About Dojo
Takahashi Dojo was founded 55 years ago in 1969 by Masao Takahashi, a second-generation 8th Dan Japanese Canadian judoka. Since then, it has played a prominent role in the development of judo in Canada and beyond Ottawa. At the same time, the dojo is a hub for the Japanese community in Ottawa.
Students of Takahashi Dojo
First, it is the students who clearly demonstrate the great achievements of Takahashi Dojo.
Takahashi Dojo’s tatami mats have produced four Olympic athletes, 18 Canadian champions, and five Canadian Judo Hall of Fame judokas.
It is noteworthy that former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who took over the reins of government for two non-consecutive terms over 16 years, also worked out at Takahashi Dojo during his time as prime minister. He advocated for multiculturalism, overcame the issue of Quebec’s independence, normalized diplomatic relations with China ahead of the United States, became part of the G7, and passed the 1982 Constitution Act, leaving a significant mark on Canada’s development. It is no exaggeration to say that the technique and spirit of judo supported the long-term regime, which was extremely demanding on both body and mind.
It was Wednesday, February 29, 1984, a leap year exactly 40 years ago, after working out at Takahashi Dojo, when Prime Minister Trudeau took a walk in the snow and decided to resign. He made his announcement the following day on March 1st. Takahashi Dojo was involved in one of the most important moments of national politics.
In fact, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s son, Justin, also studied judo at Takahashi Dojo as a boy. When I had the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when I mentioned Takahashi dojo, he smiled nostalgically and said it was a fond memory, which left an impression on me. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also sent his son and daughter to Takahashi Dojo. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who achieved the redress agreement with Japanese Canadians, also enrolled his son in Takahashi Dojo. It is truly significant in terms of promoting Japanese culture and developing friendship between Japan and Canada.
Masao Takahashi’s journey
As a second-generation Japanese Canadian, the life of Masao Takahashi, the founder of Takahashi Dojo, seems to embody the historical changes in the relationship between Japan and Canada.
Masao Takahashi was born in British Columbia on June 24, 1929, the eldest son of Kyukichi and Mine Takahashi, who immigrated to Canada. He started studying judo from a Japanese Canadian living in British Columbia at the age of eight, and quickly became proficient.
However, on December 7, 1941 (Canadian time), when Masao was 12 years old, the Pacific War broke out. Japan and Canada fought as enemies. Immediately after the outbreak of the war, the Canadian government designated Japanese Canadians as enemy aliens. From January 1942 onwards, Japanese Canadians faced extremely harsh conditions, including forced relocation and internment from British Columbia, where there was a large Japanese Canadian community. The Takahashi family’s property was confiscated and was forced to relocate to Raymond, Alberta. Masao was forced to work on a beet farm and live in a harsh environment where he was prohibited from going to school. However, he continued to practice judo. Then, on August 15, 1945, the Pacific War ended.
However, after the war, Japanese Canadians were not allowed to relocate to British Columbia until April 1949. In a white-dominated society, Japanese Canadians were subjected to discrimination in every possible way as former enemy nationals and as ethnic minorities.
Meanwhile, young Masao graduated from high school in 1948. In 1949, young Masao was hired by the Department of National Defence, which had begun recruiting ethnic minorities, and entered the Royal Canadian Air Force. After stints in Montreal and Toronto, he was assigned to the aeronautical engineering department in Ottawa.
Masao, a young man, worked hard at judo training while working for the Air Force. At the same time, he actively taught judo within the Air Force and in the Ottawa area. Coincidentally, judo attracted even more attention when it became an Olympic sport for the first time at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Masao became a well-respected judoka among the Air Force personnel and Ottawa locals. This also led to the improvement of the status of Japanese Canadians, who had been placed in difficult circumstances.
The beginning of Takahashi Dojo
In October 1969, Masao opened Takahashi Dojo on Melrose Avenue in downtown Ottawa. At the age of forty, he began his second life as a judo instructor while still serving in the Air Force. In January 1970, His Excellency, Shinichi Kondo, then Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Canada, also attended the dojo, and the New Year’s mochi pounding and Kagami Biraki were held in accordance with Japanese tradition. Masao’s eldest son, Allyn Takahashi, was a middle school student at the time and said he remembered the event vividly.
