judo
The Olympic Organizing Committee is considering what kind of punishment he’ll receive, on top of any legal repercussions.
”I was startled by the size of Godzilla’s thighs,” says Olympic coach as team officially adopts Godzilla Japan nickname.
We at RocketNews24 previously told you about the awesome Wushu World Champion women fighters. While Japan has plenty of women who participate in Wushu (and have done rather well) more Japanese women have made names for themselves in karate, judo and taekwondo.
Japan leads the world in women’s judo and karate. Both are gendai budo martial arts, or modern Japanese martial arts that started from or after the Meiji Restoration (1866–1869). The ancient martial arts, such as jujitsu or naginatajutsu, predate the Meiji Restoration.
Women’s Judo, an Olympic sport, wasn’t instituted until the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games. While karate is not an Olympic sport, Japanese women have achieved top results in the Asian Games, the Karate World Championships, and the World Games. Japan also has a top woman in the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo.
Let’s take a closer look at these leading Japanese martial arts practitioners who, even on a bad day could kick our collective arses.
At 159cm (5’2″) tall, Kyuzo Mifune was not a big man. But as this amazing video of the judo master shows, strength doesn’t come from size alone. Mifune is considered to be one of the finest judo technicians ever, and this video of him accepting challenges from high-level younger students shows his incredible power and skill.
Join us after the jump for a sprightly energy burst, as the man they call the “God of Judo” skips, jumps and runs rings around his young challengers.
In a way, small children are scary. Their language skills aren’t fully developed, so you can’t negotiate with them. When they’re angry, their lack of adherence to societal norms means they’re likely to scream at or even bite you. Really, the only thing that keeps them from being paralyzingly frightening is the superior size and strength we have as full-grown adults.
So when we first heard about toddlers practicing judo, which would eventually allow them to use our strength against us, we assumed they must be terrifying. Then we watched this video, and learned that they’re somehow even more adorable as a result of their training in Japanese grappling techniques.
It’s an old stereotype that all East Asians know martial arts and one that’s far from the truth. However, you never know when someone you least expect is going to pop out some taekwondo, karate, judo, or, in the words of James Brown, ka-razy.
Hiroshi Ebina learned that the hard way when a 21-year-old female station attendant he got mixed up with took him down in one move having good old-fashioned judo under her presumably black belt.








New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Village Vanguard tries to tickle us pink with a Pink Lucky Bag
Researchers in Japan give mouse glowing sperm
Man arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
World’s oldest manga is now a bra thanks to Japanese lingerie maker’s art history series【Photos】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
McDonald’s teams up with Touch manga for burgers that capture the bittersweet taste of youth
Japan’s kimono-style bra and panties bring traditional motif to modern lingerie design【Photos】
Kura Sushi adds new cake party train to conveyor belts at select restaurants
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
World’s oldest manga is now a bra thanks to Japanese lingerie maker’s art history series【Photos】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
McDonald’s teams up with Touch manga for burgers that capture the bittersweet taste of youth
Japan’s kimono-style bra and panties bring traditional motif to modern lingerie design【Photos】
Kura Sushi adds new cake party train to conveyor belts at select restaurants
Kura Sushi wants to see you smile for a chance to win prizes
Suspects arrested for 100-million yen Kyoto home invasion robbery after eight-year search
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Man arrested in Japan after walking around supermarket in a monkey mask
Over half of Japanese people in survey only dated three or fewer people before getting married
Studio Ghibli’s kodama ready to leave the Princess Mononoke forest as a squeezable keychain【Pics】
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Indian man in Japan arrested on charges of using curry spices as weapon in robbery attempt