Abstract des Autors

This chapter will discuss Japan’s encounter with the Olympic Movement from four different perspectives. First I will analyze what the inclusion of judo into the Olympic program in 1964 meant for the interpretation of this “traditional Japanese martial art” and for the Western hegemonic outlook on sports in the Olympic Movement. Next I show how Olympic internationalism and universalism served to strengthen national identity as well as the feeling of uniqueness in Japan. Following this I look at the translation of Olympic values and the challenge of Olympic universalism on an ideological level within Japan. And to conclude I will focus on the question of how knowledge about Olympism is communicated through Olympic education in Japan. There it will be argued that official Olympic education in Japan follows the cycles of Olympic time and focuses on presenting national or local communities rather than advocating internationalism.