Kōsei Inoue
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Japanese | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
15 May 1978 Miyazaki, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Tokyo, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Tokai University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (220 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Aki Higashihara (m. 2008) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Judo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class |
Half-heavyweight Heavyweight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 6th degree black belt in Judo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Sohgo Security (ALSOK) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Now coaching |
All Japan National Team (Head) Mashu Baker, Daiki Nishiyama, Yuya Yoshida, Ryunosuke Haga, Ryu Shichinohe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=icon}
Kosei Inoue (井上 康生 Inoue Kōsei, born May 15, 1978 in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki) is a Judo practitioner from Japan. He won the gold medal in the under 100 kg class at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He is well known for his specialty throws, Uchi Mata (内股, inner thigh throw) and Ōuchi gari (大内刈, major inner reap).
He is widely considered by the Judo community as one of the best competitive Judokas. His notable accomplishments include three golds at the World Championship and All Japan Championship (one of four Judokas who has accomplished this).
His older brother, Tomokazu Inoue is also judoka and former Asian champion.
He is affiliated with Sohgo Security Services (Alsok), a security firm.
Biography
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Kosei Inoue was chosen as the captain of the Japanese team. He was highly favored to win another gold in the u100 kg division. However, he suffered a major upset and did not place. Elco van der Geest of the Netherlands (2002 European Champion) defeated Inoue at the last minute with a drop seoi nage (shoulder throw) in the quarter final. Movlud Miraliyev of Azerbaijan countered Inoue's o-uchi gari with a ura nage to win the match during Repechage Round 3.
In 2005 he won the gold at the Jigoro Kano International Cup, which is an A level contest with many former world and Olympic medalists.
He did not compete until 2007 because of a shoulder injury in 2005 and returned at +100 kg
At the 2008 All-Japan Judo Championships, Inoue lost to Yohei Takai by ippon, which ended his hopes of joining the Olympic team headed for Beijing. He promptly announced his retirement from international competition. Inoue was replaced by Satoshi Ishii, who defeated Keiji Suzuki in the final bout of the 2008 AJJC (International Herald Tribune, April 29, 2008) and won a gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games.
Personal life
Inoue married Japanese actress and television personality Aki Higashihara on January 14, 2008.[1] After announcing his retirement from competitive judo, Inoue was selected by the Japan Olympic Committee to travel to the UK in order to learn English. After living in Edinburgh, Scotland (and training with the Scottish-based GB team members) for 6 months he moved to London to teach at the Budokwai for 12 months before returning to Japan as the Men's Heavyweight coach for the National team.[2] Following Japan's least successful Olympics for Judo at the London 2012 Olympic Games, it was announced that Inoue would succeed Shinichi Shinohara as the new head coach of the national team.
Achievements
| Year | Date | Tournament | Place | Weight class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 12.22 | Kodokan Cup | loss | Heavyweight (+95 kg) |
| 1996 | 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | Round of 32 | |
| 12.22 | Kodokan Cup | 5th | Heavyweight (+95 kg) | |
| 1997 | 2.16 | Wien World Cup |  1st | Heavyweight (+95 kg) |
| 4.6 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships |  3rd | Heavyweight (+95 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | Round of 8 | ||
| 12.6 | Kodokan Cup | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 1998 | 2.7 | Paris Super World Cup |  2nd | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 4.5 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 2nd | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 2nd | ||
| 12.10 | Asian Games | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 1999 | 1.10 | Jigoro Kano Cup | 3rd | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 3.1 | Hamburg Super World Cup | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 3.7 | Budapest World Cup | 3rd | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 4.4 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 3rd | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | Round of 8 | ||
| 10.7 | World Championships | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 2000 | 2.13 | Paris Super World Cup | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 4.2 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 2nd | ||
| 9.21 | Olympic Games | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 2001 | 3.3 | Budapest World Cup | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 4.1 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 1st | ||
| 7.28 | World Championships | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 2002 | 10.3 | Asian Games | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 1st | ||
| 2003 | 2.23 | Hamburg Super World Cup | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 4.6 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 2nd | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 1st | ||
| 9.11 | World Championships | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 2004 | 4.4 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 1st | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 2nd | ||
| 8.19 | Olympic Games | Round of 8 | Half-Heavyweight (-100 kg) | |
| 2005 | 1.9 | Jigoro Kano Cup | 1st | Openweight |
| 2006 | 11.19 | Kodokan Cup | 1st | Heavyweight (+100 kg) |
| 2007 | 2.11 | Paris Super World Cup | 1st | Heavyweight (+100 kg) |
| 4.8 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 3rd | Heavyweight (+100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | 3rd | ||
| 9.14 | World Championships | 5th | Heavyweight (+100 kg) | |
| 12.9 | Jigoro Kano Cup | 2nd | Heavyweight (+100 kg) | |
| 2008 | 2.11 | Paris Super World Cup | 5th | Heavyweight (+100 kg) |
| 4.6 | All-Japan Weight Class Championships | 1st | Heavyweight (+100 kg) | |
| 4.29 | All-Japan Championships | Round of 8 |
References
- ↑ Judoka Kosei Inoue, celebrity Aki Higashihara announce marriage Mainichi Daily News
- ↑ http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Japans-Judo-Star-Kosei-Inoue-Moves-To-Edinburgh-To-Enjoy-The-Quiet-Life/Article/200903115236375?lpos=UK_News_Second_Home_Page_Feature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15236375_Japans_Judo_Star_Kosei_Inoue_Moves_To_Edinburgh_To_Enjoy_The_Quiet_Life
External links
- Judo Legends
- Competition videos of Kosei Inoue on Judovision.org
- Kosei Inoue podcast: "My Life in Judo"
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ryoko Tamura |
Flagbearer for  JapanSydney 2000 |
Succeeded by Kyoko Hamaguchi |
| ||||||||||
|