Hokurei Junior and Senior High School held its all-school assembly and the opening ceremony for its annual judo tournament during the first period on Nov. 9, hokurei.ed.jp reported.
The assembly began with an awards ceremony for the senior high school’s rubber baseball team. The team finished as runners-up at the Autumn Hokkaido High School Rubber Baseball Tournament, and the entire student body celebrated their strong performance and daily practice.
Following the baseball presentation, the opening ceremony for the school’s signature judo tournament commenced. Junior high judo captain Tomoki Asaka and senior high captain Jotaro Sugiyama delivered opening remarks outlining their goals for the competition.
Senior captain Sugiyama quoted judo founder Jigoro Kano during his address. He told students that comparing oneself to others matters far less than surpassing one’s past self, according to hokurei.ed.jp. He also urged competitors to display the mental strength built through their daily training.
Vice Principal Gouto spoke about the deeper educational significance of judo at Hokurei. He highlighted the core principles of seiryoku-zenyo
(maximum efficiency with minimum effort) and jita-kyoei
(mutual welfare and benefit), encouraging students to apply the techniques and mental toughness they learned in class.
The vice principal noted that every student in the current senior high third-year class holds a judo shodan (first-degree black belt). He encouraged younger students to view earning a black belt as a concrete goal in their own development, hokurei.ed.jp reported.
Head referee Morimoto outlined the tournament rules and safety guidelines for the competitors. He stressed the importance of preventing injuries, treating opponents with respect, maintaining proper cheering etiquette, and showing gratitude to everyone supporting the event, hokurei.ed.jp reported. He also reminded students that Hokurei judo draws attention from the All Japan Judo Federation, urging them to compete with pride and self-awareness.
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