Toshihiko Koga
Encyclopedia
is a retired judoka who competed in the -71 kg and -78 kg divisions.
, Japan
, and began judo in elementary school. He traveled to Tokyo
during junior-high school to enter Kodogakusha, a judo school later attended by Olympic gold medalists Hidehiko Yoshida
and Makoto Takimoto
. He continued his education at the Nippon Sport Science University
, and captured several awards including five consecutive championships at the Kodokan Cup and six consecutive championships at the All-Japan Judo Championships
(all in the 71 kg division). He placed 3rd in the 1987 World Judo Championships
held in Essen
, and was chosen to participate in the 1988 Summer Olympics
, where he lost in the 3rd round of the competition. Koga returned to the Olympics in 1992 after winning the 1989
and 1991 World Judo Championships
, but seriously injured his left knee during a randori
(sparring) session against Hidehiko Yoshida
, which prevented him from using his best technique; the Ippon Seoinage
. He won the gold medal overcoming this injury, and was given the JOC Sports Award by the Japanese Olympic Committee
.
Koga briefly retired from competitive judo after his victory at the Olympics, but made his return with a gold medal at the 1995 World Judo Championships
in Chiba
, Japan. He suffered a surprising defeat by ippon
in a qualification match for the 1996 Summer Olympics
, but was chosen as the representative anyways because of his past experience in the Olympic games. He ended his third appearance at the Olympics with a silver medal in the -78 kg division.
Koga announced his final retirement from competition in 2000, and became the head coach for the All-Japan women's judo team. In April 2003, he founded the Koga Juku, a judo school for young children, in Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki
. One of his pupils, Ayumi Tanimoto
, won the gold medal in the -63 kg division at the 2004 Summer Olympics
. He became the head coach of the International Pacific University
's judo team (located in Akaiwa, Okayama
) in April 2007, and has enjoyed celebrity status in Japan as a 7th dan rank holder in judo, appearing on several national television shows.
Biography
Koga was born in Kitashigeyasu, SagaKitashigeyasu, Saga
was a town located in Miyaki District, Saga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,419 and a density of 687.06 persons per km²...
, 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...
, and began judo in elementary school. He traveled to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
during junior-high school to enter Kodogakusha, a judo school later attended by Olympic gold medalists Hidehiko Yoshida
Hidehiko Yoshida
is a Japanese gold-medalist judoka and retired mixed martial artist. He is a long time veteran of Japan's Pride Fighting Championships, competing in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, also managing to fight in the semi-finals in the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix...
and Makoto Takimoto
Makoto Takimoto
is a Japanese judoka. He won a gold medal at the -81 kg category of the 2000 Summer Olympics.He is from Iwai, Ibaraki. He began judo at the age of 6. After graduation from Nihon University, he belonged to the Japan Racing Association. Takimoto made his MMA debut on 31 December 2004 against...
. He continued his education at the Nippon Sport Science University
Nippon Sport Science University
is a private university with campuses in Setagaya, Tokyo and Aoba-ku, Yokohama. The precursor of the school was founded 1893, and it was chartered as a university in 1949...
, and captured several awards including five consecutive championships at the Kodokan Cup and six consecutive championships at the All-Japan Judo Championships
All-Japan Judo Championships
is a judo tournament held every year in Japan. The men's tournament is held in Nippon Budokan on April 29 and the women's tournament is held in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in April. The Kodokan and All-Japan Judo Federation sponsor the championship....
(all in the 71 kg division). He placed 3rd in the 1987 World Judo Championships
1987 World Judo Championships
The 1987 World Judo Championships were the 15th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Essen, West Germany from November 19–22, 1987.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :...
held in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, and was chosen to participate in 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...
, where he lost in the 3rd round of the competition. Koga returned to the Olympics in 1992 after winning the 1989
1989 World Judo Championships
The 1989 World Judo Championships were the 16th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia from October 10–15, 1989.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :...
and 1991 World Judo Championships
1991 World Judo Championships
The 1991 World Judo Championships were the 17th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Barcelona, Spain from July 25 to July 28, 1991.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:...
, but seriously injured his left knee during a randori
Randori
is a term used in Japanese martial arts to describe free-style practice. The term literally means "chaos taking" or "grasping freedom," implying a freedom from the structured practice of kata. Randori may be contrasted with kata, as two potentially complementary types of training.The exact meaning...
(sparring) session against Hidehiko Yoshida
Hidehiko Yoshida
is a Japanese gold-medalist judoka and retired mixed martial artist. He is a long time veteran of Japan's Pride Fighting Championships, competing in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, also managing to fight in the semi-finals in the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix...
, which prevented him from using his best technique; the Ippon Seoinage
Ippon Seoinage
is a throw in judo. It is one of the nineteen accepted techniques in Shinmeisho No Waza of Kodokan Judo. It is classified as a hand throwing technique, Te-waza.-Professional wrestling:...
. He won the gold medal overcoming this injury, and was given the JOC Sports Award by the Japanese Olympic Committee
Japanese Olympic Committee
The Japanese Olympic Committee is the national Olympic committee in Japan for the Olympic Games movement, based in Tokyo, Japan...
.
Koga briefly retired from competitive judo after his victory at the Olympics, but made his return with a gold medal at the 1995 World Judo Championships
1995 World Judo Championships
The 1995 World Judo Championships were the 19th edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Chiba, Japan in 1995.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :-60 kg:-65 kg:-71 kg:-78 kg:-86 kg:-95 kg:-+95 kg:-Open class:-48 kg:...
in Chiba
Chiba, Chiba
is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
, Japan. He suffered a surprising defeat by ippon
Ippon
Ippon literally "one full point", it is the highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon-wazari contest, usually judo, karate or jujutsu.-Ippon in judo:...
in a qualification match for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, but was chosen as the representative anyways because of his past experience in the Olympic games. He ended his third appearance at the Olympics with a silver medal in the -78 kg division.
Koga announced his final retirement from competition in 2000, and became the head coach for the All-Japan women's judo team. In April 2003, he founded the Koga Juku, a judo school for young children, in Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki
Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki
is one of the 7 wards of the city of Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the ward had an estimated population of 215,158 and a density of 13,150 persons per km². The total area is 16.38 km².-Geography:...
. One of his pupils, Ayumi Tanimoto
Ayumi Tanimoto
born August 4, 1981 in Anjo, Aichi, is a Japanese female judoka. She was coached by Toshihiko Koga, who is a gold medalist at the BarcelonaOlympics and a silver medalist at the Atlanta Olympics Men's Judo....
, won the gold medal in the -63 kg division at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. He became the head coach of the International Pacific University
International Pacific University
is a private university in Higashi-ku, Okayama, Japan, established in 2007.-External links:* *...
's judo team (located in Akaiwa, Okayama
Akaiwa, Okayama
is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.As of November 1, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 45,542 and the density of 217.46 persons per km². The total area is 209.43 km²....
) in April 2007, and has enjoyed celebrity status in Japan as a 7th dan rank holder in judo, appearing on several national television shows.
External links
- Official website
- Statistics from JudoInside.com
- Videos of Toshihiko Koga (judovision.org)