Japanese educator and martial artist who founded judo, combining elements of several schools of jujutsu into a system he called the gentle way. He established the Kodokan, the first school of judo, in Tokyo in 1882. He introduced the black and white belt ranking system still used across martial arts and served for decades as an educator, including as director of primary education for the Ministry of Education and as principal of the Tokyo Higher Normal School. In 1909 he became the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee and worked to bring the 1940 Olympic Games to Tokyo. Judo, the sport he founded, became the first Japanese martial art to gain wide international recognition.
Facts
RoleFounder of judo; educator; first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee 1 Death PlaceAt sea, aboard the liner Hikawa Maru 1 Role
Role (category) Role (category) FAQs
Did Jigoro Kano live to see judo become an Olympic sport?
No. He died at sea in 1938; judo joined the Olympic programme in 1964.
No. Kano died at sea in 1938 at the age of 77, aboard the NYK Line motor ship Hikawa Maru, while returning to Japan. In that same year it had been formally decided to hold the 1940 Olympic Games in Tokyo, a result of his work in the Olympic movement. Judo itself was introduced to the Olympic programme at the 1964 Tokyo Games and has been featured in every Olympiad since 1972.
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Source KANO Jigoro, 1860 to 1938 (International Judo Federation Hall of Fame)tier 1
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Source Wikidata: Jigoro Kano
Sources
1. KANO Jigoro, 1860 to 1938 (International Judo Federation Hall of Fame)
International Judo FederationIJF Hall of Fame: KANO Jigoro entry
Judo is the way of the highest or most efficient use of both physical and mental energy.
Jigoro Kano: Gender
Japanese educator and martial artist who founded judo, combining elements of several schools of jujutsu into a system he called the gentle way.
- Wikipedia biography, role/occupation stated in lead section (w-bbfill-history3-0927)
View the Source Wikidata: Jigoro Kano
Wikidata Q190141, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.In Era: The Late Modern PeriodView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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