Kenzo Nakamura
Encyclopedia
is a retired judoka who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
. He is the younger brother of 1993 World Judo Championships
gold medalist Yoshio Nakamura and 1996 Olympic silver medalist Yukimasa Nakamura
.
, Fukuoka Prefecture
, Japan
. He entered Tokai University
in 1992, and was successful in several judo competitions, winning a gold medal at the 1995 Summer Universiade
in his hometown of Fukuoka, and a gold medal at the 1995 Asian Judo Championships
in New Delhi
, India
. He entered Asahi Kasei
after graduating, and won the All-Japan Judo Championships
in 1996 to gain a spot on the Japanese Olympic judo team for the 1996 Summer Olympics
, where he won a close decision victory over Kwak Dae-Sung
of South Korea
to receive a gold medal. Both Nakamura and Kwak were unaggressive throughout the match, and Kwak gained a lead in points after a warning was issued to Nakamura for inactivity. However, Kwak was penalized in turn for an illegal move with only three seconds remaining in the match, and Nakamura won the gold medal with a 2-1 decision in his favor.
Nakamura won several more tournaments after his first trip to the Olympics, most notably a gold medal at the 1997 World Judo Championships
and three consecutive victories in the -73 kg division of the All-Japan Championships from 1998-2000. However, he failed to get past the third round at the 1999 World Judo Championships
, and lost in the fourth round of the 2000 Summer Olympics
and in the third round of the repechage
. He won the Kodokan Cup in the -81 kg division the same year, but lost in the semi-finals and bronze medal match of the 2001 World Judo Championships
to end up in 5th place. Nakamura retired in 2003 after winning the All-Japan Championships for the 5th time in 2002, and winning the Kano Jigoro Cup in 2003. He began working as an instructor for the Asahi Kasei judo team in 2004, and has served as a coach for the All-Japan junior and senior teams.
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. He is the younger brother of 1993 World Judo Championships
1993 World Judo Championships
The 1993 World Judo Championships were the 18th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Hamilton, Canada from September 30 to October 3, 1993.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :...
gold medalist Yoshio Nakamura and 1996 Olympic silver medalist Yukimasa Nakamura
Yukimasa Nakamura
is a Japanese judoka, Olympic medalist and world champion. His older brother, Yoshio Nakamura and younger brother, Kenzo Nakamura are also former world champion....
.
Biography
Nakamura was born in FukuokaFukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
, Fukuoka Prefecture
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 entered 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...
in 1992, and was successful in several judo competitions, winning a gold medal at the 1995 Summer Universiade
1995 Summer Universiade
The 1995 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVIII Summer Universiade, took place in Fukuoka, Japan.-Emblem:The symbol mark is a motif of "U", expressing passion and energy in the flickering flames of a burning torch...
in his hometown of Fukuoka, and a gold medal at the 1995 Asian Judo Championships
1995 Asian Judo Championships
The 1995 Asian Judo Championships were held in New Delhi, India 20, 21 and 23 November 1995.-Men's events:-Women's events:- Medals table :...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He entered Asahi Kasei
Asahi Kasei
is a Japanese company. The main products are chemicals and materials science. The company has around 25,000 employees and had consolidated sales of ¥ 1.7 trillion in 2008. It was founded in May 1931, using the paid in capital of Nobeoka Ammonia Fiber Co., Ltd, a Nobeoka, Miyazaki based producer of...
after graduating, 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 1996 to gain a spot on the Japanese Olympic judo team for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, where he won a close decision victory over Kwak Dae-Sung
Kwak Dae-Sung
Kwak Dae-Sung is a retired South Korean judoka who is a two-time Asian champion .He won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and also won silver at the 1995 World Judo Championships....
of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to receive a gold medal. Both Nakamura and Kwak were unaggressive throughout the match, and Kwak gained a lead in points after a warning was issued to Nakamura for inactivity. However, Kwak was penalized in turn for an illegal move with only three seconds remaining in the match, and Nakamura won the gold medal with a 2-1 decision in his favor.
Nakamura won several more tournaments after his first trip to the Olympics, most notably a gold medal at the 1997 World Judo Championships
1997 World Judo Championships
The 1997 World Judo Championships were the 20th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Paris, France in 1997.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :-60 kg:-65 kg:-71 kg:-78 kg:-86 kg:-95 kg:-+95 kg:-Open class:-48 kg:...
and three consecutive victories in the -73 kg division of the All-Japan Championships from 1998-2000. However, he failed to get past the third round at the 1999 World Judo Championships
1999 World Judo Championships
The 1999 World Judo Championships were the 21st edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Birmingham, England in 1999.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :-60 kg:-66 kg:-73 kg:-81 kg:-90 kg:-100 kg:-+100 kg:-Open class:...
, and lost in the fourth round of the 2000 Summer Olympics
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 in the third round of the repechage
Repechage
Repechage is a practice amongst ladder competitions that allows participants that failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round.- Types of repechage :...
. He won the Kodokan Cup in the -81 kg division the same year, but lost in the semi-finals and bronze medal match of the 2001 World Judo Championships
2001 World Judo Championships
The 2001 World Judo Championships were the 22nd edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held at Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany in 2001.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :-60 kg:-66 kg:-73 kg:-81 kg:-90 kg:-100 kg:-+100 kg:...
to end up in 5th place. Nakamura retired in 2003 after winning the All-Japan Championships for the 5th time in 2002, and winning the Kano Jigoro Cup in 2003. He began working as an instructor for the Asahi Kasei judo team in 2004, and has served as a coach for the All-Japan junior and senior teams.