President’s Message

In June 2025, I was once again entrusted with the responsibility of serving as President of the All Japan Judo Federation. Since assuming this role two years ago as the successor to former President Yasuhiro Yamashita, I have devoted myself to the development of Judo. Being given the opportunity to continue in this role, I feel a renewed sense of determination and a deep responsibility to further advance our mission.

I began practicing Judo in elementary school, and throughout my journey—from university into my professional career—I have had the privilege of connecting with many people, beginning with my involvement in the All Japan Businessman’s Judo Federation. The experiences and values I have gained through Judo have become the foundation of who I am today.

Over the past two years, guided by the philosophy passed down from former President Shoji Muneoka and former President Yamashita—“Change what must be changed, and protect what must not be changed”—we have worked to strengthen governance, ensure thorough compliance, and continuously enhance our risk management systems.

At the same time, to further embed the diverse values that Judo offers, we have established the “Long-Term Development Guidelines” as our strategic framework. We have also formulated the “Instructor Development Guidelines,” which define the qualities expected of instructors who play a vital role in implementing these principles and outline the direction of instructor development that our federation seeks to pursue. Within these frameworks, we are also positioning athlete development initiatives and measures to prevent accidents, while striving to achieve tangible results and further strengthen our efforts.

By sharing more broadly the value of Judo—particularly its role in human education—we aim to expand participation and deepen engagement in the Judo community. Through these efforts, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to realizing a Judo community that is trusted, and contributes to society.

June 2025