Osaka International Judo Friendship Association

One of the great aims of the founder of judo, Professor Jigoro Kano, was that the peoples of the world could be united through the practice of Judo. He desired that life-long friendship be formed to allow this and other cultural exchanges to occur.

The Australian Kodokan Judo Association is honoured and proud to have a wonderful relationship with its ‘sister’ clubs in Japan as part of the Osaka International Judo Friendship Association, headed up by the wonderful folks at Kiwi Club Osaka.

Kiwi Club Osaka is a private, non-government, non-profit organization, founded in June 1987 by judo practitioners in the Osaka Judo Therapist Association. Kiwi Club Osaka takes a leading role in the development of Judo and increasing its popularity through involvement in activities at a grass-roots level. The aims of the Kiwi Club Osaka are to promote international friendship and cross-cultural understanding and to build meaningful relationships by training both the body and soul in the sport of judo.

Each year, the OIJFA hold the Goodwill Judo Tournament, sometimes referred to as the Goodwill Games, details of which can be found on the Kiwi Club’s website with a listing of all information pertinent to the games. This year the tournament will be held on Sunday, November 21, 2010. The tournament begins at 10am and will be located in Sakai Municipal Ohama Gymnasium, 5-7-1 Ohama kitamachi, Sakai-ku, Sakai-city, Osaka-fu.

Many Australian clubs and members have enjoyed time in Japan as guests of the Osaka International Judo Friendship Association, and have in return played host to members from Kiwi Club Osaka. The AKJA is very fortunate to have such friends in Judo.

If you as an individual, or your club, are interested in an exchange with the Osaka International Judo Friendship Association, then please feel free to contact the President of the AKJA for further information.