Akio KAMINAGA

Akio Kaminaga studied at Meiji University and trained in judo at the Kodokan Institute. In 1958 Kaminaga placed second in the World Championship to fellow Japanese, Koji Sone, but he then won three championships at the All-Japan Championships in 1960, 1961, and 1964. Kaminaga was chosen as Japan’s open class judoka for the 1964 Olympics, but sustained a knee ligament injury shortly before the tournament, which hampered his efforts. He lost in the final to Dutchman Anton Geesink, the only class not won by the Japanese, and for this loss, Kaminaga was severely criticized by the Japanese media. Kaminaga later coached the Meiji University judo team in 1968, and was Japanese Olympic judo coach in 1972 and 1992.