Japanese – Filipino earns gold for the Philippines in SEA Games

An 18-year-old Japanese-Filipino, born and raised in Cebu, gave the Philippines its sixth gold in the 28th Southeast Asian Games.

Kiyomi Watanabe retained her Asian Junior Champion crown in judo after defeating Senatham Orapin of Thailand last June 7.

Her Cebuana mother, Irene Sarausad Watanabe, said Kiyomi initially kept her judo training a secret. She and husband Shigeru were shocked to learn about their daughter’s judo expertise when they were invited to her first tournament in Japan in 2006.

Read more about Kiyomi’s passion and self-discipline in Cebu Daily News on Sunday, July 12.

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