The IJF and the French Judo Federation Donate US $300,000 to Japan after the 2011 Catastrophe

Tokyo-Japan, IJF News Dec 11, 2011: 2011 Catastrophe Japan, On Friday, March 11, 2011 at 5:46:24 UTC, the earth began to shake off the east coast of Honshu, (Catastrophe Japan).

The Japanese people used to feel the ground slipping from under their feet, however, quickly realized that this earthquake was exceptional: it was in fact the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan, and one of the five most destructive worldwide recorded since measurements began in 1900.

The earthquake of a tremendous magnitude triggered a tsunami wave that reached heights of to 40m in Miyako in the Tohoku’s Iwate Prefecture, and which in the Sendai area penetrated by more than 10km inland, destroying everything in their path. These two disasters were followed by a number of nuclear accidents in the area of ​​Fukushima.

On the occasion of the third day of the Judo Grand Slam, Tokyo 2011, the emotion reached the public, the officials and the present delegations, when Mr. Marius L. Vizer and Mr. Jean-Luc Rouge came on the podium to deliver the donation checks offered respectively by the International Judo Federation and the French Judo Federation, to the three most affected provinces.

Before presenting the US$ 200,000 check offered by the IJF, President Marius Vizer wished to recall the profound respect that the judo world testified to Japan, the birthplace of our sport, throughout the months that followed the disaster.

Mr. Rougé, meanwhile, highlighted the deep bonds of friendship that exist between Japan and France, since the first visit of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, to the hexagon, more than over 100 years ago.

He also recalled that the French National teams have been coming to training to Japan for more than 50 years. On the occasion of the France-Japan team event, held in Bercy last September, with the support of the European Judo Union, US$100,000 were collected and put in addition to the donation of the International Judo Federation.

The US$300,000 offered today to the representatives of the provincial judo federations from Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi, will be utilized to support the re-development of judo in the affected areas, while numerous dojo were wiped off the map by the disaster.

Young judoka from Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi were also present on the podium and were able to express their deep gratitude to the International Judo Federation and the French Judo Federation.

Judo Grand Slam, Tokyo 2011 – Day 3 Results:

Women’s -70kg

Final: UENO, Tomoe (JPN) vs. BLANCO, Cecilia (ESP)

Semi-Finals: TACHIMOTO, Haruka (JPN) vs. UENO, Tomoe (JPN) & KLYS, Katarzyna (POL) vs. BLANCO, Cecilia (ESP)

Final Results: 1. UENO, Tomoe (JPN), 2. BLANCO, Cecilia (ESP), 3. TACHIMOTO, Haruka (JPN), 3. KLYS, Katarzyna (POL)

5. THIELE, Kerstin (GER), 5. PASQUET, Marie (FRA), 5. KIM, Seong-Yeon (KOR), 5. ONO, Yoko (JPN)

Men’s -100kg

Final: HWANG, Hee-Tae (KOR) vs. SAMOILOVICH, Sergei (RUS)

Semi-Finals: ANAI, Takamasa (JPN) vs. HWANG, Hee-Tae (KOR) & TSIREKIDZE, Irakli (GEO) vs. SAMOILOVICH, Sergei (RUS)

Final Results: 1. SAMOILOVICH, Sergei (RUS), 2. HWANG, Hee-Tae (KOR), 3. ANAI, Takamasa (JPN), 3. TSIREKIDZE, Irakli (GEO)

5. NAIDAN, Tuvshinbayar (MGL), 5. HAGA, Ryunosuke (JPN), 5. SAYIDOV, Ramziddin (UZB), 5. KRPALEK, Lukas (CZE)

Women’s -78kg

Final: OGATA, Akari (JPN) vs. HARRISON, Kayla (USA)

Semi-Finals: OGATA, Akari (JPN) vs. WOLLERT, Heide (GER) & AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA) vs. HARRISON, Kayla (USA)

Final Results: 1. OGATA, Akari (JPN), 2. HARRISON, Kayla (USA), 3. WOLLERT, Heide (GER), 3. AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA)

5. VERKERK, Marhinde (NEP), 5. SATO, Ruika (JPN), 5. MALZAHN, Luise (GER), 5. VELENSEK, Anamari (SLO)

Men’s +100kg

Final: MIKHAYLIN, Alexander (RUS) vs. CHO, Guham (KOR)

Semi-Finals: MIKHAYLIN, Alexander (RUS) vs. SILVA, Rafael (BRA) & CHO, Guham (KOR) vs. TANGRIEV, Abdullo (UZB)

Final Results: 1. MIKHAYLIN, Alexander (RUS), 2. CHO, Guham (KOR), 3. SILVA, Rafael (BRA), 3. TANGRIEV, Abdullo (UZB)

5. KIM, Sung-Min (KOR), 5. VERBIJ, Luuk (NED), 5. CERAJ, Matjaz (SLO), 5. ISHII, Ryuta (JPN)

Women’s +78kg:

Final: TACHIMOTO, Megumi (JPN) vs. SUGIMOTO, Mika (JPN)

Semi-Finals: TACHIMOTO, Megumi (JPN) vs. KIM, Na-Young (KOR) & POLAVDER, Lucija (SLO) vs. SUGIMOTO, Mika (JPN)

Final Results: 1. SUGIMOTO, Mika (JPN), 2. TACHIMOTO, Megumi (JPN), 3. KIM, Na-Young (KOR), 3. POLAVDER, Lucija (SLO)

5. BLANCO, Giovanna (VEN), 5. HASHIGUCHI, Nanami (JPN), 5. KIM, Ji-Youn (KOR), 5. BRYANT, Karina (GBR). —-  IJF Photos © Tamas Zahonyi.