今年も高校柔道選手権が日本武道館で行われ、団体、個人戦ともに次世代の息吹を感じられる素晴らしい戦いが繰り広げられました。
団体戦においては男子は崇徳高校が初優勝に輝き新たな伝統の始まりを予感させ、女子は比叡山が粘り強い柔道で２度目の栄冠を獲得しました。準優勝の男子の大牟田、女子の富士学苑も素晴らしい柔道を見せてくれましたし、全体として今年も今後に期待が膨らむ盛り上がりを見せた大会になったのではないかと思います。
私もかつて高校選手権に出場した経験がありますが、春休みの学年が変わる直前に行われるこの大会は、多くのことを教えてくれる大会です。私自身多くを学ばせてもらい、夏に向けても、そしてその後の成長の糧にさせてもらった大会でした。
一方、新３年生にとっては今年が最後の高校選手権だったと思います。中には今季限りで柔道から離れるという人もいるかもしれません。そうした皆さんは、どうか高校選手権に向けて培ったものを次のステージで生かしてもらえるよう頑張ってもらいたいと思います。
さて、今年は大会日程と実施方法について少し書き添えておきたいと思います。
今年は26日（金）と27日（土）に高校選手権が開催され、大会終了翌日の29日（日）に、高校選手権で実施されていない個人２階級を行うかたちで全日本強化選手選考会が行われました。
まず、強化選手選考会という形で、男子90kg、100kg級と女子70、78kg級の試合機会を作ってくださった事に対し、高体連の皆さま、全柔連職員や関係者の皆さま方に感謝の気持ちと敬意を表したいと思います。
選手の皆さんにとって、どんな形であれ全国の仲間と顔をあわせ、日頃の練習の成果を確認できた機会は何ものにも代えがたい経験になったと思います。
一方、３日間を観戦してみて感じたことは、個人戦の男女７階級はやはり高校選手権本大会で、実施する方向にしてあげたい、高校選手権が日本一の称号を勝ち取る場であってほしいという事でした。
理由はいくつかありますが、階級によっては高校選手権と強化選手選考会両方に出場が可能だった選手もいたことからダブルチャンスとなったケースがあったり、団体戦の出場選手が強化選考会に合わせて減量する必要が出てくるなど公平性や試合環境整備という観点で課題が残ったと感じたためです。
もちろん、高校選手権だけで男女の個人７階級と団体戦を行うためには、数多くの課題があることを承知しています。大会役員や審判員の確保だけでなく、スケジュールや費用面など超えなければならない壁はいくつもあります。こうした現実を踏まえた上で、高体連の皆さんと全柔連がしっかりと連携して取り組んでいくことで解決策を見出し、どうにか実施に漕ぎ着けることはできないだろうかと思います。
１、２年生が主役となる大会春の高校選手権には、高校生柔道家子の希望と未来を育むフレッシュな魅力があり、その大会価値については、高校柔道に関わる皆さんが共有している思いだと思います。
参加する選手、監督、コーチの皆さんにとってさらに魅力ある大会となり、保護者の皆さんも巻き込みながら柔道そのもの魅力がより感じられる機会となるよう私にもできることに取り組んでいきたいですし、期待したいと思います。
その上で大会が盛り上がり、その先に、選手強化や普及に繋がる事が大会の理想的な姿なのではないかと思います。
Value and Future in the High School Championships
We saw a glimpse of what is to come with the next generation of athletes who showed some outstanding team and individual matches at the High School Championships held again this year at the Nippon Budokan.
Sotoku High School had their first spectacular win in the boy’s team event a hint of what could become a new tradition. In the girls Hiei HS proved their tenacity by taking their second victory. Runners-up, Omuta HS in the boys and Fuji Gakuen in the girls also put up a great fight. All in all, it was an exciting competition which left me feeling we have high hopes for the future.
Having participated my self I know that this competition, which is held in spring vacation right before the change in the school year, is one where you can learn an awful lot.
I remember taking what I learned and using it to set goals for the summer competitions and growth which followed.
On the one hand for third graders this high school competition will have been their last. For some it may mark the end of their judo careers. For those people I hope that they take what they have learned from participating in high school judo and carry it with them to the next stage in their lives.
I’d like to note a few thoughts here on the organization of the event.
This year the high school championships were held on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th then the following day Sunday 28th second dan individual matches which are not part of the high school championships are held as part of the All Japan Strengthening Team selection.
Firstly I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the High School Federation, the National Judo Federation and everyone involved for the opportunity to hold a selection competition for the strengthening team in the men’s -90kg, -100kg and the women’s -70kg, -78kg.
For the athletes, I believe any opportunity where they can come face to face with their peers from all around the country and test the fruits of their recent training is invaluable experience.
After observing the matches over 3 days however, I felt that I would like to see a shift so that we can see the 7 categories in both the boy’s and girl’s at the actual High School competition making the championship the place to declare winning title of ‘the best in Japan.’
I understand however that there are several reasons for this. In some of the categories there were athletes who were able to compete in both the High School Champions ship and the selection competition which in effect gave them two chances to win. In order to keep things fair there are a number of issues which need to be addressed including that of athletes taking part in the team event who then have to lose weight for the selection competition.
Of course I’m well aware that there are many challenges in coordinating the 7 event classes both boy’s and girl’s as well as the team event all in the high school competition.
Not only in securing enough event officials and referees, there are also the obstacles of scheduling and costs etc. which would need to be overcome. Based on that reality I believe that a workaround can be found Japan Judo Federation and the High School Sports Federation put their heads together and figure out a way to implement it.
There is fresh appeal to the Spring High School Championships which highlights 1st and 2ndgraders and the hope and potential that the judo family brings. The value of the competition is something which is shared by everyone involved.
I hope to do everything in my power to make the competition the absolute best it can be for the competitors, coaches and managers, getting the parents and guardians involved too so everyone can experience the magic of judo.
It would add excitement to the competition and beyond that would be the ideal formula for strengthening the athletes and to promote the sport.