Published on February 23, 2020.
This article cites a Sankei Shimbun piece by Yoshihisa Komori and introduces the bright note brought to Washington by the visit of Japanese judoka Riki Nakaya, at a time when critical views of Japan were increasing because of the spread of the new coronavirus originating in China.
Through judo exchanges at the Georgetown University Washington Judo Club and the United States Naval Academy, the gesture of gratitude for Operation Tomodachi, and the continuing Japan-U.S. judo exchange initiated by Yasuhiro Yamashita and carried on by Kosei Inoue, it argues that Japanese judo is not merely about winning medals, but is a national asset embodying Japan’s power, initiative, and international friendship.

February 23, 2020
In Washington, present-day Japan is, after all, being spoken of almost exclusively in connection with the spread of the new coronavirus originating in China.
The following is from today’s Sankei Shimbun.
A National Asset Embodying Japan’s Power
Yoshihisa Komori
In Washington, present-day Japan is, after all, being spoken of almost exclusively in connection with the spread of the new coronavirus originating in China.
As critical commentary increases over why Japan has produced one of the world’s largest numbers of infected people outside China, people on the American side, both public and private, who had planned activities in Japan have begun canceling their visits.
What brought a comforting patch of sunlight into such cloudy weather surrounding Japan in the capital was the visit of Japanese judoka Riki Nakaya.
Mr. Nakaya, who twice won the world championship in the 73-kilogram class, was sent to the Washington area for exchange with the United States by the NPO “JUDOs,” whose chairman is Kosei Inoue, and whose purpose is the international spread of judo.
On the night of the 21st, immediately after his arrival, he gave instruction at the Georgetown University Washington Judo Club.
This club, which is a combination of a university judo club and a local dojo, is one of the largest judo halls on the U.S. East Coast, and its exchange with Japan has continued for more than ten years with “Judo Educational Solidarity,” the predecessor of “JUDOs,” whose chairman was Yasuhiro Yamashita.
Nakaya, still an active competitor, first explained his favorite techniques, such as seoi-nage, to about fifty men and women of the club, and then moved into free practice known as randori.
The local athletes, having the opportunity to engage with a world-class powerhouse, competed with one another to challenge him.
In this club, besides American students, the great majority are people from a wide variety of professions, including lawyers, doctors, civil servants, military personnel, and entrepreneurs, and many are veteran black belts with long judo experience.
But while Nakaya received them calmly and with ease, he at times threw huge opponents at tremendous speed, drawing voices of admiration from the entire hall.
It was a scene that was truly symbolic of international exchange through Japanese judo.
Nakaya himself said, “Well, I was surprised by the enthusiasm of the American athletes.”
The purpose of Nakaya’s visit to the United States also included a “return of gratitude for Operation Tomodachi” at the judo club of the United States Naval Academy near Washington.
In the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, a large U.S. military force was deployed in major relief activities for Japan’s disaster victims, and the intention is to express gratitude to the U.S. Navy, which played the central role, by teaching judo to future U.S. naval officers.
This “return of gratitude” began when Yasuhiro Yamashita, now president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, was chairman of that Solidarity, and it has become a continuing project passed on to Kosei Inoue, the current head coach of the All-Japan men’s team.
Inoue himself visited the Naval Academy in 2010, received a school-wide welcome, and has the achievement of having revived the academy’s judo club.
At that traditional academy, more than a century ago, Kodokan master Yamashita Yoshitsugu had amazingly been employed as a judo teacher for nearly two years, but for more than one hundred years afterward there had been no direct exchange with Japanese judoka.
But under Inoue’s guidance, that bond was revived.
Since then, as a project of that Solidarity, first-rate athletes from Japanese universities such as Tokai, Keio, Kokugakuin, and Tsukuba have visited the Naval Academy every year and provided judo instruction.
The present result of that flow is Nakaya’s visit.
From the 24th, Nakaya will visit the Naval Academy judo club and provide instruction for about three weeks.
Japanese judo is not only about winning medals.
It can be called a national asset that also embodies Japan’s power, initiative, and international friendship.
(Visiting correspondent stationed in Washington)