At the age of 92, Hisako Sakai made history when she claimed first place in a Tekken 8 tournament exclusively for players aged 65 and over, becoming one of the oldest esports champions ever. At the age of 92, Sakai defeated her opponents with composure and led Claudio Serafino through the competition. Demonstrates the gameplay Care Esports designed to celebrate gaming among Japan’s older population.
The world’s oldest Tekken Champion is 92, and she’s just getting started
The Care Esports Founded in 2019 during Japan’s pandemic lockdowns, Association has evolved from hosting relaxing board games like Shogi and Othello to facilitating competitive tournaments that attract seniors from three prefectures: Mie, Aichi and Gifu. The 12th biennial event hosted eight competitors ranging in age from 67 to 95, with Sakai distinguishing himself from defending champion Yoshie Murabe, a 73-year-old who had won the previous tournament.
Sakai’s path to victory was calculated. Before the tournament, she publicly announced her intention to win the trophy, and she backed those words up with action, eliminating competitors in the semi-finals and securing the title in the final competition.
Sakai’s performance reflects previous tournaments that attracted international attention. At the 11th edition of the Care Esports competition in the summer of 2025, Murabe won with her signature pink Panda character, defeating Sadayuki Kato in a best-of-three final that drew viewership that far exceeded expectations. Kato, a 73-year-old King chief, admitted nervousness during the broadcast, while Murabe expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate.
The organization’s official mission emphasizes the use of esports as “a health-promoting sport that helps seniors lead vibrant, healthy, and active lives” while creating accessible gaming environments for older adults.
Remarkably, fighting games like Tekken share cultural ancestry with professional martial arts; titles from the arcade era helped create organizations like K-1, PRIDE, Pancrase, and eventually the UFC. For seniors in Care Esports tournaments, Tekken provided the same frame of reference: two competitors, clear rules and mutual competition.
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