Isao Okano
Encyclopedia
is a retired judoka who competed in the middleweight (-80 kg) division. He was born in Ryūgasaki
, Ibaraki
, Japan
.
while studying at Chuo University
's law school, and won the gold medal in the middleweight division. He won another gold medal at the World Judo Championships
in 1965, becoming the champion of his division at only 21 years of age. He also won the Open weight class division of the All-Japan Judo Championships
in 1967 and 1969, and placed second in the competition in 1968. He remains the lightest ever competitor to win the Open weight class of the All-Japan Championships, as he weighed around 80 kg throughout his career. He suddenly retired from competitive judo at only 25 years of age, and founded the Shoki Juku (currently the Ryutsu Keizai University
's judo team) in 1970, where he instructed future Olympic gold medalist Kazuhiro Ninomiya
. He also served as a coach for the Japanese Olympic judo team during the 1976 Summer Olympics
. He later worked as a judo instructor at Keio University
from 1989-1998, and the University of Tokyo
from 1989-2000. He is currently an instructor and professor at Ryutsu Keizai University
.
Ryugasaki, Ibaraki
is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan.-Overview:As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 79,269, with household number being 30,470, and a population density of . The total area is ....
, Ibaraki
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
, 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...
.
Biography
He entered the 1964 Summer Olympics1964 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...
while studying at Chuo University
Chuo University
Chuo University is a one of the Japanese leading universities. Thus it is competitive in several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:The university has been ranked 27th, 25th, 34th during 2008-2010 respectively in the ranking "Truly Strong Universities" by Toyo Keizai.-Research...
's law school, and won the gold medal in the middleweight division. He won another gold medal at 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...
in 1965, becoming the champion of his division at only 21 years of age. He also won the Open weight class division of 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 1967 and 1969, and placed second in the competition in 1968. He remains the lightest ever competitor to win the Open weight class of the All-Japan Championships, as he weighed around 80 kg throughout his career. He suddenly retired from competitive judo at only 25 years of age, and founded the Shoki Juku (currently the Ryutsu Keizai University
Ryutsu Keizai University
is a Japanese private university in Ryugasaki, Ibaraki. It was founded in 1965.-See also:*Ryutsu Keizai University F.C., affiliated football club.*List of universities in Japan...
's judo team) in 1970, where he instructed future Olympic gold medalist 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 also served as a coach for the Japanese Olympic judo team during 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...
. He later worked as a judo instructor at Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
from 1989-1998, and the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
from 1989-2000. He is currently an instructor and professor at Ryutsu Keizai University
Ryutsu Keizai University
is a Japanese private university in Ryugasaki, Ibaraki. It was founded in 1965.-See also:*Ryutsu Keizai University F.C., affiliated football club.*List of universities in Japan...
.
Video footage
See also
- List of judoka
- List of Olympic medalists in judo