Japan’s top favorite at -80kg was not in Montreal. Shozo Fujii, the talented morote-seoi-nage specialist was already a triple World Champion by 1976 but he had lost out to another champion, Isamu Sonoda in that year’s All-Japan Weight Class Championships. It was a narrow, decision-based defeat. But a loss is a loss and Sonoda was chosen to represent Japan.
Montreal 1976, -80kg: Isamu Sonoda (JPN)
Montreal 1976, -80kg: Isamu Sonoda (JPN)
Montreal 1976, -80kg: Isamu Sonoda (JPN)
Japan’s top favorite at -80kg was not in Montreal. Shozo Fujii, the talented morote-seoi-nage specialist was already a triple World Champion by 1976 but he had lost out to another champion, Isamu Sonoda in that year’s All-Japan Weight Class Championships. It was a narrow, decision-based defeat. But a loss is a loss and Sonoda was chosen to represent Japan.