Google honours Kano Jigoro, the father of Judo, with a doodle
NEW DELHI: Tech giant Google on October 28 honoured Japan’s “Father of Judo,” Professor Kano Jigoro, on his 161st birth anniversary with a doodle.
Today’s Doodle is illustrated by Los Angeles CA-based artist Cynthia Yuan Cheng. The name Judo means “the gentle way” and the sport is built on principles such as justice, courtesy, safety, and modesty. Kanō saw the martial art as a way to bring people together, even while throwing opponents to the mat, according to Google blog.
Today's slideshow #GoogleDoodle celebrates Japanese athlete & professor Kanō Jigorō, the founder of the Judo martial art 🇯🇵
Judo translates to “the gentle way,” reflecting its core principles of justice, courtesy, & safety 🥋
🎨 by @cynthiaycheng → https://t.co/e1cSOeX5jB pic.twitter.com/YI24aMy6vC
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) October 28, 2021
Born in 1860 in Mikage (now part of Kobe), Kano , 11, moved to Tokyo with his father. Despite known as a child prodigy, he often faced adversity. However, to build strength, Jigoro became determined to study the martial art of Jujutsu. During his time as a student at Tokyo University, Jigoro finally found someone who would teach him—Jujutsu master and former samurai Fukuda Hachinosuke.
Judo was first born during a Jujutsu sparring match when Kano incorporated a western wrestling move to bring his much larger opponent to the mat. By removing the most dangerous techniques used in Jujutsu, Jigoro created “Judo,” a safe and cooperative sport based on Kano’s personal philosophy of Seiryoku-Zenyo (maximum efficient use of energy) and Jita-Kyoei (mutual prosperity of self and others). In 1882, Kano opened his own dojo (a martial arts gym), the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, where he would go on to develop Judo for years. He also welcomed women into the sport in 1893.
Kano became the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1909, and in 1960, the IOC approved Judo as an official Olympic sport.