ALL JAPAN FINAL in 2004 between KOSEI INOUE KEIJI SUZUKI commentary

In 2003 Japan had three World Champions with Yasuyuki Muneta(+100), Keiji Suzuki (Open) and Kosei Inoue (U100). The pre Olympic year is important for the qualification of the 204 Olympic Games in Athens, but the main event was the 2004 All Japan Judo Championship in the open weight category, which was the final selection event for the 2004 Olympics.

Interesting fact is that the Olympic Games have no open weight category so three World champions battled for two spots for in Athens.

In the pre-season of 2004 it was Yasukuki Muneta and Keiji Suzuki who dominated in the European tournaments. Muneta won the 2004 Hamburg Super World Cup defeating great athletes such Dennis van der Geest who became the World Champion in 2005 and German heavyweight Andreas Toelzer.

Keiji Suzuki also won the same competition in his category U100kg displaying his versatility in two categories. To win this title he defeated Ihar Makarau of Belarus who went on to win the Olympic title in Athens later that year.

The national championships by weight category were held three weeks before the All Japans. Keiji Suzuki who entered in U100kg was upset by Tomokazu Inoue, (Kosei’s older brother) by tani-otoshi.

This set up an unlikely final of the Inoue brothers to compete for the national title. Kosei won by Ippon which made him a sure bet for the Athens Olympic spot in -100kg.

Muneta, who participated in the most All Japan Championships 15 times from 1999-2013, but at the All Japan’s Suzuki defeated him in the semi-final with a tactical fight, setting up the much anticipated Inoue vs Suzuki final.

Suzuki defeated Inoue in the final by changing his tactics from the prior year. Suzuki was selected in +100kg, and Inoue in -100kg for the Olympic Games in Athens

At the Olympic Games Suzuki continued his winning streak and won gold by defeating Tamerlan Tmenov (RUS) in the final.

The +100kg Olympic title eluded Japan for 16 years. Suzuki’s coach from Kokushikan University, Hitoshi Saito won the +100kg the title in Seoul 1988.

Inoue who was the team leader of the Japan lost to Elco van der Geest, Dennis’ younger brother (NED) in the quarter final and finished 7th, demonstrating that anything can happen in Judo. Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in Olympic Judo history.

Team Japan won eight gold medals in Athens, most notably Tadahiro Nomura (U60kg) winning his third consecutive title and Ryoko Tani (-48kg) won her second straight title.