Mel Castillon wins the Fighting Spirit Award at the 1st Asia-Oceania Kendo Championship in Tokyo, Japan

From Left to Right: Anudari Munkhbayar (MGL), Mel Castillon (PHI), Su Hee Cho (AUS), Chia-Ying Liu (TPE). Photo from All-Japan Kendo Federation

Fresh off the floors of the Tokyo Budokan in Japan: Team Philippines, together with over 20 countries, competed at the inaugural 1st Asia-Oceania Kendo Championships (AOKC) held May 30–31, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.

Among the weekend’s historic milestones, Metro Kendo Club is bursting with pride to celebrate our very own Melduen Castillon, who was honored with the prestigious Fighting Spirit Award (Kantō-shō) for her exceptional performance in the Women's Individual - 3Dan and Under Category.

Photos from All-Japan Kendo Federation:

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Philippine Delegation

The 2026 AOKC Philippine Team Delegation

Huge congratulations to the entire national team delegation who carried the flag with utmost honor:

Women's Team

• Melduen Castillon (Metro Kendo Club) - Fighting Spirit Awardee

• Xylia Alzate (Davao Kendo Club)

• Janelle Dacumos (Metro Kendo Club)

• Arlene Maurillo (Davao Kendo Club)

• Czarina Miñoza (Davao Kendo Club)

• Fin Villa-Abrille  (Cebu Kendo Club)

• Diane Virgula (Tiger Kendo Club)

• Suji Yu (Davao Yushinkai)

  
  

Men's Team

• Sebastian Bangoy (Davao Kendo Club)

• Marco Cainglet (Davao Kendo Club)

• Robert Carabuena (Davao Yushinkai)

• Yuta Inoue (Metro Kendo Club)

• Paul Miñoza (Cebu Kendo Club)

• Ian Navarro (Metro Kendo Club)

  
  

Delegation Managers & Coaches

• Tomoyuki Akita-sensei

• Yuta Esaki-sensei

• Masamichi Itoh-sensei

• Keitai Shingaki-sensei

• Andre Brillantes-sensei