Türkiye Welcomes Guardian Girls Aikido in Istanbul
On January 20, 2025, Guardian Girls International (GGI) officially launched the Guardian Girls Aikido (GGA) project in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Istanbul and Turkish Aikikai Aikido. This event marked GGA's debut in the Middle East. Istanbul, Türkiye's largest city, is home to over 15 million people.
As part of the launch, the Consulate and GGI co-hosted the GGA Welcoming Reception at the Official Residence of Japanese Consul General Kenichi Kasahara. Distinguished guests included Mr. Kenichi Kasahara, Consul General of Japan in Istanbul; Mr. Shin Koyamada, Chairman of GGI; Ms. Nia Lyte, President of GGI; Dr. Pelin Alpkökin, Deputy Secretary General (Deputy Mayor) of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality; Ms. Florence Bauer, Regional Director of UNFPA's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office; Mr. Mustafa Aygün, President of Turkish Aikikai Aikido; and key executives from Aikido communities, Japanese corporations, and women's organizations. The event provided a valuable platform to introduce the GGA Türkiye project and foster collaborations to expand its reach across the country.
Earlier that day, GGI and Turkish Aikikai Aikido hosted a press conference at the five-star Swissôtel The Bosphorus in Istanbul to present the GGA Türkiye project to Turkish media. The event was broadcast nationwide by NOW TV, a popular Turkish free-to-air channel. Mr. Shin Koyamada, Ms. Nia Lyte, and Mr. Mustafa Aygün delivered speeches highlighting the project's mission to empower women and combat violence through self-defense training.
