ɪn tˈʊɹnəmənts sˈæŋkʃənd baɪ ðə dʒəpˈæn kɚɹˈɑːɾi ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən dʒˌeɪkˌeɪˈeɪ, ɹˈɛd ˈækɐ ænd wˈaɪt ʃˈiːɹoʊ bˈɛlts kˈʌlɚz ʌvðə dʒˌæpənˈiːz flˈæɡ wɜː pɹˈiːviəsli wˈoːɹn.
In tournaments sanctioned by the Japan Karate Association (JKA), red (aka) and white (shiro) belts (colors of the Japanese flag) were previously worn.