About the Kodokan
Kodokan (講道館 Kōdōkan), or the Kodokan Institute, is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. Literally, kō means "to lecture" or "to spread information," dō means "the way," and kan is "a public building or hall," together translating roughly as "a place for the study or promotion of the way." The Kodokan was founded in 1882 by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo, and is now located in an eight-story building in Tokyo, Japan.