Japan’s student judo calendar becomes especially busy in August. The All Japan Judo Federation has scheduled national high-school and junior-high competitions, alongside an elementary-school judo development project.

The national high-school tournament will be held from 6 to 10 August at Wakayama Big Whale. The national junior-high tournament follows from 18 to 21 August at Shigeto Arena Okayama, while the elementary-school development project is scheduled for 23 August at Yokohama Budokan.

The men's individual events produced four champions on 8 August. 井上玄樹 of Hieizan High School in Shiga Prefecture took the under-81 kg title; 大野凱吏 of Tokai University Sagami High School in Kanagawa Prefecture won the under-90 kg category; 嶋羽優人 of Tenri High School in Nara Prefecture claimed the under-100 kg crown; and 松林清將 of Tokai University Sagami High School took the over-100 kg category.

These events show the breadth of Japan's student pathway. Competition matters, but the calendar also leaves space for development work, allowing younger children to build movement, confidence and a long-term relationship with judo.

Sources

More judo news in English and Chinese from Hong Kong Judo.