Tekken 8 esports tournament for seniors crowns 92-year-old winner

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 17/12/2025

With button-mashing dexterity to rival many a younger player, 92-year-old Hisako Sakai has emerged victorious in a senior citizen Tekken 8 “Ami-go Club Cup” tournament.

The Japanese esports association “Care” hosts the biannual tournament as part of its mission to create an environment where the elderly can access the health-promoting benefits of competitive gaming. 

“No matter how old I get, I still want to win!” 

Tekken has long provided community-oriented competition around the world. In the words of fighting game streamer King Jae, “The fighting game spirit comes from the community that wants to express themselves and have fun.”

Now, Tekken 8 is continuing to foster flourishing community spirit in Japan, thanks to the esports organisation Care’s tournaments for senior citizens.

Care’s slogan is “No matter how old I get, I still want to win!”

92-year-old Hisako Sakai perfectly embodied this determination and spirit in her Tekken 8 competitive journey. 

Competitors had to qualify for the final rounds through regional qualifying tournaments in the Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures. The oldest competitor to qualify for the Ami-go Club Cup was 95-year-old Reiko Yokota, who chose to play the character Jun Kazama.

Overall, the age range of competitors spanned from 65 to 95.

However, it was Hisako Sakai who took the 12th Care Tekken 8 Ami-go Club Cup victory.

In the Grand Final, she enthusiastically declared, “I’m aiming for the trophy!” She went on to fulfil her goals, using Claudio Serafino to best an opponent 18 years her junior and emerge with a resounding win.

Her accomplishments were livestreamed on Care’s official YouTube channel.

What are the benefits of Tekken 8 for senior citizens?

Japan’s Ami-go Club Cup perfectly demonstrates the benefits of gaming for senior citizens. 

Even the sheer delight on Hisako Sakai’s face as she won round after round shows the wealth of positive experiences she accessed through the event.

Video games are well-suited for positive, community-based causes. They can increase social contact, encourage healthy competition between others, and give people the chance to maintain mental sharpness and physical dexterity in new, fun ways.

Practising button-mashing techniques alone helps with more regular fine-motor skill practice. Meanwhile, organised tournaments, qualifiers, and practice sessions give people exciting events to look forward to, improving mental wellbeing.

The first Ami-go Club Cup of 2025, held in July, also encapsulated these benefits. The July winner, 73-year-old Murabe, admitted that Tekken 8 is the first video game she has ever played and that it has encouraged her to try other games as well. 

She competed with a pink version of Panda, purely because it was her favourite animal. Thankfully, her favourite animal served her well, gaining her victory. 

The men will have to practice harder for Care’s 2026 tournaments, as fabulously determined ladies clutched both 2025 wins. 

Hannah Marie ZT, Senior Editor

Hannah is a journalist specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports, Apex Legends, and advocating for women's esports initiatives. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ALGS LANs, ESI London, EGX, and watch parties.

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