Noriko Anno,Olympic Champion Retires

(Translated from the Asahi Newspaper)

by  Brian N. Watson

 

One of Japan’s most successful judo contestants, Noriko Anno, 28, announced at the press conference on November 20, during the 2004 Kodokan Cup Tournament, that she had quit competitive judo and had resigned as judo coach to the Japanese women’s judo team.  After attaining her life-long dream of winning Olympic gold, she now wanted a rest from the constant pressures she had been under over the past years and expressed a desire to return to ordinary life and continue her career as a police officer.

 

A graduate of Meiji University, Anno is most famous for her skilled use of ouchi-gari and ippon seoi-nage techniques that led her to great success throughout her judo career.  But despite winning four world championships, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003, the Olympic gold medal eluded her in two previous attempts.  Nevertheless, it proved to be third time lucky in Athens when she took gold convincingly with an ippon win over Liu Xia of China in the final contest of the -78 kilogram category. 

 

 

Yoshida Defeats Gracie

By  Brian N. Watson

 

On August 28th Brazilian Jujitsu superstar Royce Gracie (35) was defeated by Japanese judoka Hidehiko Yoshida (32) in the Judo vs. Jujutsu Pride Shockwave event, which was held in Tokyo's National Stadium before 90,000 spectators. Yoshida a gold medal winner at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and 1999 world champion secured a tate-shiho-gatame on Gracie and quickly followed up with a strangle hold that ended the match after just ten minutes.  Yoshida, who retired from contest judo in April 2002 after losing in the early rounds of the All Japan Judo Championship, thus chalked up his first win in his debut as a professional fighter.

All Japan Finals

Ryoko Tamura Defeated

Ryoko Tamura Named Japan's Sports Personality of the Year      
The Yomiuri newspaper reported on December 21 that current -48 kilogram category world and Olympic judo champion Ryoko Tamura had been voted Japan's sports personality of 2001.  The 26-year-old employee of Toyota Motor Corporation secured the title in recognition of her unprecedented 5th consecutive victory at the World Judo Championships held in Munich, Germany in July 2001.  In addition to the trophy, she receives, on behalf of the All Japan Judo Federation, a cheque for \2,000,000.   Since her debut in 1990, Tamura’s impressive record stands at 200 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws.  Although there were other strong contenders among top marathon runners and leading baseball players, Tamura seems to have impressed the judges mainly on account of her unexpected win in Munich despite suffering injuries to her right knee and hand in training prior to the championships.  This is the second time that Tamura has gained this honour; she was first named Japan's sports personality of the year in 1995.  She thus equals Yasuhiro Yamashita, the only other two-time winner, who received the prize in 1978 and 1984. 
Brian N. Watson   Tokyo, Japan


"Aikido Great Morihiro Saito Shihan passes away
Aikido students would be interested in this news. From Aikiweb.  Passing Of A Giant

Dear friends, It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Morihiro Saito Sensei in Iwama, Japan early Monday morning, May 13, 2002. Saito Sensei was truly one of the giants of modern aikido and his strong presence will be sorely missed. This editor was among the thousands of students touched by Saito Sensei during his lifetime.

His son and successor Hitohiro Saito Shihan plans to hold a private funeral for family members shortly and a formal ceremony to be held in Japan in about one month's time. He asks that anyone planning to go to Japan to pay their respects attend the formal funeral to be announced soon.

For those interested in learning more about Saito Sensei, here are two articles available on our website:
http://www.aikidojournal.com/articles/_article.asp?ArticleID=159

http://www.aikidojournal.com/articles/_article.asp?ArticleID=758

Liz Evans

Obituary - Isao Inokuma

Charles Palmer 1930-2001 dies aged 71

Trevor Leggett  - Memorial Service 

HagueJudoMail.jpg (34951 bytes)An amusing letter From Hague! 

 (click on it to read)

 

Follow  the links           New York Open   New York Results 2001

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