Peniamina Percival, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian and IOC Young Leader, is rebuilding judo in Samoa through Kalikā Dojo, supported by NPO JUDOs and seeking JICA assistance for a volunteer instructor. Aiming for LA 2028, Percival addresses social issues like gender-based violence and health crises by instilling respect and resilience through judo. Samoa's judo history includes hosting the Oceania Judo Union World Cup and the Olympic Training Centre for Pacific nations, with Percival striving to revive the sport and its community engagement.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics judo gold medalist, will receive the Olympic Order for his contributions to Olympism as an athlete and sports leader. He stepped back from duties due to a cervical spine injury sustained in October 2023 and is expected to step down from all roles, including his IOC membership, assumed in January 2020. Yamashita's judo achievements include four world titles, nine All-Japan Championships, and 203 consecutive victories. He founded the NGO Solidarity of International Judo Education (SJI) and has been Director of Education for the International Judo Federation since 2003.

Kazakhstan is strategically investing in judo to become a global powerhouse. Since 2023, reforms have focused resources on Olympic sports like judo, aligning with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s goals. Kazakhstan will host the IJF Grand Slam through 2026 and the 2027 World Judo Championships, as agreed by IJF President Marius Vizer and Minister Yermek Marzhikpayev. An IJF Academy is under construction in Astana, and the "Judo in Schools" program started in 2019 to promote the sport at a grassroots level. Azamat Mukanov, among other athletes, has received significant financial support. The nation aims to lead Central Asian judo and become a global benchmark for sports development.