is a retired judoka from 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...

, who represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics

1988 Summer Olympics

The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...

 in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the bronze medal in the men's middleweight division (– 86 kg), alongside Ben Spijkers

Ben Spijkers

Bernhard Hendrikus Martinus Spijkers is a retired judoka from the Netherlands, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics...

 from the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

.

He was born in Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki

Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki

Nishimorokata is a district located in Miyazaki, Japan.Following the March 23, 2010 Nojiri merger the district consists of the single town of Takaharu. After the merger, the district has an estimated population of 9,887 and a density of 116 persons per km²...

 and began judo at the age of a junior high student. He entered noble Asahi Kasei

Asahi Kasei

is a Japanese company. The main products are chemicals and materials science. The company has around 25,000 employees and had consolidated sales of ¥ 1.7 trillion in 2008. It was founded in May 1931, using the paid in capital of Nobeoka Ammonia Fiber Co., Ltd, a Nobeoka, Miyazaki based producer of...

 of the judo after graduation in Tenri University

Tenri University

is a Japanese private university in Tenri, Nara Prefecture, an independent part of the secular mission of Tenrikyo. It was established in February 1925 as the coeducational , enrolling 104 students, and was reorganised as a university in April 1949...

. In the days of active play, he was good at Seoi Nage

Seoi Nage

is a shoulder throw, one of the traditional forty throws of Judo as developed by Jigoro Kano. It belongs to the first group, Dai Ikkyo, of the traditional throwing list, Gokyo , of Kodokan Judo. It is also part of the current 67 Throws of Kodokan Judo...

, Tai Otoshi

Tai Otoshi

,is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as 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....

 and Uchi Mata

Uchi Mata

is one of the original 40 throws of Judo as 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....

.