JUDO/ Japanese master who popularized judo in France still revered_スポーツ の 得点
By KOGO SHIOYA/ Staff Writer June 15,スポーツ の 得点 2024 at 07:00 JST Mikinosuke Kawaishi, middle, with his students in 1942 (Provided by Ikuko Yoshida) Heading into the Paris Olympics this summer, the French are holding their own with Japan as the top judo powerhouse in the world and even hold bragging rights in the number of participants nationwide. Ironically, it was a Japanese man who introduced the sport to the Summer Games’ host country almost 90 years ago. Today, that seed that Mikinosuke Kawaishi planted has grown to 530,000 registered judoka in France, more than four times that of Japan. Among Olympic events, judo is the fourth most popular sport in France in the number of registered participants, and the second most popular sport among children under 12. Tickets for the judo competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics are already sold out. The venue—the Arena Champs-de-Mars will be turned into a massive dojo—is expected to be packed with exuberant fans. Fans anticipate multiple medals by French judoka, including a back-to-back win in the mixed team event, following the triumph over the Japanese team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. JUDO LIKE 'WHEAT OR RICE' On Jan. 14 this year, Mohammed Zouarh, vice president of the French Judo Federation (FFJDA), addressed the dozens of judoka gathered at a cemetery on the outskirts of Paris. “Master Kawaishi’s visit to France marked a decisive turning point in the development of judo,” Zouarh said. “He is the greatest judo ambassador in Europe and the world.” Kawaishi's gravestone is inscribed in French, “Founder of French judo.” Judoka in France also call him the “Father of French judo.” Kawaishi was born into a family of sake brewers in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1899. He devoted himself to judo from an early age. After graduating from Waseda University in Tokyo, he went to the United States to study politics. He later opened a judo school in America and began his career as a judo instructor. Kawaishi also taught judo in South America and England, and he arrived in France in October 1935. He began working at a judo club as a technical adviser and embarked on managing one as well. Judo became popular as a self-defense martial art in Paris, attracting upper-class citizens including scientists and doctors. Among the members of the club with which Kawaishi was associated were Jean Frederic Joliot-Curie and his wife, Irene Joliot-Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Kawaishi had his own philosophy: “Judo is like wheat or rice. You have to adapt it to the locality.” While focusing on judo’s original educational values such as politeness and modesty, he established a teaching method tailored to France, rather than imposing the traditional Japanese mode. It is difficult for foreigners to memorize the names of techniques in Japanese, such as “osoto-gari” (large outer reap) and “ippon-zeoi” (one-armed shoulder throw). So Kawaishi replaced the foreign terms with numbers, such as “foot technique No. 1” and “hip technique No. 1.” He also devised judo’s “obi” belt-ranking system. In Japan at the time, there were only two colors, black and white, used for practitioners. But Kawaishi introduced seven belt colors, including yellow and green, according to the belt holder's skill level. Norikazu, the eldest son of Kawaishi who teaches judo in France, said, “It was to raise their motivation to wear the color of a higher level.” Michel Brousse, a former