 There were only three students in the group; his classmates were Eiji Takaura and Hirokazu Kanazawa, who also graduated in 1957.It was Nakayama's objective to spread the martial art of Shotokan karate around the world, so Mikami began to travel widely, teaching karate.In 1957, the JKA sent him to the Philippines to instruct in Far Eastern University in Manila.