Takehide Nakatani
Encyclopedia
is a retired judoka who won the first gold medal ever awarded in judo at the Summer Olympics
as the Japanese competitor in the lightweight (-68 kg) division.
, Japan
, into a family where all four of his brothers held a black belt in judo. Nakatani himself began judo at age 12, and quickly became known for his balanced style of judo and deadly Kosoto Gari
. He chose to advance to Meiji University
, but was unable to become a member of the group team because of the university's star-studded roster, which included future professional wrestler Seiji Sakaguchi
. He was chosen to represent Japan in the -68 kg division of the 1964 Summer Olympics
only a few days prior to the commencement of the Olympic games, and won every single one of his matches by ippon
to capture the first gold medal awarded in judo in Olympic history. He spent a total of less than 9 minutes on the Olympic stage to win his three matches.
Nakatani worked at a division of Mitsubishi
for 5 years after graduating from Meiji University. He then became the head coach of the West Germany
national judo team for 3 years prior to the 1972 Summer Olympics
held in Munich
, coaching Olympic medalists Paul Barth and Klaus Glahn
. He returned to Hiroshima in 1973, and continued his family's jewelry business while serving as an advisor to the All-Japan Judo Federation and Hiroshima Prefecture Judo Federation. He received a Blue Ribbon Medal of Honor
from the Japanese government in 2003.
Judo at the Summer Olympics
Judo was first included in the Summer Olympic Games at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, Japan. After not being included in 1968, judo has been an Olympic sport in each Olympiad since then. Only male judoka participated until the 1988 Summer Olympics, when women participated as a demonstration sport...
as the Japanese competitor in the lightweight (-68 kg) division.
Biography
Nakatani was born in HiroshimaHiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, 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...
, into a family where all four of his brothers held a black belt in judo. Nakatani himself began judo at age 12, and quickly became known for his balanced style of judo and deadly Kosoto Gari
Kosoto Gari
,is one of the original 40 throws of Judoas developed by Jigoro Kano.It belongs to the second group,Dai Nikyo,of the traditional throwing list, Gokyo , of Kodokan Judo.It is also part of the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo....
. He chose to advance to Meiji University
Meiji University
is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki, founded in 1881 by three lawyers of the Meiji era, Kishimoto Tatsuo, Miyagi Kōzō, and Yashiro Misao. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Japanese universities in Tokyo, Japan....
, but was unable to become a member of the group team because of the university's star-studded roster, which included future professional wrestler Seiji Sakaguchi
Seiji Sakaguchi
is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who was a mainstay of New Japan Pro Wrestling and also competed for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance....
. He was chosen to represent Japan in the -68 kg division of 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...
only a few days prior to the commencement of the Olympic games, and won every single one of his matches by ippon
Ippon
Ippon literally "one full point", it is the highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon-wazari contest, usually judo, karate or jujutsu.-Ippon in judo:...
to capture the first gold medal awarded in judo in Olympic history. He spent a total of less than 9 minutes on the Olympic stage to win his three matches.
Nakatani worked at a division of Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
for 5 years after graduating from Meiji University. He then became the head coach of the West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
national judo team for 3 years prior to the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
held in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, coaching Olympic medalists Paul Barth and Klaus Glahn
Klaus Glahn
Klaus Glahn is a former West German judoka who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics.In 1964 he won the bronze medal in the open class while representing the United Team of Germany....
. He returned to Hiroshima in 1973, and continued his family's jewelry business while serving as an advisor to the All-Japan Judo Federation and Hiroshima Prefecture Judo Federation. He received a Blue Ribbon Medal of Honor
Medals of Honor (Japan)
Since the late 19th Century, the Government of Japan has issued six different types of to individuals for achievements in various fields.The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and were first awarded the following year. Several expansions and amendments have been made since then...
from the Japanese government in 2003.