Words of the month
January 2021
Feeling
Preaching curator
Uemura Haruki
We are celebrating the 3rd year of Reiwa, and we would like to express our sincere greetings at the beginning of the year.
Last year, the new coronavirus infection spread around the world from early spring, causing serious damage to people all over the world. Our lives have changed completely, and it has become a difficult situation that we have never experienced in the education, sports, and judo worlds, as well as the economic and social impacts. In March, Honorary Director Yukimitsu Kano, who has been leading and instructing the judo world for many years, passed away in April, with Managing Director Saburo Matsushita 9th Dan and Director of Library and Materials Naoki Murata 8th Dan. It is a pity that I have lost one after another the people who love judo and who have been responsible for the correct spread and promotion of judo at home and abroad and the correct transmission of judo to future generations.
As the spread of infectious diseases continues worldwide, the opportunity to practice in the dojo while wearing judo clothing has been deprived under the restrictions of avoiding the three densities of closed, dense, and close, and securing social distance. It has become extremely difficult to continue judo, which has the characteristic of engaging with opponents, both domestically and internationally, and various competitions and events from boys and girls to seniors have been canceled or postponed. In particular, the “2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics,” which is a major event in the sports world, has also been postponed to this summer. For human resource development through sports, international exchange / goodwill, and world peace, we must lead the “Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics” to success while ensuring the safety of athletes, officials, spectators, and the Japanese people. Hmm.
By the way, at the Kodokan, we stopped practicing at the dojo from the end of February to May last year. The state of emergency was lifted on May 25, and from June 1st, we resumed training centered on independent practice and training with thorough measures against infectious diseases. Even in July and August, the situation did not improve, but I thought that there are trainings that can be done even in such a situation, and training that must be done because of this situation, so summer training and summer training I decided to hold it. In the summer class, we restricted the combination and conducted mainly on courtesy, confirmation of basic movements, independent practice to learn techniques and reasoning, and training to improve physical strength. The same was true for the summer training, and although the number of participants was about 30%, we were able to finish it safely. From September, we gradually extended the time to work together, and practiced driving and promises. Then, from October, we started the training by incorporating randomism, but it is an unforgettable sight to see a large number of practitioners wearing masks and working on the training at the dojo.
On October 28th, we held the “Kano Jigoro Normal Birthday Festival”. In the memorable 160th anniversary of the birth of Kano Shihan, we held “Painting Exhibition”, “Screening of Judo Video”, “Let’s Write Kano Shihan’s Volunteer (Calligraphy Experience)”, “Parent-Child Judo Class”, etc. for 4 days. It was. The International Judo Federation (IJF) also holds various events all over the world in memory of Kano Shihan as “World Judo Day”. Every year at the Kodokan, we plan events that can contribute to youth exchanges in cooperation with other countries around the world.
The postponed National Judo High-ranking Tournament was in danger of being held, but it was able to be held on November 29, supported by the voices of those who continue their training toward this day. It was a place where high-ranking people who were in a position to give guidance gathered and demonstrated the results of their daily training. I saw everyone who practiced judo throughout their lives seriously tackling the game and realized the importance of continuing.
In addition, we have started visiting dojos in various places that we had planned in advance. At the dojo I visited, I saw the usual practice, but I spent a very meaningful time listening to the cheerful voices while actually seeing the faces of the children and interacting with the leaders and parents. I was able to. Taking advantage of my experience so far, I would like to create opportunities for many children to come into contact with judo and expand the circle of people who support me while adapting to changes in the surrounding environment.
The Japan-ASEAN Self-Other Mutual Prosperity Project has entered its fifth year and has reached the stage of overseeing the project. However, infectious diseases have spread to the Asian region, and it has become impossible to interact freely. We have decided to cancel the project by inviting representatives and leaders from each country, and to hold an online seminar for leaders who have participated in international seminars so far. In addition to one-sided lectures and video distribution, we were able to exchange opinions live and share information with everyone. It was a great harvest to be able to search for new methods to gain a common understanding of knowledge and technology through this workshop. I am convinced that this project was the entrance to a new stage of the spread of judo in ASEAN countries in the future.
For 100 judo techniques, we are collaborating with IJF to create and send videos. While checking the contents that have been well known so far, we clarified the definition of the technique so that it can be conveyed correctly in letters and words, and reviewed the explanation in English. In addition, we will return to the basics and explain how to break down, make, hang, and hold grappling hold, how to squeeze, how to master joints, and how to respond to them. Regarding what it means to “throw” and “consolidate”, I would like you to understand each “reason” rather than just keeping the shape as knowledge.
Kano Shihan showed the training methods of “form,” “randomness,” “lecture,” and “question and answer.” You will learn the reasoning with “form”, devise applications with “random”, gain knowledge with “lecture”, and develop the ability to think with “question and answer”. It is important to embody the teaching of Kano Shihan, who aims to “complete himself” and “make up for the world” by engaging in training from various angles.
Faced with an unprecedented disaster, I am reminded that what I had taken for granted until now was actually “thank you.” It is a major mission of the Kodokan to promote the spread and promotion of judo even in the face of serious problems that threaten the world. With the cancellation of numerous competitions and events, it was an opportunity to reconsider the approach and way of thinking about judo. It is important to think seriously about what you can do in each position, think more, and carry it out. Now is the time to unite, gather wisdom, and devise ways to overcome this difficult situation.
At the beginning of the year, we returned to the origin of Kodokan Judo, which was founded by Jigoro Kano, and along with the development of “Judo as a competition”, we steadily promoted “Judo as education” and “Judo as human resource development”, and our predecessors In order to inherit the tradition of Kodokan Judo that has been built and to build up a further history, we will strive to practice “good energy” and “co-prosperity with others” and will disseminate the spirit and essence of Kodokan Judo both domestically and internationally.
We would like to thank all the staff for their guidance, support, and cooperation this year as well.
In conclusion, I pray that this year will be a good year for everyone.
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