Haruki Uemura, President of the Kodokan and member of the IJF Executive Committee explains, "I am looking forward to the Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in Japan. The Kodokan was founded by Kano Jigoro Shihan in 1882 and represents the origin of our sport for judoka all over the world. Judo became an official Olympic sport at the 1964 Tokyo Games and today more than 200 countries and regions are members of the IJF.
Judo is no longer unique to Japan but has spread and developed as a global culture. In the Olympic Judo competition, 391 elite judoka from 129 countries and regions will compete to show the results of their daily training and I hope that this will be an opportunity for judoka from each country to deepen their friendship with each other.
The Kodokan will also be used as an official training venue during the Games. The Kodokan would like to support the judoka in getting in shape as much as possible, so that they can perform at their best in the actual competition."
Mr Uemura added, "I hope that judoka from all over the world will give their all to reach the top of the world in mind, technique and body. I also hope that they will deepen their international exchange and feel the educational aspects inherent in the Games, such as the respect they show their opponents. Furthermore, through the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, I hope that the participants will deepen their understanding of the principles of Seiryoku-Zenyo (maximum efficient use of energy) and Jita-Kyoei (mutual welfare and benefit) as taught by Kano shihan."
For any judoka, having the chance, at least once in their lifetime, to enter the Kodokan, is always something special. Literally, kō (講) means ‘to lecture,’ dō (道) means ‘way’ and kan (館) is ‘a public building.’ Together it can be translated as the ‘place for the study of the way.’
The building presents eight floors and a basement, each serving purposes for housing, training and research by judoka and is dedicated to spreading the teachings of Jigoro Kano Shihan, whose statue is visible just outside the Kodokan. The main dojo is found on the seventh floor and is carefully designed to give a precise amount of floor spring, brightness, and ventilation. Four official contests can be held at the same time in the main dojo. It has 420 mats and approximately 900 spectators can be seated on the eighth floor. Several other smaller dojo are available in the building.
Programme of the training venue Olympic Games Place: Kodokan Date: 19th to 30th July Time: 9:00 to 19:00 from 19th to 22nd July 9:00 to 16:00 from 23rd to 30th July
Paralympic Games Place: Kodokan Date: 22nd to 28th August Time: 9:00 to 19:00 on 22nd, 23rd, 25th and 26th August 9:00 to 13:00 on 24th August 9:00 to 16:00 on 27th and 28th August
Time and programme are subject to change.
During the period of judo competition, Kodokan will also provide a virtual online Kodokan tour for IOC top partners Title: Discover an Olympic Sport Date: 24th - 31st July 2021 Time: From 15:00 to 16:00
During Games time the Kodokan will become a totally safe bubble where all delegations can train and prepare for their big rendezvous with history. Where better than the Kodokan for that? While getting ready, the athletes will be able to feel the special atmosphere that reigns in the place where judo was born.