This is a translation of a blog from Yamaguchi Kaori on October 15th, 2010. Yamaguchi Kaori was Japan’s first women’s world medalist in Judo. This blog talks about the sudden retirement of Ryoko Tani, her contribution to the development of women’s Judo in Japan, and her second career as a member of the Diet.
Click here to view the original blog in Japanese.
ーーーーーーー
Tani’s Retirement
It was an abrupt announcement. In a press conference held a few days ago she had shared plans to enter the Kodokan Cup so it was without any expectation when she announced her retirement today. I didn’t see the press conferences so I don’t know what she actually said, but it must have been physically impossible to serve as a member of Diet and continue doing Judo.
An era in the world of Women’s Judo has ended. Her first performance at the Fukuoka International Tournament was astonishing. I hadn’t doubted how good she was, but was surprised that a Judo player of her caliber could surface from Japan. Since women’s competition had a late start in Japan, women’s Judo had been walking through a long tunnel. With her splendid victories, the light began to shine in all at once.
Until then, women’s Judo competition never came close to the glamor of male Judo competition. However in comparison, her technical speed and high level of technical perfection equally matched other top level male athletes. Because her engine ran at the highest rpm’s, many others had to chase after her, and in turn elevating the overall level of women’s Judo. The achievements by Tani are a significant reason why women’s Judo has become so powerful.
Even more than technical ability, her mental strength had far surpassed the herd. The more pressure, injuries, rivalries, and opposition she encountered, her concentration seemed to sharpen as she continued to evolve into something stronger. All felt her terror, and where some would have flinched she was always confident to take on a battle. It must have been that overwhelming confidence that allowed her to persevere on the front lines for such a long time.
Unfortunately, there was never a crowd appropriately prepared to retire the woman who had built a legacy. Some may feel that feel she missed the appropriate occasion to call it quits. However, champions, from the moment they become champions no longer fight for their own sake. Instead, they begin to fight for the fans that cheer them on, and the hopes people place on them. It’s difficult to call it quits just because you want to. If the time to retire was in fact missed, that’s because the expectation of the Judo world, media, and fans made it that way.
What could be more disappointing than an untimely retirement is that she had to decide on retirement without competing since Beijing. I’m certain she must have some remorse about how things ended. It’s uncertain whether she would have won or lost. However, I have a feeling she would have liked to have entered a competition, with her determined spirit, knowing it might be for the last time.
To work as a member of the Diet is similar to being an athlete in that you carry the expectation of the people. I speculate that after becoming a member of the Diet, she might have fully realized the significant expectations of her title for the first time.
This means all seven of the Judo player’s, who accomplished the brilliant feat of 5 gold medals at the Athen’s Olympics (2004), have retired. The next generation is doing a fine job taking over the seminal work built up by the the previous women. When people become ready to receive the baton, it must be time to pass it on.
I would like to send my sincere regards and gratitude to Mrs. Tani, who pulled women’s Judo along for the longest time. At the same time, I wish her my best as she continues to answer the expectations of the many while upon her new stage.
Questions to think about from this blog:
1. Why is Tani Ryoko a significant figure to modern women of Japan?
2. How could the expectations of an athlete mirror the expectations of a Diet member?
3. What does this reveal about gender and Japan?