The Open weight division holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese judoka. Haruki Uemura was 13 years old when he watched on TV the 1964 Olympics Open final where Anton Geesink held down Akio Kaminaga for ippon. That defeat was seen as a national humiliation for the country where judo was born.
Montreal 1976, Open: Haruki Uemura (JPN)
Montreal 1976, Open: Haruki Uemura (JPN)
Montreal 1976, Open: Haruki Uemura (JPN)
The Open weight division holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese judoka. Haruki Uemura was 13 years old when he watched on TV the 1964 Olympics Open final where Anton Geesink held down Akio Kaminaga for ippon. That defeat was seen as a national humiliation for the country where judo was born.