Kosei Inoue: Special Judo Friendship Renewed at Tournament in Qingdao

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Summer has arrived, and schools here in Japan are on vacation. Nevertheless, national tournaments for junior high and high school judoka are routinely held during this period. High temperatures are forecast again for summer 2026, so all possible precautions need to be taken to prevent heatstroke. Even so, I hope kids who participate in these events will devote themselves wholeheartedly to judo and create many summer memories.

Alongside my work in Japan, in my capacity as a board member of the International Judo Federation, I spend many days supporting the operations of international tournaments held around the world. In July, for instance, I attended the Qingdao Grand Prix 2026, held in the city of Qingdao, China.

Many top competitors from Japan, including Olympic gold medalist Hifumi Abe, participated in the tournament and engaged in exciting matches against formidable opponents from around the world. I was able to confirm that they are making steady progress in preparing for the Asian Games, which will be held in Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, starting in late September, and the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, in October.

A Visit to the China-Japan Friendship Qingdao Judo Hall

In Qingdao, I was able to visit a place I had long wanted to see, namely the China-Japan Friendship Qingdao Judo Hall. This judo dojo was established in 2007 through the cooperation of Japan and China. It aims to foster friendship and deepen exchanges between our two countries through the practice of judo.

The facility was built with the backing of the NPO Solidarity of International Judo Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the All Japan Judo Federation. My mentor Yasuhiro Yamashita founded and served as the chair of SIJE until it was dissolved in 2019.

Ever since its establishment, the Qingdao dojo has nurtured numerous judoka. A great many people ー especially children ー continue to train there. Many judoka from Japan have visited over the years to engage in exchanges with the judo enthusiasts there.

True to its name, the China-Japan Friendship Qingdao Judo Hall serves as a special stage for Japan-China friendship.

People-to-People Judo Exchanges

JUDOs, the NPO at which I serve as president, also engages in people-to-people exchanges with China almost every year. Meanwhile, due to its history, I have felt emotionally close to the Qingdao dojo for some time. I had really hoped to visit it if I ever had the chance to go to Shandong Province.

Our stay for the tournament was admittedly short. Still, when the chance finally materialized, we visited the China-Japan Friendship Qingdao Judo Hall and received a wonderful welcome. Our visit included an energetic judo demonstration by the children, and we enjoyed a truly grand time.

The precious time I spent at the Qingdao dojo impressed on me how much the students there love judo and are enjoying the judo life. As a fellow judoka, I was deeply moved and truly delighted by that realization.

At the same time, my visit to Qingdao reminded me of the legacy of Yasuhiro Yamashita. He and many others worked hard to see the China-Japan Friendship Qingdao Judo Hall become a reality. Its popularity with so many Chinese judoka continues to serve as a living tribute to Japan-China friendship there in Qingdao.

My trip to the Qingdao tournament became an experience that truly brought such thoughts home to me.