I read Dr. Kano's entry in Wikipedia and I was struck by this paragraph...
Did Imperial Japan order Dr. Kano's death in order to militarize the Kodokan? Or is this another bit of bogus Wiki information? Maybe I'm reading to much into this...but I think that Wiki's article hints at the possibility?
Kano allegedly died of pneumonia in 1938, aboard the SS Hikawa Maru after attending an IOC conference, promoting Judo as an Olympic sport. There is, however, growing evidence that he died actually of food poisoning. In the historical context, Japan was engaging in World War II, and the government had plans to turn the Kodokan into a military academy. Kano was outspoken in his opposition to this and he stated that there was no place for militarism in the Kodokan. After his death, a few weeks later, the Kodokan was indeed a military academy.
Did Imperial Japan order Dr. Kano's death in order to militarize the Kodokan? Or is this another bit of bogus Wiki information? Maybe I'm reading to much into this...but I think that Wiki's article hints at the possibility?