initiative. In front of Japanese experts, diplomats, senior karate masters, and business professionals, students from the Indian Federation demonstrated a variety of advanced karate and martial arts techniques. The demonstrations showcased Indian athletes’ increasing capacity to compete and work together on a global scale, in addition to their technical prowess.

Under the direction of Japanese and Indian professionals, this project seeks to give young people direct exposure to Japanese businesses as well as chances for internships and skill-based jobs. Through sports diplomacy, Kazunari Matsumoto, Vice Chairman of the Japan Karatedo Rengokai, contributes to strengthening the Indo-Japan relationship.

Notably, the organization is working with Hanshi Premjit Sen and his federation to expand its focus to West Bengal after previously implementing similar programs in states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, and Assam. Eighth Dan Black Belt Hanshi Premjit Sen is an internationally certified referee who is affiliated with both the Asian Karate Federation and the World Karate Federation.

Initiatives like this, according to experts, have the potential to change people’s perceptions of sports and turn karate into a viable, aspirational career path while addressing more significant issues like employability and youth migration in the state.

Priyanka Dutta