Highlights from the L.A. Premiere Screening of Mrs. Judo at JANM

Mrs. Judo Screening

On November 16, 2013 the Los Angeles premiere of Mrs. Judo: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful was held at JANM.

Mrs. Judo is a documentary by Yuriko Gamo Romer, that captures the late Keiko Fukuda as she reflects on her life and the choice she made to defy thousands of years of tradition, follow her own path, and ultimately become judo history’s only woman to attain the pinnacle 10th degree.

A live demonstration of “Ju-no-kata”, a signature form of Fukuda-Sensei, precedes the film screening.
A live demonstration of “Ju-no-kata”, a signature form of Fukuda-Sensei, preceded the film screening.

The program opened with a live demonstration of “Ju-no-kata,” Fukuda’s signature form, by Charmaine Galvez & Robin Fernandez of Jundokai Judo and Jujitsu Club of La Mirada. Ju-no-kata is designed to teach the fundamental principles of judo, especially the principle of ju (yielding or gentleness). It consists of three sets of techniques and is performed by a pair of people, one acting as an uke (the person who “receives” an attack) and the other a tori (the executor of a technique).

The panel is made up of Yuriko Gamo Romer, Hal Sharp, Kenji Osugi, and Robin Fernandez.
The panel was made up of Yuriko Gamo Romer, Hal Sharp, Kenji Osugi, and Robin Fernandez.

Following the screening of the film, director Yuriko Gamo Romer, judo demonstrator Robin Fernandez, Hal Sharp of Gardena Judo Club, and Kenji Osugi of Sawtelle Judo Dojo discussed the cultural traditions and relations that continue from Japan to the U.S. through judo.

When it was time for the Q&A session, many audience members expressed positive feedback, and thanked the director for the wonderful documentary.

Check out these photos from the Mrs. Judo Screening!

 

Photo Credits: Russell Kitgawa

Read our interview with director Yuriko Gamo Romer on DiscoverNikkei.org >>

Esther Shin

Esther graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in the Summer of 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in History and a minor degree in Japanese. She was the curatorial intern at JANM for the 2013 Getty Multicultural Undergraduate Internship Program, and has also completed a marketing internship at the museum. Esther currently works as a Development Assistant for JANM.

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