'Mr Judo' picks up top award from the Emperor of Japan

One of the UK's foremost judo experts has been honoured by the Emperor of Japan.

British Judo Association president George Kerr, 73, said he was "thrilled to bits" after learning he is to receive one of Japan's highest awards.

The honour – the Japanese equivalent of a CBE – recognises his contribution to the sport and to relations between the UK and Japan..

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This tops a "fairytale" year for the man "nick-named" Mr Judo, who recently received one of the sport's greatest and most exclusive global honours.

Mr Kerr, from Edinburgh, was awarded the 10th Dan in February, a title held by only five other people in the world.

He also netted other honours during the year, including an honorary doctorate from Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University.

Mr Kerr said of his latest award: "Of course, I'm thrilled to bits, it's quite an honour. I think I'm the first judo player in Great Britain to receive this sort of thing, so it's really nice.

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"It's been a brilliant year. It's blown me away. The whole thing's been like a fairytale to be honest."

This most recent award – fully entitled the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette" – was announced in Emperor Akihito's November honours list.

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