Why hasn’t anyone take some action in this matter it should have stopped after the first accidents by the Minister of education in Japan. Jigoro Kano appointed as adviser of the Minister of education established that judo became a part of the physical education in Japan.
The two Japanese judo masters (actually they call themselves agogues and member of the comité of Japanese judo Association) Hidaya Mori and Susumi Takahashi who been in the Netherlands to study the Dutch teachers education model, proclaimed: "it is all a matter of culture."
In the early history of judo, Jigoro Kano description of the ideal judo teacher, he mentioned:
they need to have detailed knowledge of physical education, teaching methods and have a thorough grasp of the signification of moral education. Finally, I must understand the principles of judo can be extensions, utilized to help one in daily life and how they themselves can be of benefit to society at large.
So Jigaro Kano pointed in the right direction but they didn't listen nor take notice of it and continue to become champions and didn't look for educational values of judo like you are doing.
What can you expect from a country where teenagers commit suicide because they don't graduate for high school!!! When you are a failure you do not belong to the group anymore. Remember Japanese culture is based on doing tasks together and inherently in a structural hierarchy. You simply don't question the acts of your superior, so it's quite remarkable that finally some parents protest against the authorities.
I received a mail from JJAVA after I declared my sympathy for the parents.
Dear Ben van der Eng
Thank you for your kindness letter.
I know Mr. Anthonius Geesink.
When I heard his death I was sad very much.
↓This is a children's report who died in Japan.
Many many children died in Judo in Japan.
This is not a fiction.
This is a true fact.
AJJF(All Japan Judo Federation) explains "We made a text for safe.""We have held the safety guidance course. "
But a lot of children are dying now.
I want to talk about JJAVA, but I cannot speak English well.
Please wait a moment.
I will write a letter once more.
Please help the children in Japan!
sincerely
Keiko Kobayashi (mrs.)
Executive Director
Japan Judo Accident Victims Association (JJAVA)
It seems to me that this people need help perhaps we can motivate our national judo federations to offer a helping hand to change the judo mentality and culture in Japan.
