[Special Feature: Tokyo 2020 and Keio University] <Management of the Tokyo 2020 Karate Competition> Reflecting on the Management

2021/12/16

I served as the person in charge of the Tokyo 2020 Karate competition. I am relieved that we were able to successfully manage the first Olympics that the world karate community had long awaited. This was all thanks to the members who worked together as the Karate team at the Organising Committee, the volunteers, the people at the Nippon Budokan and Tokyo Budokan who provided the venues, and everyone else who cooperated. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude once again.

The long preparation period, including the postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, went by in a flash once the Games began. What I first felt at the management site was the difficulty of this ultra-huge project—simultaneously holding world championships for dozens of sports—which is incomparable to the management of regular competitions managed by sports organizations, including international matches. In addition to the difficulties of "siloed organizational structures and functions," "organizations with diverse backgrounds," and "relationships with the IOC, the national government, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government," we faced the challenge of "conducting a safe and secure tournament amidst the COVID-19 pandemic."

On the ground, everyone worked together to ensure that "athletes and referees perform at their best," that "spectators and viewers gain inspiration and hope through sports," and to achieve the "realization of Olympism." However, because the organizations and functions were so complexly intertwined, I struggled with coordinating decision-making.

In this environment, I once again felt the teachings of "independence and self-respect." Amidst the complexly intertwined interests of various functional departments, it was important to have a firm vision for the success of the Karate competition, to assert it, to coordinate while listening to the other party's ideas, and not only to make decisions within the scope of my authority but also to push for necessary decisions.

Although I felt I was lacking in my studies, I realized that what I learned at Keio University and the Mita Karate Club was exactly this. I hope to continue to proceed with my work calmly and steadily, without being bound by precedents, fixed concepts, or authoritative ideas, and keeping concepts such as independence and self-respect and "learning while teaching, teaching while learning" in my heart.

Regarding this Olympics, there were pros and cons in society about holding the event amidst the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting strain on the medical field. As someone involved in the management of the Games, there were periods when I felt anxious about whether the event could be held. While I believe there was the option to cancel the Games, I am convinced that the value gained through the process and results of holding the Olympic Games was far greater than the value that would have been gained otherwise.

At the same time, I was once again poignantly reminded of the difficulty and importance of maintaining a society where sports, music, theater, and other activities can be performed with peace of mind. I pay my respects to the fact that, during the COVID-19 situation that lasted for a year and a half, not only academic studies but also the various clubs of the Athletic Association and groups for music and theater continued their practice and training by utilizing remote methods.

After the Olympic Karate competition, I also assisted with the Paralympic Judo competition. After finishing both competitions, I was a little exhausted, but I felt a supreme sense of accomplishment and exhilaration. I would like to thank Mr. Toshihisa Nagura (a senior at the Mita Karate Club and Secretary General of the World Karate Federation (WKF)), the WKF, and the Japan Karatedo Federation for giving me such a role. And above all, I would like to thank once again the people in each department of the Organising Committee, the Karate team members, the volunteers, and everyone involved for their hard work.

Furthermore, there were many people from the Juku among the staff of the Organising Committee, and it was a blessing to be able to communicate across departments. There were also Keio students, Keio University alumni, and even some classmates among the volunteers. It was a very reassuring four years to have fellow members of the Juku in key positions acting with a sense of responsibility.