Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist and retired Japanese judoka Natsumi Tsunoda has publicly unveiled the proposed site in Chiba Prefecture for a long-planned personal dojo, turning a family legacy into the foundation of her post-competitive career.
Tsunoda, who captured the women’s 48kg title at the 2024 Paris Games and subsequently retired from active competition at age 34, released a video on her YouTube channel on 18 November titled “I went to see the planned dojo site.” The footage provides the first public look at the expansive plot of green land and fields in her home prefecture of Chiba, which was originally purchased by her late grandfather.
Honoring a Grandfather’s Wish in Chiba
The land holds deep personal significance for the Olympic champion. Tsunoda’s grandfather previously operated an adjoining bone-setting clinic and harbored a strong passion for judo. According to Tsunoda, her grandfather originally bought the property with the intention of pairing a clinic with a training hall, though her parents—who eventually took over the medical practice—ultimately chose not to build the dojo.
“My grandfather bought the land thinking, ‘How about running them together?’ but my parents didn’t do it,” Tsunoda explained in the video. With her parents offering full cooperation for the current project, she decided the location was ideal. “It was my grandfather’s wish, too,” she added, noting she selected the site to fulfill the dream of her grandfather, who passed away when she was in the fourth grade of elementary school.
Facility Vision and Construction Timeline
The blueprint for the facility anticipates a space centered around a 60-tatami-mat competition area, supplemented by locker rooms and other functional amenities. Tsunoda expressed her desire for an open, airy environment, noting, “I want a clean dojo with a slightly higher ceiling for a sense of openness. I hope it is safely built by next year.”
Competitive Earnings Fueled the Post-Career Goal
Planning for the dojo began years before her retirement announcement. Tsunoda revealed that she first contemplated stepping away from the sport around the time she missed selection for the Tokyo Olympic team amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Her desire to establish a training center ultimately served as a major driving force to continue competing.
“If I thought about what I could do for that, it was to enter the next tournaments, post solid results, and save money,” Tsunoda said. By earning a salary and collecting tournament prize money, she deliberately set aside funds dedicated to the construction costs—a financial strategy that directly fueled her successful run to the Paris 2024 podium.
Timing and Future Vision for Grassroots Judo
Addressing why she chose to advance the project now at age 34, Tsunoda pointed to personal momentum and physical readiness. “If I take on various jobs, family, and children, I might end up thinking, ‘Is now the really right time?’ So I want to do what I need to do while I have this momentum. I have the stamina now, and I want to do it when I feel ‘now is the time’—that’s just my personality,” she said.
Beyond serving as a personal training base, the facility is intended to function as a community hub for judo promotion, youth development, and support for the second careers of student-athletes.
Viewers responded warmly in the video’s comment section, praising her forward-looking mindset and dedication to her family’s wishes following her retirement from elite competition.
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