Ayumi Uekusa made her fourth final in six appearances in the Premier League this season by overcoming her compatriot Natsumi Kawamura in her semi-final at the Tokyo Budokan.

The Japanese karateka will face France's Nancy Garcia in the female kumite over-68 kilograms final.

Garcia advances after she defeated Bulgaria's Aleksandra Stubleva in her semi-final.

Japanese success continued as the male kata final will be contested by team-mates Ryo Kiyuna and Kazumasa Moto.

Kiyuna, the world champion in the choreographed movements event, won all his opening round bouts by unanimous decision.

In the semi-finals, Kiyuna progressed after a 5-0 defeat of Turkey's Ali Sofuoglu whilst Moto beat team-mate Issei Shimbaba by split decision, 3-2.

Japan's Rikito Shimada will fight in his debut Premier League final as he shocked Kazakhstan's Igor Chikhmarev in the semi-finals of the male kumite under-84kg event.

Shimada's 6-4 victory means he will face Turkey's Ugur Aktas in the final, who beat Croatia's Ivan Kvesic to advance.

Home favourite Hideyoshi Kagawa is also through to the male kumite over-84kg final.

Kagawa beat Hungary's Daniel Molnar in the semi-finals 3-2, to set-up a final against Georgia's Gogita Arkania.

Arkania edged past Aliaksei Vodchits of Belarus in the semi-finals, 1-0, to secure his Premier League final place.

Aside from Japanese success, other nations were also on form.

France's Gwendoline Philippe leads the Karate 1-Premier League standings and looks set to remain at the top of the female under-61kg table as she qualified for the final.

The 19-year-old dominated her Serbian opponent, Jovana Prekovic, 5-0, in the last four.

"I am super happy," she said.

"After being included in the line-up of my federation for the World Championships, I had the chance to demonstrate here on the tatami that I am on a very good form.

"Last year I was competing in junior categories and now I could be grand winner.

"It is a magical feeling and I still cannot believe it."

Philippe will face Peru's Alexandra Grande as she knocked out Xiaoyan Yin of China, 3-0.

Alizee Agier also has a chance to win for France as she progressed to the female kumite under-68kg final.

Agier qualified for her third final this year by defeating Italy's Silvia Semeraro, 1-0.

Her opponent will be European champion Elena Quirici of Switzerland who edged Ukraine's Halyna Melnyk.

The finals will be held tomorrow, with the event a taster of karate's Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.