This week, many festivities were held in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Gannenmono, the first Japanese immigrants to settle in Hawaii.



A new exhibit has been constructed at Bishop Museum, and many festivities were observed throughout the week. One event that drew quite a crowd, was a three-day Judo clinic put on by Japan's top Judo Sensei of the famed Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan.



Kevin Asano is a Judo Olympic silver medalist, and the president of Hawaii Judo INK. Asano created the clinic so that kids of Hawaii could take advantage of being taught by the top Sensei in the world.



"When I was young the closest I got to Kodokan Judo was in a book," said Asano. "But to actually have the president and a three time Olympic champion here with us, is a landmark experience for the kids here in Hawaii."



Judo was created in the late 1800's by Jigoro Kano, who also founded the Kodokan Judo Institute. Kodokan is considered the birthplace of judo and practitioners from across the world have come to study their technique.



Since 2009, Haruki Uemura has served as the president of Kodokan and was on hand to take part in the clinic.



"Kodokan is where Judo started," said Uemura. "All of the knowledge is passed down from there it's the tradition that makes it good. It's not because it's Japanese."



The clinic was held at the Tokai International College auditorium and was attended by 200 athletes. It cost just $30 to take part in the camp which was held June 6-8.



Three-time Hawaii State Judo Champion Mayu Wise attended the camp, and was able to learn not just new Judo techniques, but also life lessons.



"This clinic has been very helpful," Wise said. "It was a very life changing experience, and I never had something like this in my life so I'm really appreciative of this clinic."



Following the success of this camp, the Hawaii Judo INK will be hosting another clinic at the end of this year, featuring some of the best female Judo practitioners from across the world.

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