Kazuhiro Ninomiya facts for kids
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| Born | {{#property:P569}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | Not recognized as a date. Years must have 4 digits (use leading zeros for years < 1000). (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Judoka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Judo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | –93 kg, +93 kg, Open | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World finals |  (1973) |
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| Regional finals |  (1972) |
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| Olympic finals |  (1976) |
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Medal record
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| Updated on 21 June 2023. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kazuhiro Ninomiya (二宮 和弘, Ninomiya Kazuhiro, born 28 November 1946 in Fukuoka, Japan) is a retired judoka from Japan. A judoka is someone who practices judo, a Japanese martial art and sport. Kazuhiro Ninomiya is famous for winning a gold medal in judo at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
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Kazuhiro Ninomiya: A Judo Champion
Kazuhiro Ninomiya was born on November 28, 1946, in Fukuoka, Japan. He grew up to become a very successful judo athlete. His journey in judo led him to win many important competitions.
Early Training and Success
After finishing his studies at Tenri University, Ninomiya joined a special judo training center called Shoki Juku. There, he trained under the famous judo instructor Isao Okano.
In April 1972, Ninomiya became part of the Fukuoka Prefecture police force. That same year, he showed his talent by placing third in the All-Japan Judo Championships. This was a big achievement in Japan.
Winning World Titles
Ninomiya continued to achieve great things in judo.
- In 1970, he won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the Asian Judo Championships.
- In 1973, he won another gold medal at the 1973 World Judo Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. He won in the open weight division, which means judokas of any weight could compete. He even defeated Haruki Uemura, who would later become an Olympic gold medalist.
- In 1975, he earned a silver medal at the 1975 World Judo Championships.
Olympic Gold in Montreal
In 1976, Kazuhiro Ninomiya won the All-Japan Judo Championships for the first time. This win helped him qualify for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.
The Japanese Olympic team had already chosen other athletes for the heaviest judo categories. So, Ninomiya had to compete in the half heavyweight (93 kg) division. This meant he had to lose more than 7 kg (about 15 pounds) from his usual weight.
Even with this challenge, Ninomiya used his height and long arms to his advantage. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall, which was quite tall for his new weight class. He became the first Japanese judoka to win a gold medal in the half heavyweight division. He is still one of only two Japanese judokas to have won an Olympic medal in that specific division.
Life After Competition
Kazuhiro Ninomiya stopped competing in judo after the 1978 Jigoro Kano Cup. He retired at the same time as his friend and rival, Isamu Sonoda. They were born in the same year, joined the same police force, competed in the same World Championships and Olympics, and retired together. They had been friends and rivals for over 30 years.
After retiring from competitive judo, Ninomiya continued to be involved in the sport. He worked as an advisor for several local and regional judo groups. In 2007, he became a judo instructor at the Nishinippon Institute of Technology. He has helped many new judokas learn and grow in the sport.
See also
In Spanish: Kazuhiro Ninomiya para niños
- List of judoka
- List of Olympic medalists in judo
