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The road continues. Yasuo Inoue's goal is to contribute to society using judo.

Did you know that there has been an increasing movement to use the power of athletes in society these days? In today's society where various issues lie, the athlete's playing field is no longer limited to the stadium. A symbolic event took place over two days, November 9 (Sat) and November 10 (Sun). "SNOWBANK", which aims to encourage young people to understand the necessity of blood donation and bone marrow bank through sports, music and art, and "HEROs", which promotes athlete's social contribution activities, have teamed up to form "Tokyo Snow Festival SNOWBANK". PAY IT FORWARD × HEROs FESTA2019 ”was held. This time, King Gear will publish a series of four interesting sessions of this event. The third session will introduce the current state of the judo world and the form of social contributions to be pursued from a talk session by Mr. Yasuo Inoue, the director of Japan Judo.

Icon segawa.taisuke1Taisuke Segawa | 2019/11/14
--- This is Yasuo Inoue, a gold medalist at the Sydney Olympics, the current director of Japan Judo and the HEROs ambassador!

(Inoue) Hello, everyone. I'm Inoue, a judo just introduced. Thank you for today.

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-First of all, as Mr. Inoue, being an ambassador for HEROs, could you introduce your own social contribution activities?

(Inoue) I'm a judo artist, but I think the ultimate purpose of judo is how to use judo to contribute to society. In such a situation, I do what I can do, albeit slightly.

--- Judo is also a familiar "way" for Japanese people, and I think there are many difficulties.

(Inoue) That's right. I think there are two types of judo today: kanji "judo" and English notation "JUDO". We are consciously working from a martial arts perspective, and there are also approaches from a sports perspective, so I think it is important to develop the sport of judo while harmonizing the two. You.

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--- I would like to ask you about the original story. When did you start Judo?

(Inoue) I started judo at the age of five. I think his influence was very strong because his father was also a judoist and a police officer.

-What is the appeal of judo that you have been involved in for a long time since you were 5 years old?

(Inoue)I am a person who really loves judo, and I want to continue to be involved in judo for the rest of my life. The first attraction is the fun of pursuing techniques. Another attraction is a solid word, but I think that judo's attraction, the pursuit of the road, is its attraction. For example, even if we win the tournament, I think it is attractive to pursue the path of how to make the most of it and how to live it.

--- In terms of pursuit of the road, I think that the gold medal is still being aimed at and is still active, is it OK to think that it is one end point?

(Inoue)It's not the end point. It's just a process for judoists, and of course I think the athletes will grow greatly because I aim for the Olympics, and as I said, I won the gold medal that participated in this Olympics I think it is very important how to make use of it in the next life based on the results. I myself have been coaching the Japanese national team, and I have experienced the Olympics, but I feel that it is still halfway.

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--- It's still halfway.

(Inoue) That's right. There are still things I want to do. There are many things you can do. As I participate in HEROs events, I think that there are still many things that must be done in the judo world, so I would like to continue doing what I can.

-You said that you wanted to do what you could do, but did you go abroad after retiring from your job? Do you still feel the difference between Japanese and overseas judo and how difficult it is to communicate?

(Inoue) That's right. I definitely feel that there is a difference between Judo and JUDO. For example, in the world, there is a way to fight alone without weapons. So-called martial arts. In terms of competitiveness, "JUDO" has been increasingly adopting a fighting culture. In other words, I feel that it is becoming a complex of martial arts all over the world. In terms of the operation of the tournament, the most recent World Championship has a total of $ 1 million in prize money for players. Of course, it is distributed by class, but it is changing to such a system. Therefore, we have to think about two aspects, just martial arts "judo" and sports "JUDO", and it is necessary to identify the developmental form in it I feel

--- It's a difficult place. There may be professional "JUDO families" who are aiming for prizes, and other "Judo artists" who are going on the judo path. I think that it is also difficult in terms of guidance.

(Inoue) But I don't think that making money is against the martial arts spirit. Players may use the prize money to spend on reinforcement. In addition, there are many people who hold Judo classes and other activities to give dreams and hopes. I think the most important thing is the philosophy and vision of how to use what we have gained. If that doesn't happen, I think the new system is "yes".

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--- Judo is a sport that is spread all over the world, so you can contribute to the world.