Masao was discharged from the Air Force after 22 years of service and started to concentrate on running Takahashi Dojo.
Even before the dojo opened, Masao had been teaching judo to young people living in Ottawa. Therefore, the dojo would attract many young Canadians, regardless of their ethnicity.
The dojo offered the highest level of judo instruction in Canada, based on the core of judo, which teaches not only technique but also the mind. Masao trained many world-class judoka. Additionally, Masao worked closely with the Kodokan’s international department. He sent students of his dojo to Japan, the home of judo, to give them the opportunity to practice, and, at the same time, he actively accepted judo trainees from Japan. He also greatly contributed to youth exchange between Japan and Canada through judo.
Eventually, Masao gained fame as the “founding father” of Canadian judo.
Additionally, as mentioned, he taught judo not only to Olympic athletes and Canadian champions, but also to the prime minister and his children. Masao greatly contributed to the friendship between Japan and Canada through his judo instruction.
Masao’s noble and sincere personality, leadership, and ability to execute tasks were highly praised by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Government of Ontario, and local judo officials. In later years, many awards were awarded to him by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and others.
Japanese Canadian leader Masao Takahashi
Masao demonstrated excellent leadership skills beyond just teaching judo.
For a long time, Japanese Canadians living in Ottawa seemed to lack organizational cohesion. This may be due to the hardships experienced during the Pacific War. However, in 1976, Masao called for the establishment of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA). He organized and chaired the founding preparatory meeting and worked hard to establish OJCA. In the following year, in 1976, the organization was established.
The year 1977 was the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant, Manzo Nagano, to British Columbia. More than 30 years had passed since the end of the Pacific War, and it was a time when Japanese Canadians’ sense of pride and their position in Canadian society were greatly improved. The presence of a Japanese Canadian organization in Canada’s capital was of great significance.
Masao subsequently served as OJCA chairman twice, in 1978-79 and in 1985-86. He made important contributions to the development of the Japanese Canadian community in the Ottawa area.
Years passed, and in 2002, Masao turned 72 years old. The Government of Japan conferred the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette on him. His achievements were based on the following:
1. Improving the status of Japanese Canadians in postwar Canada;
2. Promoting friendship between Japan and Canada through judo;
3. The development of the Japanese Canadian community in Ottawa.
When I think of today’s extremely good Japan-Canada relations and the highly respected Japanese Canadians, I feel that Masao’s achievements were truly significant, and I cannot express enough my gratitude to him.
Expanding Takahashi Dojo
As mentioned above, the great Masao was a wonderful instructor, but in fact, there were other instructors at the dojo besides Masao.
Masao’s beloved wife, June, is also a judoka. She is the first female judoka in Canada to earn a black belt and holds the highest rank, 7th Dan. She also coached the Cameroonian women’s national judo team.
Masao and June have four children, all of whom have studied judo and are active in their respective fields.
Takahashi Dojo began as a dojo for judo training, but has gradually expanded into a dojo where you can fully learn not only judo, but also judo kata, kendo, karate, and iaido. A Paralympian in judo “kata” has also emerged in from Takahashi Dojo.
Takahashi Dojo is, of course, the centre of martial arts in Ottawa, but it is also becoming a hub for the Japanese community.
I would like to write a personal note here. It was on a snowy day on Sunday, February 4, 2024. I received an invitation and went to Takahashi Dojo. In fact, this day was the anniversary of the dojo becoming one of the venues of the Ottawa Go Club. I’m not good at Go at all, but I performed the ritual of placing the first stone. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Go enthusiasts gather to compete. It was impressive that there were more Go players of other ethnicities than of Japanese or Asian descent, symbolizing Canada’s diversity and inclusiveness.
I would like to write a personal note here. It was on a snowy day on Sunday, February 4, 2024. I received an invitation and went to Takahashi Dojo. In fact, this day was the anniversary of the dojo becoming one of the venues of the Ottawa Go Club. I’m not good at Go at all, but I performed the ritual of placing the first stone. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Go enthusiasts gather to compete. It was impressive that there were more Go players of other ethnicities than of Japanese or Asian descent, symbolizing Canada’s diversity and inclusiveness.
Mar 7, 2024,
H.E. YAMANOUCHI Kanji
Ambassador
Embassy of Japan in Canada