Sports
December 11, 2021 6:00
Children and related parties of the Iijima Judo Club who receive the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology commendation and share their joy = Iijima Gymnasium on the evening of the 9th
The Iijima Judo Club in Iijima Town received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology commendation as an excellent organization for lifelong sports. At the practice base, Iijima Gymnasium, a communication ceremony was held on the evening of the 9th, and about 40 people including club children, leaders, and parents attended. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the club’s inauguration, and I was enveloped in double joy while grabbing the half-century history of nurturing both the mind and body.
At the transmission ceremony, Mr. Yasuhiko Tajima, Chief of Sports Promotion Section of the Prefectural Board of Education, handed a certificate of commendation to Mr. Masayoshi Uehara (42), the club chief. Mr. Tajima praised, “This energetic appearance of the children is the result of the club’s accumulation.”
The club was founded by Uehara’s father Haruo (deceased) in April 1971 and has raised many children ever since. There was a time when the elementary school student group was a strong player in the prefecture, and as an individual, he has contributed to improving the competitiveness of the region by advancing to the prefectural tournament final of the Chutairen this year.
Haruo’s teaching is, “Become a good boy before you get stronger.” The children who received the instruction became parents, and their children and grandchildren came to join the club. Mr. Uehara is also taken by Mr. Haruo and naturally goes on the path of judo, and his eldest son, Mr. Taishin (14), who is a third year student at Iijima Junior High School, follows him.
Currently, there are 17 members from kindergarten children to junior high school students. We practice two or three times a week together, and it is also a place for people to interact with each other over the ages.
“I want to nurture the goodness of connecting with friends while respecting etiquette in an environment that is different from being in a school or nursery school,” says Uehara. Mr. Yasushi says, “It’s an honor to receive the award. Since the number of young children is increasing, I want to make it a dojo where people can enjoy judo.”
In this year’s Lifelong Sports Achievement / Excellent Group Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Awards, two groups and two individuals in the prefecture, including the club, received the awards.
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