2025.10 KENDOJIDAI
Photography: Sasai Takamasa
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Okido Satoru, who served as captain of the Japanese national team at the 17th World Kendo Championships, was appointed Associate Professor at his alma mater, the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, starting in April. At the same time, he also became the coach of both the men’s and women’s Kendo teams, beginning a new stage of life training alongside his students.
Okido Satoru
Born in Ehime Prefecture in 1984. After graduating from Nitta High School, he entered the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. Upon graduation, he joined the Osaka Prefectural Police. His achievements include appearances at the All Japan Kendo Championship, team victory at the World Kendo Championships as well as individual competition, and both team and individual titles at the All Japan Police Championship. He holds the Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan.
A Sudden and Dramatic Career Change
Returning to NIFS in Kanoya After 17 Years
On April 1, 2025, Okido Satoru, resigned from the Osaka Prefectural Police and was appointed Associate Professor at his alma mater, the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of top-level Kendo practitioners with outstanding competitive achievements transitioning into university teaching positions. For example, three years ago, Ando Sho left the Hokkaido Police to join the faculty of Kokushikan University.
“Last year, I was informed that a new faculty position would be opening at my alma mater. Having served the Osaka Prefectural Police for 17 years, I had thought I would remain there for the rest of my career as an instructor, so it was truly a decision I agonized over. After consulting with many people, I may sound dramatic, but I resolved to take on this challenge with the mindset that life comes only once.”
Although his primary responsibility would be Kendo instruction, the academic world was new territory. Did he not feel uncertain?
“I would be lying if I said I had no anxiety. However, the thought of what I might be able to accomplish by venturing into the unknown felt stronger than fear. The opportunity to pursue deeper inquiry and research in Kendo, as well as to pass on directly to students the knowledge and experience I have cultivated, gave me a sense of purpose.”
Having officially been appointed, he took up his post as Associate Professor at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya in April, while also assuming the role of head coach of the Kendo team. Together with Department Head Maesaka Shigeki and General Director Takenaka Kentaro, he forms a three-person leadership structure.
“From my very first year, the two professors entrusted me with the position of head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams. At the Kyushu Student Kendo Championship and the West Japan Student Kendo Championship, both held in May, I was given full responsibility for decisions such as the match orders. It was a sobering responsibility, but thanks to the students’ efforts, we managed to prevail in close contests and secure victory in both the men’s and women’s divisions. Honestly, it was even more gratifying than any of the wins I had achieved myself as a competitor. It has now been three months since I came to Kanoya, and I’ve finally begun to match faces with names among the club members.”
The Kendo club trains six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Unless tied up with meetings, Okido takes part in all sessions, sharing the sweat and spirit of practice alongside his students.
“I myself must also continue training, always striving for greater heights. Practicing together and showing my own dedication to the students is essential. Going forward, I am expected not only to apply my accumulated knowledge in practice and research, but also to examine how it can be academically evaluated within the context of the journal Sports Performance Research promoted by NIFS in Kanoya. In that sense, there is much to be done, and every day is deeply fulfilling.”
The Mission of a University for Training Specialists
Valuing the Essence, Strengthening the Core
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