Note: I would like to thank the publisher, and their point of contact Adam, for sending me a review copy from Japan.
Title: The Legacy of Kano Jigoro: Judo and Education
Author: The Committee for the Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Jigoro Kano; Translated by Tom Kain
Publisher: Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC)
Publication Date: March 2020
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 344, 210mm (h) x 148mm (w) (8.26 in x 5.83 in)
Cover Price: ￥3,000
ISBN: 9784866581361
Content
Readers likely know Professor Jigoro Kano as the founder of judo. Martial arts were an integral component of his life, beginning in his teenage years. Readers might assume that by using the title “professor” I’m simply following a tradition found in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is derived from judo. However, my use of the title “professor” is probably the most accurate way to refer to Kano. In fact, I could have also addressed him as Principal, or member of the House of Peers!
This book includes judo in the title and content, but it really focuses on Professor Kano’s life as an educator. He was a professor at Gakushuin University, the principal of the First Higher Middle School, and the principal of the Tokyo Higher Normal School. Although he integrated judo into many aspects of student life, he also advocated competitive athletics, particularly running and swimming. The last two sports blazed a trail to Japan’s integration into the Olympic Games, beginning in 1912 with running and 1920 with swimming. This book looks at Kano’s life and legacy in the realm of education in Japan, integrating judo as appropriate.
Pros
It is difficult to find solid English-language sources on Professor Kano’s life. This book is a translation of a volume published in 2011 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Professor Kano’s birth in 1860. It relies heavily on Japanese sources, noted at the end of each chapter. This is appropriate given that Japanese materials are generally the best available and that the original edition was published in Japanese. The text is very readable and flows as if written by a native English speaker.
The level of detail in the book is impressive, and it includes topics seldom seen elsewhere. For example, earlier this month I watched a Japanese docudrama called “Idaten,” portraying Japan’s experience in the Olympic games. I was curious to see if the prominent role played by Professor Kano in the television series was substantiated by any historical sources. After reading The Legacy of Kano Jigoro, I am confident that he was the driving force behind Japan’s inclusion in the Olympics and the awarding of the games to Japan in 1940 (cancelled) and 1964 (successful).
I also learned a great deal about Professor Kano’s own education, which formed the basis of his philosophy of judo. The English author Herbert Spencer played a big role in Kano’s thought processes, via Spencer’s concept of education as an intellectual, moral, and physical pursuit. I learned Kano might have considered two alternative names for ju-do (the gentle way): ju-rigaku (the gentle science) and ju-rison (the gentle theory). Finally, the book’s explanation of Kano’s influence on swimming, particularly his awarding of dan grades to swimmers in the first decade of the 1900s, inspired me to write a separate blog post on how swimming learned from judo, and not the other way around.
Cons
I have very few concerns with this book. I will admit that it had a rocky start. On page 10, at the very beginning of the text, the book states the Professor Kano was born on December 10, 1860. I knew he was born on October 28, 1860. The December date was a result of Japan’s lunar calendar, abandoned in favor of the more common Gregorian calendar in 1873. I believe a Japanese person reading Japanese text would understand that a reference to December 10, 1860 would be inherently a lunar calendar date. However, a person reading in English would either need to see the date translated to the Gregorian version, or they would need both dates and an explanation of the discrepancy.
Part V bears the title “Kano Jigoro the Man” and begins with a promising picture of Kano, his wife, and six of his children. However, we mostly read about Kano and his students. The book says almost nothing about his family life. I also believe the later chapters by individual contributing authors were a bit repetitive and did not greatly contribute to the overall message.
Finally, the text in this book is very small. I was able to read it without my reading glasses, but I think the book would have benefitted from being a size larger.
Conclusion
I give this book 5 out of 5 ninja stars.
I enjoyed reading The Legacy of Kano Jigoro. It is a brave book in the sense that it addresses the topic of education, and doesn’t rely on judo to carry the story. Although I did learn more about Kano’s experience with judo, the book’s primary value derives from Kano’s contribution to education. It is clear that not only was Kano a force in judo, but also a force in athletics and modern Japanese schooling. I highly recommend reading this book, although it may require contacting the publisher or making a request through a local book store.
Note: I would like to thank the publisher, and their point of contact Adam, for sending me a copy from Japan.
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- Book Review: Flashing Steel, 25th Anniversary Edition - November 23, 2020
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