Kōsei Inoue

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Kōsei Inoue
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born (1978-05-15) 15 May 1978 (age 45)
Miyazaki, Japan
Home town Tokyo, Japan
Alma materTokai University
OccupationJudoka
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
SpouseAki Higashihara (m. 2008)
Sport
CountryJapan
SportJudo
Weight class–100 kg
Rank     7th dan black belt
ClubSohgo Security (ALSOK)
Now coachingAll Japan National Team (Head)
Mashu Baker, Daiki Nishiyama, Yuya Yoshida, Ryunosuke Haga, Ryu Shichinohe
Achievements and titles
Olympic GamesGold (2000)
World Champ.Gold (1999, 2001, 2003)
Asian Champ.Gold (1998, 2002)
Medal record
Men's judo
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney ‍–‍100 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Birmingham ‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2001 Munich ‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2003 Osaka ‍–‍100 kg
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bangkok ‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Open
Profile at external databases
IJF191
JudoInside.com1003
Updated on 31 May 2023.

Kosei Inoue (井上 康生, Inoue Kōsei, born 15 May 1978 in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki) is a Japanese judoka. He won the gold medal in the under 100 kg class at the 2000 Summer Olympics.[1] 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 considered by the Judo community as one of the best competitive judoka.[citation needed] His notable accomplishments include three golds at the World Championships and All Japan Championships (one of four Judokas who have 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[edit]

Kosei Inoue won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the -100 kg division, most notably doing so by winning every single match by ippon. At the victory ceremony, he carried a photograph of his recently-deceased mother onto the podium.

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[edit]

Inoue married Japanese actress and television personality Aki Higashihara on January 14, 2008.[2] 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.[3] 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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kōsei Inoue". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  2. ^ Judoka Kosei Inoue, celebrity Aki Higashihara announce marriage Mainichi Daily News
  3. ^ "The Latest News from the UK and Around the World".

External links[edit]

Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  Japan
2000 Sydney
Succeeded by