2015.09.02
On August 9, 2015, Nozomi Hamano, a second-year student, won the University Representative Division at the 22nd All Japan University Karuta Championship held at Omi Jingu Kangakukan in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, becoming the university champion of Japan. The All Japan University Karuta Championship is held over two days and consists of team and individual competitions. The individual competition is divided into a total of five divisions: one for each of the first through fourth-year students, and the University Representative Division. The University Representative Division is a tournament where one representative from each university competes for supremacy; this year, 58 universities participated. This is the first time in the 22-year history of the championship that a student from Keio University has won the University Representative Division, a remarkable achievement.
A Comment from Nozomi Hamano
First of all, I am extremely happy to have achieved the brilliant result of becoming the university champion of Japan. I am also very honored to have made my mark on history, however small, by achieving the first-ever victory for Keio University in the University Representative Division. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has practiced karuta with me. I will continue to take pride in being a Keio student and devote myself to further engraving the name of Keio University into the history of karuta.