Tsunoda Natsumi, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion in the women’s -48 kg, has shown the site in Chiba where she plans to build her own dojo.
She published the video on her own YouTube channel on 18 September, under the title 「道場予定地を見に行ってきました」. Japanese outlets, including Oricon, picked the story up on 25 September.
The land came from her grandfather, who ran a bonesetting clinic and loved judo. Tsunoda, who lost him when she was in the fourth year of primary school, said the site was also her grandfather’s wish. Her parents took over the clinic and did not run a dojo, and she said they now support her plan.
The building she describes is about the size of one competition area, roughly 60 tatami, with changing rooms, a higher ceiling and an open, clean feel. She said she hopes it will be standing next year.
She also explained when the idea started. After she missed selection for the Tokyo Olympics, she thought about retiring, and began planning a second career. Staying in competition, she said, gave her the chance to earn a salary and prize money, and she saved it for the dojo.
Tsunoda, now 34, said she wanted to do it while she still has the energy, rather than waiting until work, family or children made it harder.
Beyond a base for her own training, she wants the dojo to help promote judo, support younger judoka and back students planning their own second careers.
Video: 「道場予定地を見に行ってきました🥋」, Tsunoda Natsumi’s own YouTube channel (published 18 September 2026)