On May 14, 2016, Japan Sports Agency Commissioner Daichi Suzuki (gold medalist in the men’s 100-meter backstroke at Seoul 1988 Olympic Games) visited Jakarta, Indonesia and met with TIN Senior Advisor Kenichi Kuroda.
Mr. Suzuki visited Jakarta to participate in the Jakarta “KIZUNA” Ekiden 2016, held for the third time on the theme of deepening the kizuna (ties) between Indonesia and Japan, sponsored by The Mainichi Newspaper Co., Ltd. of Japan and Kompas Gramedia, a prominent local newspaper. He had requested a meeting with TIN's Kuroda, who has been striving to promote judo in the country, on the initiatives being taken for the sport’s promotion, the difficulties in promotion activities in Indonesia and the need for support, leading to the actual meeting.
During the talks, Kuroda discussed the background of how he started teaching judo to the army and police officers in Indonesia and the construction of the Indonesian Judo Centre in Ciloto, West Java, as part of Toray Group's social contribution activities upon the request for cooperation from the All Indonesian Judo Federation. Toward the end of the meeting, Kuroda requested Mr. Suzuki to cooperate in dispatching judo instructors from Japan to promote the sport in Indonesia.
Mr. Suzuki gifted 40 judo suits to the All Indonesian Judo Federation.
