In January of this year, Mayor Bernd Tischler welcomed a delegation from the Japanese city of <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/04/reiwa-4th-year-all-japan-judo-championship-expected-roundtable-%e2%91%a4-second-round-bottom-ejudo/" title="Reiwa 4th Year All Japan Judo Championship Expected Roundtable ⑤ "Second Round (Bottom)" | eJudo”>Nobeoka. The delegation used their stay to find out about the pioneering projects of InnovationCity Bottrop and to visit the JC 66 Bottrop. Nobeoka’s mayor Kazumaru Yamamoto issued a return invitation and invited Mayor Bernd Tischler and a delegation from JC 66 to visit Nobeoka.
During the autumn holidays the time had come: Eleven young judoka from JC 66 Bottrop from the competitive sports promotion team traveled to Japan with their coaches Bastian Hirschfelder and Jan Tefett. Mayor Bernd Tischler accompanied the group to further deepen the political exchange. The 15-day stay took the delegation through Kyoto, Tokyo and Nobeoka. The young athletes were accommodated in host families and experienced Japanese culture up close. For the group, the trip was a reward for their sporting achievements. Participating in training sessions at the famous Kodokan judo school in Tokyo was an unforgettable highlight and allowed them to experience judo in its original home.
“We lived international understanding,” enthused trainer Bastian Hirschfelder and praised the hospitality and cultural exchange. The Japanese judo values - including politeness, respect, self-control and friendship – impressed the young Bottropers as well as their trainers. “In Japan, these values are not only important in sport, but also shape everyday life,” says trainer Jan Tefett.
It wasn’t just the sport and hospitality that impressed, but also the pragmatic approach and pace of the Japanese. “I was surprised at how much the Japanese have adopted from our InnovationCity concepts in such a short time. They recreated our showroom almost exactly,” Tischler reports proudly. “It makes me proud that Bottrop was able to serve as a role model here.” He also praised the young athletes, whose appearance and commitment made a strong calling card for Bottrop. The trip was even recognized in Japanese media, and the group made it onto newspapers and television.
The visit laid the foundation for a long-term exchange between Bottrop and Nobeoka. “It will not be a formal town twinning, but rather a friendly connection,” explains Tischler. “Due to a council decision, further official city twinning is currently not possible.” The return visit from Nobeoka is planned for spring 2025, where the focus will once again be on political and sporting exchange.
The trip to Japan during the autumn holidays was made possible by sponsors, foundations and the promotion of competitive sports. With this trip, Bottrop and Nobeoka have laid the foundation for a sustainable, sporting and culturally enriching partnership.
