The resurgence of elite judo in Japan between the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 cycles
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24230327 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ding-Yi Wu (Quanzhou Normal University), Tien-Chin Tan (0000-0002-2120-8439, National Taiwan Normal University), Yuchi Chang (Yamagata University), Hidemasa Nakamura (Hitotsubashi University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-17 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-27 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Culture Sport Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1461-0981 • E-ISSN: 1743-0445 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17430437.2026.2670385 |
| OpenAlex | W7162561188 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 40 |
This study analyzes how the All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF) responded to Japan’s poor results at the 2012 London Olympics. Drawing on Robertson’s glocalization and Baumgartner and Jones’s punctuated equilibrium theory, it examines official documents and 13 interviews. Findings show that the long-dominant emphasis on winning by ippon gave way to a new focus on overall victory, disrupting a policy monopoly. This shift enabled organizational reform, innovative training, and a redefined narrative. AJJF leaders balanced global pressures with local traditions, demonstrating how glocalization shapes elite sport policy under punctuated equilibrium.
2012 London Olympics · elite sport policy · Glocalization · ippon · judo · organizational reform · Punctuated equilibrium · sports governance · sports narratives · Tokyo 2020 Olympics · Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education · Physical Education and Sports Studies · Sports, Gender, and Society
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| Highly cited | No |
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