A Signed Kodokan Reference
 
Kata of Kodokan Judo
 
Published by Koyano Bussan Kaisha, 1968
 
Personally signed by Yuichi Hirose!
 
Offered here is a rare and historically significant 1968 edition of Kata of Kodokan Judo, revised by Sumiyuki Kotani, Yoshimi Osawa, and Yuichi Hirose — bearing a personal signature by Hirose himself.
 
This volume represents a mid-20th century Kodokan effort to formally preserve and transmit the classical kata as structured under the lineage of Jigoro Kano.
 
Historical Significance: Unlike sport-focused publications of the era, this work is a technical and philosophical codification of:
• Nage-no-kata (Forms of Throwing)
• Katame-no-kata (Forms of Grappling)
• Kime-no-kata (Forms of Decision / Self-Defense)
 
The text reflects a period when Kodokan pedagogy emphasized:
• Structural balance (kuzushi)
• Maximum efficiency (seiryoku zenyo)
• Technical precision over competition tactics
• The preservation of formal kata as the core of Judo
 
This edition captures a transitional moment in post-war Judo — when tradition and modernization intersected.
 
The Signature: Yuichi Hirose was a respected Kodokan authority and contributor to the refinement of kata instruction.
 
A signed copy by one of the revising editors of the text itself represents:
• Direct lineage connection
• Institutional authenticity
• Collector-level provenance
 
Signed Kodokan instructional works from this period are uncommon, particularly in intact condition.
 
Condition
• Trade paperback with original dust jacket
• Solid binding
• Clean interior pages
• Shelf wear consistent with age
• Signature clearly visible
 
The book remains structurally sound and well-preserved for its era.
 
Collector Relevance: This is not merely an instructional manual.
 
It is:
• A historical Kodokan reference
• A preservation artifact of formal kata transmission
• A signed document from a recognized Kodokan authority
• Increasingly scarce in signed form
 
Ideal for:
• Senior dan practitioners
• Kata specialists
• Martial arts historians
• Kodokan lineage collectors
• Archival collections