professor at the University of Bordeaux who studies the history of judo around the world, said Kawaishi accomplished a great deal by not only establishing a new method of teaching judo but also by “creating the new profession of ‘judo instructor.’” Kawaishi succeeded in operating a stable judo club business by setting relatively high monthly fees. He also encouraged his students who had earned black belts to open judo dojos of their own. As the result, an increasing number of enthusiasts began to devote themselves to the martial art, believing that if they could earn a black belt, they could become a judo teacher as well. After the World War II, thanks to the efforts of Kawaishi’s disciples, judo instructing became a national qualification and a stable profession in France. As of 1949, there were about 180 judo clubs throughout France. Today, the number is about 5,200. “Kawaishi method” instructional manuals were translated into several languages such as English and Spanish, and were practiced in more than 30 countries around the world, including Africa and Asia. RELATIVELY UNKNOWN IN JAPAN Hiroshi Magara, a judoka who taught the martial art in Laos in the 1960s, recalled that he saw a photo of a Japanese man he did not recognize hanging in a dojo there. A local official was apparently shocked and asked him, “You are Japanese, but you don’t know Kawaishi?” Vlad Marinescu, director-general of the International Judo Federation, praised Kawaishi, saying, “Words cannot describe his achievements. They were phenomenal.” But his accomplishments have rarely been talked about in Japanese judo circles until now. Ikuko Yoshida, who published a biography of Kawaishi in 2004, recalled, “I had a hard time finding materials on him in Japan.” One of the reasons that he remained relatively unknown in his home country was friction with the Kodokan Judo Institute, the headquarters of judo. In 1951, Kodokan sent instructors to France. Kodokan judo emphasized preparatory movements for techniques such as footwork and “kuzushi” (unbalancing). On the other hand, Kawaishi’s style of judo omitted many of these basic movements in order to emphasize ease of understanding. The Kodokan side called Kawaishi’s judo a “simplified style.” However, one after another, judoka in France moved toward the teachings of the prestigious Kodokan, which is considered the “original home” of the sport. Eventually, it led to a split among the FFJDA members, the Kodokan faction and the Kawaishi faction. In 1956, the two factions merged. But by that time, Kawaishi’s influence had waned significantly. A few years later, Kawaishi retired from the center stage. Norikazu recalled that Kawaishi “was very disappointed because he thought of French judo as his own child.” Kawaishi died on Jan. 30, 1969. He was 69. Since his death, it has become a tradition for judoka in France to gather at the cemetery every January for a memorial service. LEGACY LIVES ON IN FRANCE One notable Japanese figure attended the 2019 memorial service. It was Haruki Uemura, the fifth president of Kodokan. “Many things have happened in the past,” Uemura said. “But Kawanishi is the one who spread judo to the world. I have nothing but gratitude.” It was the moment when the home of judo recognized the pioneer’s accomplishments. In addition, many Japanese judoka have begun looking up to French judo as a “role model” to emulate. In recent years, reports of abusive coaches and fatal training accidents have shaken the Japanese judo world. But French judo has not been overtaken by the “winning over everything else” mantra and has