Martial Arts Diplomacy: Japanese Judo Delegations and ‘Martial Arts Missionaries’ in Norway, 1945–1980

Abstract

The use of martial arts in Japan’s cultural diplomacy, as well as the history of Japanese martial arts in Norway, remain underexplored. Despite its peripheral status in Japan’s cultural diplomacy, Japan actively influenced Norwegian judo from 1945 to 1980 by dispatching instructors and ‘goodwill’ judo delegations to Europe. These visits aimed not only to promote judo but also to align the international development of judo with Japan’s own martial arts discourse and cultural diplomacy strategies. In 1965 and 1968 the delegations worked to cement judo’s status as a modern Olympic sport while reinforcing the image of ‘New Japan’ – a nation that is peaceful, democratic and economically strong. In 1979 and 1980 similar delegations sought to secure a Japanese presidency in the International Judo Federation, while highlighting judo’s traditional cultural roots as a form of self-defence and character development. This discursive shift paralleled Japan’s economic rise and the growth of nihonjinron – a discourse affirming Japan’s unique culture. The Norwegian judo community adopted the sports discourse, but largely rejected the orientalised nihonjinron discourse.