Criticisms of the Concept of Kodokan Judo in after the Japan-China War
― An Analysis of Yasutaro Fujios Assertion of "Japanese Spirit" ―

NAKAJIMA Tetsuya
(Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University)

Abstract

　　The purpose of this paper is to clarify how the ideology of Budo was changed after the
Japan-China War in 1937. Specifically the discussion is focused on both Taro Inaba and
Yasutaro Fujio's criticisms of Jigoro Kano's opinion of Kodokan. At the "Kodokan Excommu-
nication" case in 1937, Kodokan judo was rejected due to the criticism Inaba. and Fujio was
a member of the punishment council.
　　The concept of Kodokan advocated by Kano, "Seiryokuzenyo (the way to use most effi-
ciently the body and spirit of human being)" and "Jitakyoei (the way to live together in
mutual prosperity)", aimed to contribute to the international society after World War I.
But the concept was criticized by Fujio and Inaba from the standpoint of "Nihon-
Seishin (Japanese spirit) ". "Nihon-Seishin" as proposed by Fujio and Inaba, emerged in the
background of the National Spiritual Mobilization just after the Japan-China War. Kano
originally disliked "Nihon-Seishin", but the situation changed inl938 such that Kano held a
meeting on "Nihon-Seishin" and was obliged to say in public that he was trying to encour-
age "Nihon-Seishin". It may be said that the event marked the beginning of a rejection of
the character of internationalism in Kodokan as "Jitakyoei" due to the xenophobia nature of
"Nihon-Seishin". In conclusion, we comment on how the ideology surrounding Kodokan was
henceforth changed.