Isao Inokuma
Encyclopedia
was a judoka
who competed in the +80 kg and Open divisions.
, and began judo at age 15. He entered the Tokyo University of Education (current University of Tsukuba
) and won the All-Japan Judo Championships
in 1959 at only 21 years of age to become the first student competitor to win the championship. He placed second in the All-Japan Championships from 1960-1961, facing future Olympic silver medalist and life-long friend Akio Kaminaga
in the finals both years.
Inokuma won the 1963 All-Japan Championships, but placed 4th in the 1964 All-Japan Championships and ended up entering the 1964 Summer Olympics
in the +80 kg division (the heaviest weight category at the time excluding the Open category). In the Olympic final he defeated Canadian judoka Doug Rogers
with an Ippon Seoinage
to win the gold medal. His victory came after recovering from a hip injury caused by overwork, and Rogers was over 30 kg heavier than Inokuma at the time of the match.
After graduating, Inokuma became a judo instructor for Juntendo University
and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
. In 1965, he entered the Open weight class of the World Judo Championships
intending to face Dutch judo champion Anton Geesink
, but Geesink had entered in the +80 kg division that year, and the two never faced off against one another. Both Geesink and Inokuma won gold medals in the competition, and Inokuma announced his retirement shortly afterwards, citing lack of motivation.
In 1966, he resigned from his post at the Tokyo Police Department to become an executive at the Tokai Construction company. He continued to work with judo as an advisor for the International Judo Federation
, and as an instructor at Tokai University
, where he coached future Olympic gold medalist Yasuhiro Yamashita
. He also authored several prominent books and manuals relating to judo, contributing to the sport's development. He became the CEO of the Tokai Kensetsu company in 1993, but committed suicide in 2001 by means of seppuku
, possibly due to the financial losses suffered by his company. He was 63 years old.
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
who competed in the +80 kg and Open divisions.
Biography
Inokuma was born in Yokosuka, KanagawaYokosuka, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...
, and began judo at age 15. He entered the Tokyo University of Education (current University of Tsukuba
University of Tsukuba
is located in the city of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture in the Kantō region of Japan. The University has 28 college clusters and schools with a total of around 15,000 students...
) and won 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....
in 1959 at only 21 years of age to become the first student competitor to win the championship. He placed second in the All-Japan Championships from 1960-1961, facing future Olympic silver medalist and life-long friend Akio Kaminaga
Akio Kaminaga
was a judoka who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.-Biography:Kaminaga was born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and began learning judo during high school; a considerably late start for a top competitor. Kaminaga improved his techniques at a quick pace, and took a dan rank exam at the Kodokan...
in the finals both years.
Inokuma won the 1963 All-Japan Championships, but placed 4th in the 1964 All-Japan Championships and ended up entering the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in the +80 kg division (the heaviest weight category at the time excluding the Open category). In the Olympic final he defeated Canadian judoka Doug Rogers
Doug Rogers
For the writer, see Douglas Rogers Douglas "Doug" Rogers is a former Canadian Olympic competitor in judo. He is an honoured member in the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. His best results were a silver medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and gold medals at two Pan American Games, in 1965 and 1967...
with an Ippon Seoinage
Ippon Seoinage
is a throw in judo. It is one of the nineteen accepted techniques in Shinmeisho No Waza of Kodokan Judo. It is classified as a hand throwing technique, Te-waza.-Professional wrestling:...
to win the gold medal. His victory came after recovering from a hip injury caused by overwork, and Rogers was over 30 kg heavier than Inokuma at the time of the match.
After graduating, Inokuma became a judo instructor for Juntendo University
Juntendo University
is a private university in Japan. Its headquarters are on its campus in Bunkyo, Tokyo for School of Medicine and in Hiragagakuendai, Inzai, Chiba for School of Health and Sports Science...
and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
. In 1965, he entered the Open weight class of the World Judo Championships
World Judo Championships
The World Judo Championships are the highest level of international judo competition, along with the Olympic judo competition. The championships are held once every year by the International Judo Federation, and qualified judoka compete in their respective categories as representatives of their...
intending to face Dutch judo champion Anton Geesink
Anton Geesink
Antonius "Anton" Johannes Geesink was a Dutch 10th-dan judoka from Utrecht. He was a three-time World Judo Champion , Olympic Gold Medalist and won 21 European championships...
, but Geesink had entered in the +80 kg division that year, and the two never faced off against one another. Both Geesink and Inokuma won gold medals in the competition, and Inokuma announced his retirement shortly afterwards, citing lack of motivation.
In 1966, he resigned from his post at the Tokyo Police Department to become an executive at the Tokai Construction company. He continued to work with judo as an advisor for the International Judo Federation
International Judo Federation
The International Judo Federation was founded in July 1951. The IJF was originally composed of judo federations from Europe plus Argentina. Countries from four continents were affiliated over the next ten years. Today the IJF has 200 National Federations on all continents...
, and as an instructor at Tokai University
Tokai University
is a private university in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1943 by Shigeyoshi Matsumae, who had formerly been the engineering president of the Ministry of Communications...
, where he coached future Olympic gold medalist Yasuhiro Yamashita
Yasuhiro Yamashita
is one of the most successful judo competitors of all time. He currently works as an instructor or advisor for numerous organizations, including Tokai University, the International Judo Federation, and the...
. He also authored several prominent books and manuals relating to judo, contributing to the sport's development. He became the CEO of the Tokai Kensetsu company in 1993, but committed suicide in 2001 by means of seppuku
Seppuku
is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
, possibly due to the financial losses suffered by his company. He was 63 years old.