News

Annual Schedule and the Kangeiko on Jan 8th I hope everyone had a very happy new years into 2023.  I heartfully thank everyone that is supporting GKJN activities. This article talks about the GKJN schedule for 2023 which has been approved by the Board Members of GKJN as well as the Kangeiko that took place on January 8th. Continuing in 2023, I will be marching forward being honest to my belief.  I wish for the continued support to my activities. 1. Annual Schedule 2023 Our network has grown where there will be events EVERY MONTH!!  Below are the main objectives of my activities. Promoting Judo in the United States as […]

~ Gratitude to sponsors, Public Lecture, Preparation for 2023 and returned to cold Chicago ~ After my move to the United States, I have made a visit to my home country Japan after 16 months.  In this article, I wish to share the activities there together with what I felt, what I was surprised at, etc. The objective of my Japan Trip was to show my gratitude to my sponsors (with the tight schedule, I couldn’t visit all of them – my apologies), my first public lecture (Rotary Club in Odawara-Naka) Preparation for the US Kids Judo Camp in Japan, and visits to Adidas Japan, Mizkan, Ryukoku University, and meeting

~Participation in the USA Judo Presidents Cup and meetings with Chairman of USA Judo~ This is an article of the Dallas Open and the Presidents Cup held in Irving Texas on November 19th and 20th. 1.     What is the Presidents Cup? The Presidents Cup is held every year just before Thanksgivings, and is one of the top 3 judo championships in the United States, with the two others being US Senior Championship and the US Open,  Every year this event is held over 2 days.  The 1st day I s the local event (Dallas Open) and the 2nd day is the main event, the Presidents cup.  Both are USA Judo

2 year anniversary of GKJN – thanks to all the support!! As we enter October, Chicago is seeing chilly weather where the temperatures dip below 50F (10C) in the mornings.  I am kind of seeing a glimpse of winter… Bravo!!  GKJN is celebrating 2 years as of October 1st. 1st GKJN Cup @ Rosemond Dome (June 5th, 2022) This was only possible with everyone’s support.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have retired as an athlete in March of 2020 where I met Attorneys, Paralegals, Tax Specialists, and with their support, I was able to establish GKJN in October of 2020.  I have also taken the

~My Partner wins Silver at the World Veterans Championship (Poland)~ What do you imagine when you hear the word “JUDO?” Olympic medalists? The cold tatami? Or the beautiful Womens Judokas?..lol There maybe many ways that people look at JUDO but I believe that most people have an image that this is “A sport played by special people”  This figure is shown in the decrease of Judo Population in Japan.  In the 17 years from 2004 to 2021, the Judo Population decreased from 200,000 to 120,000.  As for grade school children, the count decreased from 47,000 to 25,000 – roughly half… On the other hand, the No. 1 Judo Population is

~Review of the 1st GKJN Cup, and Preparation for Next Year~ On July 8th, the 5th GKJN Board Meeting took place via Zoom between Chicago and Japan.  The following day, the Board Meeting of Tohkon Judo Academy took place where I participated as a Board Member. The main topic of the Tohkon board Meeting was to discuss about the 25th Tohkon Cup (Individuals) and the 1st GKJN Cup (Team Event).  Wrap up and identifying room for improvement was the core of the discussion. I will refrain from details, but the major take away was an agreement to “Expand the scope of the event to All America and to invite international

〜GKJN Activities at the General Counsel of Japan~ After the 1st GKJN Cup on June 5th, with no time to breathe, I am looking forward to the 2nd GKJN Cup through a review of strengths and room for improvements. Our activities has been picked up by the Counsel General and was invited as a guest speaker at the 27th Midwest Forum held on Monday, June 27th.  For the last 20+ years, I was only doing Judo, so this was my first experience of a presentation…and it was in English. (1) What is the “Midwest Forum?” This event gathers individuals that are related to US Japan relationship within the 10 Midwest

3. Now it’s time The Inaugural GKJN Cup (June 5th) (1) Participants – 200!! This was my biggest concern. I know that there’s Saturday, but what happens if they all left after Saturday and they’re all gone… But concern was in vain. We found 200 participants Adults and Kids during the Judo Clinic in the morning. And in the Team Event in the afternoon 145 kids participated which exceeded my expectations. Opening Ceremony, Day 2 General Councel Mr. Tajima came too!! Mr. Goto – a legend in Chicago – sang the National Anthems of both Japan and USA. He’s past 80!! Wow!! At the start of the Judo Clinic. Are

Early Summer Chicago was filled with JUDO. ALL EXCITEMENT, ALL FUN To all that supported this event I have sent a personal notice, but on June 5th, the Inaugural GKJN Cup has ended in success. This event was co-hosted together with The 25th Tohkon Classis (on June 4th) and had 520 participants. With the parents, coaches the total attendees were around 800!! A very heated up Judo event took place in this early summer in Chicago. This article is about the “behind-the-scenes” to include preparation of 300 lunches – “The making of the GKJN Cup” 1. The Night Before (June 3rd) At 17:30 on June 3rd, I am at the