(Inoue) That's right. I myself recently launched an NPO and started activities to contribute to society and international exchange through judo. For example, we recycle judo clothes left over in junior and senior high schools and send them to disadvantaged countries around the world, or to people who cannot afford to buy tatami mats and are not well equipped. We also gather coaches from all over the world, especially those from developing countries, and hold coaching seminars and training camps to raise the level of the country. As I told you, it is very important to keep what you can pass on to future generations through judo. Of course, it is a position where you have to stick to winning from the position of men's national coach, so it is valuable for society to be able to utilize judo through various activities while seeking for winning. I want to be able to recognize that.

--- In your current story, you mentioned that you are sending judo clothes abroad. Will it support that activity?

(Inoue) Yes, that's right. It was a very dramatic event, but Haruka Tachimoto, who won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, donated some worn-out judo clothes. After she retired, one day she went to teaching abroad, and the child who was in that dojo was wearing Tachimoto's judo wear. Children in developing countries are hard to get judo clothes. In such an environment, Tachimoto appeared as an instructor where he enjoyed judo using recycled judo wear. It's a coincidence and it's also very dramatic, and I think it's been a big dream and hope for her. In the future, I would like to make efforts to expand such activities.

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--- When you hear such a story, you don't know where the edges are connected, and they are connected across national borders. Speaking of ties, Mr. Inoue is also involved in disaster-stricken area support as a HEROs ambassador. You said you visited a disaster area affected by heavy rain in July 2018. How did you get there?

(Inoue) I have been nominated as an HEROs ambassador and willingly accept it because I am deeply impressed with the activities that HEROs are doing. It is such an activity that will lead me in the direction I want to aim for, so I can not take the time as a representative from Japan, but I want to participate as much as possible to work as actively as possible Whats It may be difficult to understand the suffering and the pain of the affected people 100%, but go to the scene and HEROs ambassadors will work hard and delight you with the heart. When I saw the people, I felt again that such activities were important.

--- Now, I would like to invite another person here. Along with Mr. Yasuo Inoue, the president of SNOWBANK who visited Hiroshima Prefecture, the affected area, and Mr. Yoshimasa Arai, a professional snowboarder.


(Daze) Thank you!


--- It seems that you were with Hiroshi Inoue in Hiroshima.

(Daze) That's right. It was last year, and I was invited to go to the affected areas. There are many top athletes, including Yasuo Inoue. And I and Inoue were the same age. Mr. Inoue was very quick. By the time I turned 20, I was already active and a big star. At that time, I was just a professional snowboarder, and after seeing Yasuo Inoue, I thought I'd do something.

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--- Even if each category is different, it is interesting because the same age is connected.

(Inoue) I met Arai through the activities of HEROs, but I still remember it vividly. I was told that I was doing this on the bus. It was a wonderful activity when I was carrying a pamphlet and showed it. I thought if I could cooperate, I was talking about doing something while collaborating with the judo world in the future, and elsewhere, I was able to work together again this time and had a very good opportunity .

(Daze) I'm really happy. I think it's really wonderful that the HEROs Festa was held by actually connecting and coming to the site.

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--- Someone knows snowboarders and knows judo. That's because those people know each other and have a greater influence.

(Daze) SNOWBANK was launched with the intention of becoming a hub. To get to know our activities, let snow fall in Shibuya. I've been doing it since 2011.

--- Judoists have the image of not doing snowboarding very much, but it would be interesting if there were players who could do something unexpectedly if they tried it.

(Inoue) Actually, I tried snowboarding this winter. I was really scared. As a family, I always go to the ski area once or twice every winter. I usually ski, but this time I challenged snowboarding, and the result was my head stabbed in the snow (laughs). It wasn't long after I was thrown that long (laughs).

--- Isn't passive passive perfect?

(Inoue) No, no, you can't be passive. So I blew out, "I'm no longer good" and pierced my head. I was very scared, but it was pleasant and fun.

(Daze) The feeling of sliding in that nature is fun.

--Isn't it nice that Mr. Inoue challenged snowboarding?

(Daze) I'm really happy, no way.

--- Inoue-san, there is a snowy mountain there.

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(Inoue) No, I can't show you any more than what you would say at the 2020 Olympics, "Is it okay?"

--- Last but not least, Mr. Inoue, would you like to give a word to everyone?

(Inoue) It was a short time today, but I enjoyed it very much. I think Arai's activities are very wonderful, and the Judo world wants to do more for people and for society while incorporating these activities more and more. Before that, we have the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In the battle, giving you dreams, hopes, and excitement, I think that is one of the contributions we can give to you. The players are working hard crazy now. I hope you can support the players and the judo world by all means. Thank you for your time today.

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Interview / text / photo:Yasuyuki Segawa


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