retained the sport’s educational values. Amandine Buchard, a silver medalist in the women’s 52-kilogram category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a member of the French team that will compete in the Paris Olympics, said, “In France, we say judo is a school of life. There is more to it than just winning and losing.” She added, “Thanks to Sensei Kawaishi, judo is very popular in France. I am forever grateful to him.” At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first time judo was included in the competition, Japan won four medals, including three golds, while France won none. France won its first medals in judo—three bronze—at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Since then, French judoka have become a regular on the Olympic podium. However, in terms of the total number of medals won, Japan had always been ahead of France. At the 2012 London Olympics, for the first time, the two countries were tied in the medals count with seven. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Japan won 11 medals and France won eight, but the two nations clashed in the mixed team finals, a newly added event. In the finals, Japan was completely defeated by France, which was led by two dominant judoka, Teddy Riner and Clarisse Agbegnenou. The French judoka will face their Japanese counterparts at the Paris Games in the individual events and the two countries are evenly matched, expected to clash in the mixed team event’s finals once again. Eighty-nine years have passed since Kawaishi landed in France. Now, the top judoka of the two nations are locked in a fierce rivalry. Kawaishi's teachings continue to have an impact.JUDO/ Japanese master who popularized judo in France still revered
- 最近发表
-
- 「ロシデレ」Season2が制作決定、原作4巻以降の物語を展開 特報映像も到着(動画あり / コメントあり)
- 古江彩佳はイーグル含む69で7アンダーでホールアウト「リズム良くできて、アンダーで回れた」
- セレーナ・ゴメス、32歳で米国内最年少のビリオネアの一人に 自身の化粧品ブランドで大成功…米報道
- 小田凱人、三木拓也組、金メダルならず 決勝で英国組に敗れ銀メダル 男子ダブルス決勝
- 【注目馬動向】大阪杯覇者ベラジオオペラは横山和生騎手とのコンビで天皇賞・秋へ
- 男子決勝はシナーVSフリッツ ジュニア女子は園部八奏が31年ぶり決勝進出…テニス全米OP
- NHK大河「光る君へ」道長のサプライズ褒美&タイトルの伏線回収にジーン…不穏な展開も 第34回みどころ
- 大の里 ちょんまげ頭の夏場所優勝額 贈呈式見守った“父の里”「びっくりした」
- ベガルタ仙台ユースMF横山颯大が来季トップ昇格「1日でも早くユアスタでプレーしたい」
- 【中京4R・2歳新馬】ソダシの弟エスタアは6着とほろ苦デビュー 須貝調教師「集中していない。またやり直しだね」
- 随机阅读
-
- 「うそ…」星野源、まさかの変ぼう姿にネット衝撃「え~!」「何があったんや」「本当に?」
- 【中京4R・2歳新馬】トリポリタニアがルヴァンスレーヴ産駒初勝利 岩田望未騎手「まだ良くなってくる」
- 「天久鷹央の推理カルテ」コミカライズが連載開始、漫画は「かんなぎ」の武梨えり
- 水納の土曜注目馬【中山11R・紫苑S】
- 荒木田裕子さん、東京五輪パラ後に発覚した談合事件に「本当に悔しい」 正義感はとても強かった
- ヤマタケの土曜注目馬【中山10R・汐留特別】
- 坂本の土曜注目馬【中京12R・3歳上2勝クラス】
- 山下美夢有「伸ばすしかない」 最年少メジャー3冠へ4差3位で最終日へ
- 吉村洋文大阪府知事が斎藤元彦兵庫県知事の知事不信任決議案に「最後は斎藤知事の判断」
- 古江彩佳はイーグル含む69で7アンダーでホールアウト「リズム良くできて、アンダーで回れた」
- 「酒のツマミ」32歳ゲストが「色気すんごい」ネット興奮「顔好き~」本人はビジュアル謙遜
- 中居正広、衝撃!大谷翔平のメジャーでの“立ち位置”に「松井秀喜選手でも…」…「中居正広の土曜日な会」
- レアル、来夏の補強はプレミアから4選手か ロドリ、アレクサンダー=アーノルド、サリバ、ロメロに照準
- 運命の相手と再会!しかし彼には恋人が複数いて…1人の男をめぐる恋愛サバイバル開幕(試し読みあり)
- 上地結衣、田中愛美組 パートナーへの思いと成長で金メダル「ついに壁を破るとき」逆転でオランダのV9阻止
- 大の里 ちょんまげ頭の夏場所優勝額 贈呈式見守った“父の里”「びっくりした」
- 【スプリンターズS】一昨年の2着馬はラスト1ハロン11秒5 深山調教師「(成長力は)計り知れない」
- 立憲民主党の代表選告示で4人が立候補 当選1回の吉田晴美衆院議員も滑り込み
- 【中京3R・2歳未勝利】モルティフレーバーが2戦目で初勝利 坂井瑠星騎手「いい内容だったと思います」
- 立憲民主党の代表選告示で4人が立候補 当選1回の吉田晴美衆院議員も滑り込み
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-
- 中日・メヒア―阪神・村上頌樹…スタメン発表
- 【巨人】梶谷隆幸が約3か月半ぶりに実戦復帰 代打で二ゴロ…2軍DeNA戦
- 新庄剛志監督が甲子園に参上! オーラ全開 母校・西日本短大付の応援で 西村慎太郎監督は同級生
- 【新潟5R・2歳新馬】森秀厩舎が夏の新潟で新馬戦5戦5勝の離れ業 エコロジークが5馬身差の逃走V
- 【甲子園】新庄剛志大先輩の生観戦も白星ならず・・・西日本短大付が3回戦敗退
- 乙女ゲームファンが転生してモブ令嬢に、推しに愛されドギマギするラブコメ1巻
- 【甲子園】 日本ハム・新庄監督が母校観戦で甲子園に 西日本短大付・西村監督「最高の時間だった」
- ソフトバンク・スチュワートJr.―ロッテ・カイケル…スタメン発表
- 顔ちっさ!「王様のブランチ」ゲスト女優 ネット「信じられない」と驚がく「顔があまりにも小さすぎて」
- 「オールナイトフジコ」レギュラーの芸人が6週ぶり登場「スミマセン、何週も」休んだ理由を明かす