A longstanding relationship that began in the 1970s between the late Viliame Takayawa Snr and retired schoolteacher Kiofumi Manada Sensei continues to thrive today. Viliame Takayawa Snr, known as the “Father of Judo” in Fiji, first met Kiofumi Manada Sensei while attending university in Japan, where their passion for judo developed over the years.
This connection grew stronger as Viliame’s sons, particularly three-time Olympian Nacanieli Takayawa, trained under Kiofumi Manada’s expert mentorship. Nacanieli represented Fiji at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games and earned a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.
Today, Fijian judokas have the opportunity to secure scholarships for training and education with some of the world’s best in Japan. Kiofumi Manada Sensei frequently visits Fiji with students from Nihon Gakuen High School to train alongside local athletes.
“During every summer holiday, I would travel to Japan and stay with Kiofumi Manada Sensei, who was the coach at Nihon Gakuen High School. Training there as a teenager greatly enhanced my skills,” shared former Fijian Olympian Naca Takayawa. “In Japan, they train six days a week. My time training during those early teenage years significantly improved my performance.”
As part of this robust partnership, Kiofumi Manada Sensei was present in Suva on Monday, accompanied by six judokas from Nihon Gakuen High School and two participants from a local club in Japan to train with Fijian athletes.
“This experience is invaluable for our athletes to compete against highly skilled judokas from overseas, offering a competitive edge,” Naca noted. “This collaboration, rooted in my father’s role as national head coach 30 years ago, has facilitated scholarships for our athletes at Ryutsu Keizai University, enabling them to represent Fiji in the Olympics.”
The enduring connection has fostered a rich exchange of training and culture between Fijian judokas and Japanese athletes. Naca also expressed gratitude for the support from the Fijian government, the Fiji Sports Commission, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and sponsors like FMF and Air Pacific (now Fiji Airways), all of whom have played a role in promoting judo in Fiji over the years.