News

Most of you who do not live in the United States may not know the answer to this question.  What are essential items you need to live in the United States?  The answer is three items, 1) Social Security Number, 2) A US issued Credit Card, and 3) Driver’s License.  In order to obtain the above 3 items, the minimum requirement is the non-immigrant VISA.  In the ESTA program, nothing can be done under my name.  Renting an apartment, utility agreements, nothing.  It took me 1 year and 9 months to obtain the O-1 VISA which I have now – but this story, maybe some other time. The other day, […]

October 1st ~ 3rd, I was invited to the Veteran’s Training Camp and travelled to the dead hot Las Vegas (4 hour flight from Chicago) What is “Veteran’s Training Camp?” I had no idea until I got there. 30 adults ranging from their 30s to 60s together with 10 girls totaling 40 participants. The objective for the adults were the training aimed for the World Veterans Championship scheduled for October 21~24th in Portugal. What surprised me is that the girls came all the way from Oklahoma having mom drive 17 hours!! Their passion and the toughness of the moms just surprised me. Everything here has a different scale!! Following is

Can you imagine what a Adult Women’s Beginner Judo Class look like?  This is something beyond imagination in Japan!! (Not enough students…) However, in the United States, we do get enough powerful women to hold a class!! The age ranges from Girls to Mature Ladies!! Compared to Japan, gender discrimination is by far less here in the US where women also need to be strong.  I was surprised to see many women after becoming a mother to starti Judo as a hobby as well as training,  Of course in this class all coaches are Women too.  This every Saturday class starts and ends with Women Only!! If this were to

On September 15th we connected Colorado Springs and Chicago to have a web meeting with Keith Bryant, Chairman of USA Judo and Eddie Liddie, Director. The original intent was to thank the invitation to the USA and to discuss plans going forward. I have noted in my past reports, but acquiring a US Visa for work for an individual that does not belong to a corporation is very very difficult.  Using the human network, I have found my way to USA JUDO who sponsored me on the O-1 Athlete VISA as the Youth Development Coach.  It took me 1 year and 9 months to get to where I am today. 

～Many beginners in the Adult Basic Judo Class in the USA～ The Labor Day weekend if over and I started smelling Autumn in the City of Chicago.  We started our Adult Fundamental Class with participants ranging from 20 to 70 years old.  Although it was during the day on a weekday, we had 15 students participate.  I joined as the instructor and had a great time. This class is held on Mondays 11:30~13:30, 20:00~22:00, Wednesdays 11:30~13:30, and on Thursdays 20:30~22:00.  4 classes a week and people who love Judo are spontaneously participating.  Especially Thursday nights are crowded with “after work” participants where in cases the number goes up to 40!!

It’s about a week since the announcement of our webpage. I have received a lot of support both in words as well as financially. I am very grateful for this. I will pay forward by utilizing the fundings towards popularizing Judo, educating children for a prosperous life through the spirit of Judo. Summer break is over in Chicago and starting September 7th, the Junior Class (ages 7 to 14) and toddler class (Cubby Class – ages 4 to 6) has restarted at the Dojo!! Practices are on vacation during Summer Vacation – US Style…lol Kids I haven’t met in a while approach me yelling “Megumi! Megumi!” was so cute. This

We have held the 2nd Board Meeting of GKJN via web conferencing connecting Chicago, Calgary and Tokyo.  Since I have now obtained my VISA, we had decided to make our website available to the public. Since the establishment of GKJN in October of 2020, we utilized the year for our preparation including our website. As the “Kickoff” of this organization, on September 25th and 26th we were planning the Tohkon Cup and GKJN Cup – a Judo Competition and Clinic with 200+ kids in the Midwest – due to the remaining effect of COVID-19, we had no option but to postpone this to next Spring at the earliest. I took

It’s been a month since I arrived in the United States. This article is about my survival experience in Chicago. Jewel Osco is located very close to where I live – just a minute walk!!  Everything is HUGE.  The Parking Lot, Entrance and whatever is sold here and including the customers:-) Even at my age, when I buy alcohol they ask me for my ID (a bit happy) To all visitors:  Make sure to carry your passport when you go by beer 😊 Reunited with the kids!!  This photo is with a pretty, 6 year-old girl Alansa (isn’t she so cute?) All the kids here are so adorable. Angels that

Saturday, August 7th 2021, I have finally arrived in the USA with an O-1: Athlete VISA that allows me to work lawfully. The 12 hour flight from Tokyo to Chicago on Flight 10 on Japan Airlines seemed to me “shining.” Summer Chicago greeted me saying “Welcome to the USA” Mr. Kenya Yamada, the branch manager of Japan Airlines had escorted me through immigration which went very smooth.  Last visit was awful as I was taken to secondary and went through a 3 hour interrogation which almost led me to deportation.  Although I had a legit VISA, I was nervous which ended up in vain.  The inspector’s question was “Welcome to

Late night on Monday, June 28th after my return to Japan on June 20th and during my self quarantine period in a hotel in Tokyo, the notice came.  The approval of O1A VISA from the USCIS… I was still an active player when I made this decision in September of 2019 and it was before my last Kodokan Championship.  1 year and 9 months from that point in time, I saw a flashback of the days that passed.  Didn’t cry a bit, but trembling with excitement.   The first VISA I tried was the Artist VISA (P-3) but Judo was not considered art and was denied.  Then COVID came into