Kosei Inoue
Do not be fooled by Kosei Inoue’s smiling face he was ferocious Judoka. On tatami he a formidable opponent, Olympic champion 3 times World champion, 2 times continental champion, and a lot more. Born on May 15, 1978 in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, this judoka has made some great successes on tatami and is considered one of the greatest judokas that ewer walked the judo mat.
The greatest moment in this Judoka was winning the olympic gold medal just few months after his mother died! What a great great spirit!
Inoue married Japanese actress and television personality Aki Higashihara on January 14, 2008. 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. 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.
More on this great judoka on Wikipedia