A Lifetime at the Nippon Budokan
The career of Nippon Budokan Secretary-General Hideo Yoshikawa
Nippon Budokan‘s support of the martial arts
The first time I decided to travel to Japan, it was 1991 and I was scared to say the least. I was travelling to the birthplace of Budo to a seminar sponsored by the Japanese Government through their representatives at the Nippon Budokan.
I was intrigued by the invitation I received from this prestigious organization as I knew the Nippon Budokan to be the cultural mecca of Japanese Budo. While many people know of the Nippon Budokan, most primarily know of the structure itself, which is considered a marvel of traditional Japanese architecture. The Nippon Budokan is also a government affiliated organization that manages both the facilities and administration of the promotion of traditional Japanese Budo.
The building itself, from its samurai helmet shaped roof to its newly build central (or companion) dojo, has held both sport and cultural events since its inception during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It has been the honor of Hideo Yoshikawa to lead this eminent organization for the past few years, but it was in a totally different capacity as the organizer of the annual International Budo Seminar where I first met Yoshikawa-San.
The seminar was open primarily to foreign residents of Japan who maintained at least a first-degree black belt (Shodan) in one of a number of specific Budo disciplines including my specialty, Karate-Do. My invitation was extended to me due to my various connections to Japanese based martial arts organizations most of which I joined mainly for research purposes (for previous Black Belt Magazine articles)
The location of the seminar was in Katsuura, Japan at a Martial Arts Facility called the “Kenshu Centre” which was adjacent to the International Budo University. This trip was to be the start of a long and arduous journey whereby I would revisit this impressive country another 15 times over the last 30+ years. One of the first people I met at the start of my journey, was an equally impressive martial artist, Hideo Yoshikawa, who also happened to be in charge of this newly established International Budo Seminar.
International Budo Seminar
The International Budo Seminar was the brainchild of the Nippon Budokan and was the Japanese government’s strategy in promoting traditional Japanese Budo to an international audience. When I arrived at my first seminar, it was already going on 3 years and included some of the finest Budo instructors in Japan.
Mr. Yoshikawa was already the lead supervisor of the seminar’s organizing team and as he was responsible for all aspects of the seminar, including organizing the instructors, the participants, their food and accommodations needs, as well as all related staff, he did so in a very professional manner, yet was still approachable and gracious for our involvement. With myself being one of the very few permitted to attend without actually living in Japan, Mr. Yoshikawa ensured I wasn’t totally lost during my first visit to Japan.
The International Budo Seminar was a unique event where some of the highest ranked Budo Masters would assemble at the Nippon Budokan Kenshu Center and allow a small group of martial arts enthusiasts like myself to witness and learn some of the finest techniques and philosophy produced by Japanese Budo culture.
This included the 9 main Budo disciplines promoted by the Nippon Budokan, which were Kendo, Judo, Kyudo, Sumo, Karatedo, Aikido, Shorinji Kempo, Naginata and Jukendo. We not only trained at our own discipline (and where I first met Kanazawa Hirokazu Soke) but where we were also permitted to try and train at one of the other disciplines (which is where I first started Naginata).
Thanks to Mr. Yoshikawa’s generous nature, I returned to the same seminar for the next 5 years and have returned to enjoy the Budo camaraderie of the seminar and in turn Mr. Yoshikawa’s friendship many times over the past 30+ years.
While Mr. Yoshikawa continued to rise through the corporate ranks at the now prestigious Nippon Budokan (as the building itself is located on Imperial grounds in the center of Tokyo), he continued to lead up the team at the Budo Seminar until it changed its format about 10 years ago.
It was Mr. Yoshikawa’s love of the older and more traditional Budos, known as Kobudo (古武道) or “Old Budos”, many with unique outlooks and weaponry, which became his driving passion. It was this passion that resulted in the development of the annual Nippon Kobudo Demonstrations which are held at the Nippon Budokan each February.
Although I have not been able to attend one of these International Budo seminars for several years, every time I do travel to Japan, I make an effort to meet my old friend, which usually ends up with dinner and some sake. It was during my most recent visit to Japan in September 2023 where I was able to procure some of my friend’s valuable time for a short interview. The pandemic made it difficult for me to travel to Japan for a few years so our getting together was pleasant and it was enjoyable to see an old friend again after many difficult years.
Career Aspirations
As Mr. Yoshikawa and myself caught up on family and work, we agreed that time had passed us by, far too quickly. He was nearing 70 years old after working his entire career at the Nippon Budokan in its various departments until where now he was leading this prestigious organization.
I asked Mr. Yoshikawa about his time at the Nippon Budokan and why he first decided to join the organization and in turn why he stayed so long.
HY: I did Judo in High School. In University, I focused on Aikido and I knew that I wanted to stay with Budo for life.
Mr. Yoshikawa explained to me that when he started to practice martial arts in school, he wanted his career to revolve around martial arts or Budo and the reason he accepted a position with the Nippon Budokan when he graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1977.
While learning the nuances within each department he was assigned to, he would also volunteer for side projects, especially those that promoted the traditional spirit of Japanese Budo, like the International Budo Seminar. Not only did Mr. Yoshikawa learn the proper corporate management skills needed to succeed, he, in fact eventually led each department he was assigned to. Nevertheless, even with all this management success, he still had no inkling that he was on the short list to lead the organization out right.
HY: I have enjoyed my career at Nippon Budokan, but I never thought I would still be working after I turned 65.
Mr. Yoshikawa, after a stellar career and a dedication to the promotion of traditional Japanese Budo culture, was selected by the Board of Governors to become the Nippon Budokan’s next Secretary General. We are told that while the Board of Governors decide on the ultimate direction and strategies of the Nippon Budokan and its future, it is Mr. Yoshikawa’s responsibilities to carry out these mandates.
