The Kodokan is the institute Jigoro Kano founded in Tokyo in 1882 to teach judo. It started as a room of twelve tatami mats in a temple. Today it fills an eight-story building in the Kasuga area and remains the world reference for judo techniques, kata and part of the grading system.
From a temple room to an eight-story building
In May or June 1882, Jigoro Kano gathered his first students in an outbuilding of the Eishō-ji, a Buddhist temple in the Ueno area. Twelve mats barely leave room for two randori at once. The students could be counted on two hands.
The dojo moved several times as the practice grew. In 1958 the Kodokan settled in Kasuga, in Bunkyō ward, where it still stands. The current building has eight floors. The main dojo takes up a whole floor, and a gallery on the level above lets visitors watch training.
Its name already states the project. Kō (study), dō (way), kan (hall). The Kodokan presents itself as a school, not a fight club. That choice comes from Kano's career as an educator and from his wish to separate his judo from the jujutsu of the old schools.
What the Kodokan does today
Some people picture the Kodokan as a museum. It is a place of daily training with several jobs.
- Technical reference. The Kodokan sets the official list of techniques and their names. The gokyo and the techniques added since (the shinmeisho-no-waza) are published by the institute. When two instructors disagree on a name, the Kodokan terminology settles it.
- Kata. The Kodokan preserves and teaches the official kata, from nage-no-kata to koshiki-no-kata. Our guide to judo kata presents them one by one.
- Grades. The institute awards its own dan grades, including the highest ones. Each national federation still controls its own grades. For how the dan system works, see our article on judo dan grades.
- Teaching and research. Classes for children and adults, international courses, a library and a history exhibition.
The IJF writes the competition rules. The Kodokan keeps the doctrine. The two do not always say the same thing. Modern refereeing has removed or restricted actions that the Kodokan still teaches in kata, and that is fine: the two bodies have different roles.
The Kodokan in an ordinary dojo
For most judoka, the Kodokan feels far away. Yet it shows up in every class. The Japanese words called out at the bow, the order of the nage-no-kata sets required for black belt, the list of throws you revise before grading: all of it was standardized at the Kodokan.
Not every country started with Kodokan methods. In France, for example, Mikonosuke Kawaishi taught his own system, with numbered techniques instead of Japanese names. Kodokan terminology took over later there, as it did almost everywhere.
Visiting and training at the Kodokan
Many judoka make it a stop on their first trip to Japan. A few practical points, gathered from people who have trained there:
- Plan the visit on the official website. Opening hours, gallery access and training rules change over time. Do not rely on a five-year-old travel blog.
- If you want to train, bring the paperwork. Foreign visitors must register before stepping on the mat, so check which documents are required. Bring a clean white judogi in good condition.
- Approach randori with humility. Evening sessions mix university students, police officers, veterans and visitors. The level is often high and the pace hard. Ask before inviting a senior grade, and accept a refusal gracefully.
- Go up to the exhibition room. Photos of the first students, Kano's documents, portraits of the great names of Japanese judo. That is where you measure how far judo has come since those twelve mats.
If your trip goes beyond Tokyo, read our article on judo in Japan. University and police dojos show another side of Japanese judo, often tougher than what you see at the Kodokan.
What people bring back
Judoka who come back from the Kodokan rarely talk about technique. They talk about the way people bow, the silence before class and the respect shown to seniors. They also mention how well Japanese players fall, children included. The judo bow is done slowly and cleanly there, without the rush you sometimes see at the end of a club session.
Our advice: if you are planning a stay, work on your ukemi and your kumikata for several weeks before you leave. In a Kodokan randori, people will judge you first on how you fall and how you grip, long before they care about your competition record.