A Japanese karate master is expressing hope to resume exchanges between Ukrainian and Russian practitioners through the martial art.

Ozawa Takashi is a representative of the Zendokai Karate Association, which is based in central Japan's Nagano Prefecture.

The organization has been supporting nine people who fled Ukraine to Japan, including children who are learning karate, while also maintaining its branches in Russia.

Ozawa was invited to a competition in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk held on Friday in memory of a former representative of a Russian branch.

He delivered a speech in front of Russian participants, saying he hopes karate will unite people beyond the boundaries of nations, ideologies and beliefs.

The Zendokai association says it asked Russian karate athletes to refrain from taking part in a tournament held in Japan last year in consideration to Ukrainian participants. But the body plans to accept Russians this year, saying it believes sports and politics are separate issues.

Ozawa says he hopes to resume exchanges between branches in Russia and Ukraine in the future, and to see a path leading to peace as soon as possible.