Young Ukrainian Judoka Given Training by Japanese Olympic Medalists

As part of its efforts to support Ukrainians who have evacuated to Japan, The Nippon Foundation has provided an opportunity for 12 young members of a Ukrainian judo club to practice under the instruction of two Japanese Olympic medalists.    

Giving them a special workout were Mr. Kosei Inoue, the gold medalist in the 100kg class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Japan national team coach for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Mr. Ryunosuke Haga, the bronze medalist in the 100kg event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The event was held on August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, at the Asano Junior and Senior High School in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, and was also joined by about 60 young Japanese, including members of the school’s judo club. The Ukrainians are from a judo club in Odesa which has a sister city affiliation with Yokohama.

The participants received instruction in judo’s uchi-mata (inner thigh wraparound throw) and o-uchi-gari (large inner reap) techniques, and this was followed by randori freestyle training.

The event was also part of the foundation’s HERO’s project, which seeks to harness the power of sports to give children hopes and dreams for the future and create a better society for the next generation.

Mr. Inoue, who was appointed as a HEROs Ambassador by the foundation, commented after the event: “I wanted the young people to enjoy themselves while they are doing judo and spending time in Japan. I sincerely hope that the situation in Ukraine ends as quickly as possible, and that an environment is created that will allow these young people, who practiced so hard today, to look toward the future.

“We cannot imagine the hardships they are facing, but if there is anything we can do going forward, I want the judo family to take part,” he added.

Mr. Haga said: “Seeing the looks in the young people’s eyes gave me strength as well. Their judo is also strong, and I could feel their strength,” adding: “I thought it would be better for them if I didn’t think too much about the situation in Ukraine, so I came here to work up a sweat doing judo together. I enjoyed working up a sweat with them.”

Mr. Denys Politylo of the Odesa judo club said he is very thankful for “this valuable opportunity,” adding: “Unfortunately, we cannot practice judo in Ukraine now. I am very happy to have been able to practice with these famous judoka. I look forward to telling the members who couldn’t join us about this experience after I return to Ukraine.”

To continue to support displaced Ukrainians in Japan under the HEROs project, The Nippon Foundation will hold another workout in Tokyo on October 22, this time open to all.