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| - The sport of judo and Japan are inextricably linked and when the postponed Tokyo Olympics begin next year, it will be a big draw. To mark one year to go until the Games are due to start on July 23, 2021, AFP is running a series of stories illustrated with pictures and videos examining the traditions of judo and how it is interwoven with Japanese life. The stories will be moved on July 16 and July 17. The first four stories in the series are listed below: Oly-2020-2021-judo,WRAP TOKYO When the Tokyo Olympics eventually open a year late, one of the hottest tickets in town will be for judo. Invented in Japan and first introduced at Tokyo 1964, judo is coming home. 650 words by Richard Carter. Picture. Video Oly-2020-2021-judo-Japan-judogi,FOCUS KASHIWARA, Japan Centuries-old Kasakura is one of only a handful of judo uniform suppliers specially designated by the International Judo Federation but the only one in the world that starts production with the traditional method of weaving. 650 words by Miwa Suzuki. Picture. Video Oly-2020-2021-judo-Japan-Kano,FOCUS KOBE, Japan Residents of the sake-brewing town where the godfather of modern judo, Jigoro Kano, was born are hoping that the Olympics will shine the spotlight on their most famous son. 750 words by Shingo Ito. Picture. Video Oly-2020-2021-judo-Japan-women,FOCUS TOKYO Although judo's founder Jigoro Kano was way ahead of his time in encouraging women to take up his martial arts discipline, female judoka have been second-class citizens until recently, according to Olympians interviewed by AFP. 750 words by Kyoko Hasegawa. Picture. Video afp
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