One of his more serious mandates and the reason he feels he needs to stay on for a couple more years (at least) is to ensure he properly selects and educates the next Secretary General. While the Chairman of the Board of Governors has final say in the selection process, it is obvious that Mr. Yoshikawa’s opinion carries a huge amount of weight.
HY: I may have to stay as Secretary General until I am at least 70 years old, as I will need to properly train my successor.
New Challenges
Some of the first challenges encountered when Mr. Yoshikawa took over stewardship of the organization, was the slow demise of the popularity of Japanese Budo, due mainly to other popular sports, like baseball as well as the growing (and very encompassing) universe of video games.
Mr. Yoshikawa in addition to promoting Budo to the Japanese, continued to be an active participant as well, achieving a 7th Dan in Aikido as well as a Shodan in Wado-Kai. What he did notice when training in either discipline was that the future of both art forms was in its children’s classes.
While Mr. Yoshikawa’s efforts to date had been focused on the promotion of traditional Budo Values including the preservation of Old Budo (Kobudo), he quickly realized that this strategy included having children become part of these efforts. This resulted in summer programs for all children and the updating and publication of the “The Budo Charter for Young People” both of which promote that through the practice of Budo, the student learns correct manners, refines his or her technical skills, and develops the mind and body.
These are similar beliefs that most North American schools promote in their marketing material and similar to their North American counterparts, the Nippon Budokan began working closely with local elementary and high schools organizing classes, seminars and tournaments.
The Pandemic and the Olympics
The greatest challenge for Mr. Yoshikawa, as it was for many martial arts schools and organizations, was the Pandemic. In Mr. Yoshikawa’s case, it was two-fold as the Pandemic also disrupted the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which the Nippon Budokan was an integral part of.
As in the 1964 Olympics, the Nippon Budokan facility was to house the Judo competitions, but this Olympics, they were also to host the inaugural Karate events. This required substantial upgrades as required by the Olympic committee, including the building of a second attached facility which housed the new training or warmup dojo.
HY: For the preparation of the Olympics, Nippon Budokan was closed for approximately two years.
Similar to elsewhere in the world, most businesses in Japan closed down during the Pandemic, although the business of the Olympics operated somewhat differently. While Japan was struggling with COVID-19 issues, the Olympic committee was still pushing for the games to be held.
Fortunately for Mr. Yoshikawa, the local construction conglomerates had dedicated themselves to ensuring the success of these very important (at least to Japan) 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
HY: The construction companies responsible for renovating the venue did not experience any prolonged interruptions due to COVID-19 and were able to complete the renovations almost as scheduled
This was very convenient for the Nippon Budokan as the construction included a secondary training facility known as the Naka Dojo. This new building covers more than 3,000 sq m. (over 32,000 sq. ft.) and includes new lecture and cafeteria facilities, with the Dojo itself being over 7,000 sq. ft. Together with the modernization of the main building, this multi-Billion Yen upgrade was completed on time, even though the Olympics themselves were delay for almost a year.
HY: Despite the one-year delay caused by the pandemic, we are very proud that judo and karate were able to be held at Nippon Budokan.
The lengths that the Nippon Budokan staff went to, in order to ensure that success of the Olympics, were substantial which included relocating offices until after the Olympics. Unfortunately, with the Olympics bureaucracy being almost as big as the event itself, there was no nearby office complex to accommodate them. Mr. Yoshikawa’s unique solution was to simply move the entire office staff to an adjacent parking lot where a temporary tent covered solution was built.
The comradery created within his Budo influenced staff, whereas they survived this small hardship for the good of the nation (or at least the Tokyo Olympics) also solidified Mr. Yoshikawa’s leadership legacy.
Personal Career Legacy
When trying to assess Mr. Yoshikawa’s personal efforts while leading the Nippon Budokan, we feel it was his determination to preserve old Japanese martial arts by focusing on children’s events and classes that should have a lasting effect. Having three sons of his own, Mr. Yoshikawa feels that Family and the focus on traditional cultural values is the best path for the future of the Japanese society.
While Mr. Yoshikawa has many candidates to choose from when deciding on a successor, he continues to lead the organization by providing the administration and facilities for various non-profit martial arts organizations throughout Japan. These services include not only the organizing and running of several children training tournaments, where learning takes a priority over competition, there also are seminars, lectures and an extensive library of books and eBooks published exclusively by the Nippon Budokan.
The Nippon Budokan is a longtime and prestigious institution which remains a cultural center for both traditional and modern martial arts …. Budo (see the list of modern Budo’s officially supported by the Nippon Budokan above). While we have not touched upon the many non-martial arts related events made historic by the “Budokan” (think Beatles and Cheap Trick on the music side alone), it is the wholesome and inclusive nature of this time-honored institution that will allow it to flourish into the future.
It also provides the Japanese people an opportunity to remember their time-honored martial arts history, traditions and culture. These are the same values that continue to drive Secretary General Yoshikawa Hideo, which ensures they also become part of his personal ‘lifetime at the Nippon Budokan’ legacy.
Pruim Shihan has regularly travelled to Japan in order to train with one of the world's foremost Karate masters, the late Kanazawa Hirokazu Soke (10th Dan Shotokan Karate) and his present instructor Shuseki Shihan Manabu Murakami (8th Dan).
Pruim Shihan also attended the International Budo University, located in Katsuura, Japan on several occasions for advanced Budo training where he was introduced to Atarashii Naginata.
Andries Pruim has written several articles over the past 30 years, with his most recent work focusing on the business side of the Martial Arts Industry.
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