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hello everyone Early summer has arrived in Japan, and the days are pleasant. However, there are many days with higher temperatures than usual, making us feel the effects of climate change nearby.
Today, as many know, on January 1 this year in Japan, a large earthquake occurred off the coast of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 and a magnitude of 7.6. On April 18, three months after the disaster, I and my friends connected through sports visited the severely damaged areas of Suzu City and Anamizu Town, where we interacted with the local people through volunteers. activity.
At an evacuation center in Suzu City, where I visited as a volunteer, I helped in the soup kitchen and interacted with residents (@NPO JUDOs)
Those who visited me were Toshiro Hirose and Takeshi Nozawa, former members of the Japanese national rugby team, and Ayumi Tanimoto, a judo gold medalist at the Athens and Beijing Olympics and vice-captain of the Japanese national team at the Paris Olympics. This visit was made possible with the cooperation of NOTOTO, an organization that supports areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the Association of Corporate Executives, Team Konohen, a volunteer organization, and the Japanese Olympic Committee.
The day I visited was 100 days before the Paris Olympics, and in addition to running a soup kitchen at an evacuation center and moving household goods from collapsed houses, I also had a rugby experience and exchange in Anamizu in Anamizu Town, and a judo session in Hakui City.
With members of the Self-Defense Forces participating in disaster recovery activities (JUDOs)
The disaster-stricken area is still in a difficult environment, with no progress being made in cleaning up the destroyed houses, demolishing buildings, or repairing the infrastructure. However, despite all this, I have met people who are looking forward and step by step towards recovery.
When we were athletes, we received support and strength from many people. To give back, I want to continue to support activities while looking for ways in which we in the world of sports can do something. Sports have the power to connect people. This time too, we had a rugby and judo exchange, and even though we met the participants for the first time, we got to know each other instantly, and we had a great time. It was also a day that I realized this is the power of sports.
Technical training in teacher training from France
From April 18 to 23, teacher training was held at Tokai University, where I work, sponsored by the French Judo Federation. I was also in charge of technical training and introduced many techniques, including Uchimata.
Teacher training sponsored by the French Judo Federation held at Tokai University. We created a technical course and were able to interact with the instructors (JUDOs)
In France, the sports instructor qualification is a national qualification, and of course the judo teacher qualification is also a national qualification. Therefore, many instructors make a living from teaching judo. From the point of view of spreading and developing judo, it is very attractive that the instructor’s qualification is a national qualification, and I feel that it is a wonderful environment where I can concentrate on teaching judo. All the participants listened carefully to my technical explanations and went home full of enthusiasm having learned as much as possible, and I know that they really love judo.
Teacher training sponsored by the French Judo Federation held at Tokai University. We do technical courses and associate instructors (JUDOs)
After completing the entire program, the participants said, “I learned not only the techniques of judo, but also the heart and spirit of judo.”
I believe that such exchanges will not only lead to the development of judo, but will also be an opportunity to increase Japan’s presence. I want to continue interacting and learning from people from all over the world through judo.
Author: Yasuo Inoue
Chairman Yasuo Inoue, certified NPO legal person JUDOs
Kosei Inoue, President, Certified NPO JUDOs
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