Kōdōkan Shitennō

Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan refers to the four notable judo competitors of the early Kōdōkan: Tomita Tsunejirō, Yamashita Yoshitsugu, Yokoyama Sakujiro, and Saigō Shirō.

Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan
Japanese name
Kanji	講道館四天王
Hiragana	こうどうかんしてんのう

Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan

Main article: Kodokan-Totsuka rivalry

"Kōdōkan Shiten'nō" (講道館四天王) literally translates as Four Heavenly Kings^[1] of the Kōdōkan. Shiten'nō refers to four Devarajas, Hindu gods, historically adapted by Japanese Buddhism.^[2] Traditionally, the Four Heavenly Kings are the guardian gods that are worshipped as the protecting deities of Buddhist sanctuaries.^[3]

When Kanō Jigorō began to develop judo from jujutsu, his efforts met with opposition from jujutsu practitioners. However, Kano drew a loyal following that included exceptional fighters. Hence the term "Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan" came into existence referring to Tomita Tsunejirō along with Yamashita Yoshitsugu, Yokoyama Sakujiro, and Saigō Shirō.^[4]

Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan

• 
  Yokoyama Sakujiro
  (1864 – 1914)
• 
  Tomita Tsunejirō
  (1865 – 1937)
• 
  Yamashita Yoshitsugu
  (1865 – 1935)
• 
  Saigō Shirō
  (1866 – 1922)

See also

• Shitennō (samurai)
• Shitennō (Tokugawa clan)