Isamu Sonoda
Encyclopedia
is a retired judoka who competed in the middleweight (-80 kg) division.
, Fukuoka
, Japan
. He attended the Fukuoka Institute of Technology
, and won a gold medal at the 1969 World Judo Championships
along with his older brother, Yoshio, who won the gold medal in the lightweight (-63 kg) division. After graduating, he began work at the Maruzen Oil Company (current Cosmo Oil Company
), where he continued to practice judo. He joined the Fukuoka prefectural police force in July, 1972, at the invitation of the police force's judo instructor. Sonoda had competed in the All-Japan Judo Championships
10 times from age 19, but Shozo Fujii
had won the competition for three consecutive years prior to 1976, when the championship served as the qualifier for the 1976 Summer Olympics
, and was seen as a lock for Japan's Olympic judo team. However, Sonoda defeated Fujii by a very close decision, gained his first appearance at the Olympics at age 29.. He defeated Valeriy Dvoinikov of the Soviet Union
by koka from an Osoto Gari
in the finals to capture the gold medal.
Sonoda retired after competing in the 1978 Jigoro Kano Cup
along with Kazuhiro Ninomiya
. He and Ninomiya were rivals and friends for over 30 years, having been born on the same year, entered the same police force, competed in the same World Championships and Olympics, and having retired at the same time. He worked as a judo instructor for the Fukuoka prefectural police, and one of his pupils, Kie Kusakabe
, appeared in the 2000
and 2004 Summer Olympics
.
Biography
Sonoda was born in YanagawaYanagawa, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka, Japan.On March 21, 2005 the towns of Yamato and Mitsuhashi, both from Yamato District, were merged into Yanagawa.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 71,848, with a household number of 24,507, and the population density of 934.55 persons per km²...
, Fukuoka
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He attended the Fukuoka Institute of Technology
Fukuoka Institute of Technology
is a private university in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1954, and it was chartered as a university in 1963. It is located near Fukkōdaimae Station.-External links:*...
, and won a gold medal at the 1969 World Judo Championships
1969 World Judo Championships
The 1969 World Judo Championships were the 6th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Mexico City, Mexico from October 23–25, 1969.-Men:- Medals table :...
along with his older brother, Yoshio, who won the gold medal in the lightweight (-63 kg) division. After graduating, he began work at the Maruzen Oil Company (current Cosmo Oil Company
Cosmo Oil Company
is a Japanese petrochemical company.-History:Cosmo traces its corporate roots to Maruzen Petroleum , a company established in 1931, although the oil business operated by Maruzen was originally established by Zenzo Matsumura in Kobe in 1907....
), where he continued to practice judo. He joined the Fukuoka prefectural police force in July, 1972, at the invitation of the police force's judo instructor. Sonoda had competed in the All-Japan Judo Championships
All-Japan Judo Championships
is a judo tournament held every year in Japan. The men's tournament is held in Nippon Budokan on April 29 and the women's tournament is held in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in April. The Kodokan and All-Japan Judo Federation sponsor the championship....
10 times from age 19, but Shozo Fujii
Shōzō Fujii
is a Japanese judoka. He won a gold medal 4 times at the World Championships.He is from Higashikagawa, Kagawa. After graduation from Tenri University in 1973, he belonged to Kuraray...
had won the competition for three consecutive years prior to 1976, when the championship served as the qualifier for the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, and was seen as a lock for Japan's Olympic judo team. However, Sonoda defeated Fujii by a very close decision, gained his first appearance at the Olympics at age 29.. He defeated Valeriy Dvoinikov of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
by koka from an Osoto Gari
Osoto Gari
is one of the original 40 throws of Judoas developed by Jigoro Kano. It belongs to the first group, Dai Ikkyo, of the traditional throwing list, Gokyo , of Kodokan Judo. It is also included in the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo...
in the finals to capture the gold medal.
Sonoda retired after competing in the 1978 Jigoro Kano Cup
Jigoro Kano Cup
The Grand Slam Tokyo is an international judo competition held as part of the IJF Grand Slam series. The 2010 event is planned for December 11-13.- Men :- Women :...
along with Kazuhiro Ninomiya
Kazuhiro Ninomiya
is a retired judoka who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.-Biography:After graduating from Tenri University, Ninomiya entered the Shoki Juku under the instruction of Isao Okano. He joined the Fukuoka Prefecture police force in April, 1972, and placed third in the All-Japan Judo Championships...
. He and Ninomiya were rivals and friends for over 30 years, having been born on the same year, entered the same police force, competed in the same World Championships and Olympics, and having retired at the same time. He worked as a judo instructor for the Fukuoka prefectural police, and one of his pupils, Kie Kusakabe
Kie Kusakabe
is a Japanese judo competitor. She won the 57 kg-category bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.She is a graduate of Junshin Junior College. She was an officer of the Fukuoka Prefectural Police. She retired from the police in March 2005 and got married in October 2005.- References :*...
, appeared in the 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
.
See also
- List of judoka
- List of Olympic medalists in judo