Hiroko
Kudo 工藤 博子

2022.02.28

Disability and Age Are Irrelevant: You Can Change Your Life

After a 15-year break, at the age of 34, Hiroko Kudo represented Japan, competing in judo for the visually impaired at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Having developed retinopathy of prematurity, Kudo has mostly no vision in her left eye and a visual acuity less than 0.1 in her right eye. She practiced judo during her student years, but never thought she would ever compete on the world stage. This article will retrace Kudo’s path leading up to the Tokyo Games, where she worked closely with her dear friend and coach.

How her friend’s words resonated with Kudo

“Let’s win the medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games.” Ayumi Nakamoto, Kudo’s close friend from her high school judo years and a judo coach for the visually impaired, enthusiastically approached Kudo, who was working as a care worker. Kudo, however, refused Nakamoto’s offer, thinking, “I won’t be able to do it after being an ordinary person for 15 years.” Kudo kept on refusing for one year, but was finally motivated by Coach Nakamoto’s words: “Lead your own life.”

With the aim of winning the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Kudo began working closely with Nakamoto.

Finding the answer amid her struggles: Changes within Kudo

In 2015, Yasuo was selected as a member of the U-25 national team and participated in a world championship event. However, Kumamoto was hit by a big earthquake the following year. As a civil servant with the prefectural office, she worked hard on the reconstruction effort, but her feelings for basketball and the national team grew stronger and stronger. “I didn’t want to do it halfway.” Considering how to spend the rest of her life, she chose to quit her job and moved to Oita.

Kudo moved to Tokyo in 2018 and devoted all her time to judo. She suffered from injuries such as fractures and dislocations. She also worried that her friendship with Coach Nakamoto might break down once they formed a relationship as teacher and student. As a friend, Coach Nakamoto valued Kudo’s talent and character, but there were many times when they collided over differing opinions.

The turning point for Kudo came at the Japan national team qualifying trials for the Asian Para Games and IBSA World Championships, which she had entered with strong determination. She brilliantly won and received warm applause, which made her think for the first time, “I might be able to do it.”

Continuing on, Kudo achieved good results in various competitions within Japan and abroad and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games. She describes the emotions she felt standing at the stadium. “What I felt most was the emotions of the people who cheered me on. It wasn’t something visible, but it gave me enormous power and a sense of security. It didn’t matter that there was no audience.”

Kudo lost in the second round. She cried so much out of disappointment in herself that she couldn’t open her eyes, vowing at the same time that she would redeem herself at the Paris Games.

A growing determination to win after experiencing defeat

After the Games, Coach Nakamoto had tough words for Kudo, who could feel the frustrated feelings of a friend that had lived with her under the same roof. Although originally a person free from competitiveness or a fighting spirit, Kudo has now set her sights firmly on the next Paris Paralympic Games. Moreover, in order to seek an environment where she can focus on judo, she plans to take a new step forward, such as changing jobs.

“Disability and age are irrelevant when challenging yourself. Next time, I’d like to be able to share good news with all the people who have supported me as well as Coach Nakamoto who taught me that the world is large.” They will continue to move forward together leading up to the Paris Games.

Hiroko Kudo’s philosophy

Be grateful and keep moving forward