新聞

Learn Safe Falling Techniques: Judo Federation in Shizuoka’s Shimizu City Teaches 1st Graders Essential Breakfalls

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Judo Safety Revolution: How Japan’s Elementary Schools Are Teaching Kids to Fall Safely By Daniel Richardson | Editor-in-Chief, Archysport Published June 5, 2024 | Updated June 5, 2024 In a groundbreaking initiative blending traditional martial arts with modern safety science, Shotetsu City’s judo federation has launched a pilot program teaching elementary school children proper falling … Read more

Five-School Dominance: 39th Maruchan Cup Tohoku Junior Judo Championship Highlights – Winners Revealed!

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Japan’s Junior Judo Stars Shine: Five-Schools and Yamanaka Dominate 39th Maruchan Cup Northeast Youth Tournament By Daniel Richardson | May 26, 2026 | Akita, Japan The 39th Maruchan Cup Northeast Youth Judo Tournament delivered thrilling competition and clear winners on May 24, 2026, at the Akita Prefectural Budokan in Akita City. In a showcase of … Read more

Olympic Judo Gold Medalist Kaori Matsumoto Stuns Fans with Rare Lab Coat Photo

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From the Mat to the Clinic: Kaori Matsumoto’s New Chapter For years, the world knew Kaori Matsumoto as the “Beast”—a fierce, unrelenting force on the judo mat who captured the imagination of fans with her intensity and technical brilliance. The 2012 London Olympic gold medalist, who dominated the 57kg division, defined an era of Japanese … Read more

Tragedy at Niigata Technical High: Student Suicide Follows History of Judo Club Harassment

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Niigata Technical High School’s “Coaching Death”: How Judo’s Culture of Fear Silenced a Student-Athlete’s SOS Daniel Richardson May 18, 2026 18 min read A third-party investigation has confirmed that the 2024 suicide of a third-year judo student at Niigata Technical High School was a direct result of relentless verbal abuse from his coach—a case now … Read more

Teen Grappler’s Tragedy: How a Japanese High School Judo Coach’s Brutal Training Led to Suicide-and What’s Being Done to Prevent It

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“Coaching Gone Wrong”: How Overbearing Judo Instruction Led to a Student’s Death in Japan Daniel Richardson May 18, 2026 • Updated 18:30 UTC+9 (Tokyo) 18 min read A third-party investigation into the death of a 17-year-old judo athlete in Niigata Prefecture has revealed systemic failures in youth sports coaching that allowed overbearing instruction to push … Read more

Nara Judo Team’s Shaved Heads: Valuing Individuality and Mental Clarity

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Judo’s New Standard: How Tenri High School’s Bold Haircut Reform Is Redefining Team Culture in Japan Daniel Richardson | May 18, 2026 | 12 min read In a quiet revolution that’s as much about mental preparation as physical prowess, Tenri High School’s judo team in Nara Prefecture has adopted the ‘momohiki’ (丸刈り)—a short, rounded haircut … Read more

Japan Women’s Basketball vs. Latvia: Mitsui Fudosan Cup 2026

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WNBA Eyes Kokoro Tanaka as Japan’s New Aggressor Shines at Mitsui Fudosan Cup The atmosphere inside Yokohama BUNTAI on Saturday was electric, but the buzz wasn’t just about the victory. For the scouts and basketball purists in attendance, the real story was the relentless energy of Kokoro Tanaka. As the Japan Women’s National Basketball Team … Read more

Ryosuke Hino and Sumomo Yoshino Win Nara Inter-High School Tennis Qualifiers

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Hino and Yoshino Secure Top Seeds in Nara Prefecture Inter-High Tennis Qualifiers The road to the national stage is officially set for Nara’s elite high school tennis talent. Ryosuke Hino of Koriyama High School and Sumomo Yoshino of Nara Ikuei High School have claimed the top spots in the Nara Prefecture qualifiers for the National … Read more

Daito Kentaku Open 2026: Promoting the Women’s Pro Tennis International Tournament

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Ai Sugiyama Champions Women’s Tennis at Daito Kentaku Open 2026 In the world of professional tennis, few figures command as much respect in Japan as Ai Sugiyama. A former world Top 10 singles player and a doubles powerhouse, Sugiyama spent decades proving that Japanese athletes could compete—and win—on the grandest stages of the WTA Tour. … Read more

Expanding the Reach of Deaf Judo: Building Global Connections After the Tokyo Deaflympics

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From the World Stage to the Local Dojo: Masaki Sato Drives Growth of Deaf Judo in Shizuoka In the high-stakes environment of international judo, success is often measured by the color of a medal. But for Masaki Sato, the true victory following the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics isn’t found in the rankings—It’s found in the number … Read more