As June unfolds, we celebrate the next judo value: Friendship. This month’s ambassador is none other than Sanshiro Murao, Olympic silver medallist at Paris 2024 and world bronze medallist in 2023. Friendship in judo is more than a side effect of shared training, it is one of the core values that defines the spirit of the sport.
On the tatami, athletes face each other as opponents, but off it, they grow together through discipline, mutual respect, and perseverance. Whether it’s a handshake after randori, a nod of encouragement at a tournament, or years of shared journeys through wins and losses, judo builds bonds that go beyond nationalities, languages, or backgrounds.
Friendship in judo is rooted in the principle of “mutual welfare and benefit” (jita kyoei), where progress is not individual but collective. You grow as your partner grows. You fall together, rise together and celebrate moments of connection, understanding and support.
It is why judoka often call each other family because in judo, friendship is forged not in comfort, but in challenge. And it lasts a lifetime. For Murao, friendship means the following:
“Friendship on the tatami means that, as a Japanese person, I can be part of the Paris Saint-Germain team and do judo anywhere in the world. Off the tatami, we are cheered on by many people, not just Japanese, but supporters from all over.”
Author: Szandra Szogedi