Honorary Members

In 1980, Tamiko Okoshi competed in the first World Championships in Seattle, USA, where placed 6th in the women’s senior division. After her career as an athlete, she served as a judge for many years. Since 1996, Tamiko has developed many athletes into world-class athletes and sent them to world championships. Yumi Iijima and Tomoe Nishigaki are the rare athletes who have won gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions. Mai Amemiya, Hirono Ieno, Manae Suzuki, Yoshimaru Shirakawa, Naomi Nishigaki, Mizuho Utsugi, and Honon Takahashi have competed at the World Championships and medalists in individual events. Tamiko has served as a judge representative in Japan, a technical advisor, and an ETC for the WBTF. Japan’s current position in the world of baton twirling would not be possible without her diverse contributions to the WBTF.