Judoka isao inokuma biography

Japanese judoka (1938–2001)

Isao Inokuma (猪熊 功, Inokuma Isao, February 4, 1938 – September 28, 2001) was a Japanese judoka.

He won a gold medal in the heavyweight division (above 80 kg) at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and a world title in 1965.^[1]

Early life and education

Inokuma was born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, and took up judo at age 15.

He entered the Tokyo University of Education (current University of Tsukuba) and won the All-Japan Judo Championships in 1959 at only 21 years of age, to become the first student competitor to win the championship. He placed second in the All-Japan Championships in 1960 and 1961, both times losing to the future Olympic silver medalist and lifelong friend Akio Kaminaga.^[2][3]

Career

Inokuma won the 1963 All-Japan Championships, but placed 4th in the 1964 All-Japan Championships and ended up entering the 1964 Summer Olympics in the +80 kg division (the heaviest weight cat