Mrs. Judo 2012
Distributed by Passion River Films, 154 Mt. Bethel Rd., Warren, NJ 07059; 732-321-0711
Produced by Yuriko Gamo Romer
Directed by Yuriko Gamo Romer
DVD, Color (with historical b&w), 58 min.
General Adult
Biography, Judo, Women, Sports
Date Entered: 06/03/2015
Reviewed by Jessica Isler, Academic Librarian, University of Maine at Augusta“Be strong, be gentle, be beautiful” these are the central tenets of Keiko Fukuda’s life teaching and practicing judo. Born in 1913 to a comfortable Japanese household, the Fukudas were a family with a martial arts heritage. Her grandfather taught jujitsu, judo’s forbear, to eventual judo founder, Master Kano. Despite clear expectations and roles for women at the time (including marriage and family obligations), when Master Kano invited Fukuda to join his newly formed women’s division at the Kodokan Judo school, she accepted. By the time of Kano’s death in 1938, Keiko Fukuda’s path as teacher and commitment, not to a husband, but instead, to a life as judo practitioner was certain.
This biographical film outlines 70 years of the famed sensei’s life, including her many challenges and successes, both as teacher and world ambassador of judo, culminating in several (grievously belated) promotions to the highest ranks of any woman in judo’s history. A strength of the film is the ample use of archival video and photographs, which help illustrate what Fukuda described as the inherent compassion and inner beauty of the art of judo. This film is highly recommended for all audiences.
Awards
- Best Documentary, International Festival of Sports Movies in Moscow, Russia, 2013