Photo: Unknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Takehide Nakatani won the very first Olympic gold medal ever awarded in judo, at the 1964 Tokyo Games, and did it by winning every bout by ippon. Born in Hiroshima in 1941, he came of age in postwar Japan, which means he built everything from almost nothing, and he did it through judo. He went to Meiji University, one of the premier schools for martial arts in Japan, and dedicated himself to the sport at a time when dedication really meant something brutal and unglamorous. The Medal with Blue Ribbon in 2003 and the Order of the Rising Sun in 2011 recognized decades of coaching and running judo in Hiroshima afterward. At 167 cm he was never the biggest guy on the mat, but judo has always rewarded leverage and patience over raw size, and that feels right for someone whose whole arc reads as slow, steady, and immovable. I respect the simplicity of it.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
Overview
Takehide Nakatani is a Japanese judoka born on July 9, 1941, in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. A Meiji University graduate, he won the lightweight (68 kg) division at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first gold medal ever awarded in Olympic judo, winning every bout by ippon. He later led judo organizations in Hiroshima, holds the rank of 9th dan from the Kodokan, and received the Medal with Blue Ribbon in 2003 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, in 2011.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Takehide Nakatani
- Name (Japanese)
- 中谷雄英
- Reading
- なかたに たけひで
- Born
- July 9, 1941 (age 85)
- Origin
- Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
- Height
- 167 cm
- Occupation
- Judoka
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Snake
2. Background
- University
- Meiji University
Awards & achievements
- 2003 — Medal with Blue Ribbon
- 2011 — Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
3. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E8%B0%B7%E9%9B%84%E8%8B%B1
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2261010
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Takehide Nakatani born?
Takehide Nakatani was born on July 9, 1941 and is 85 years old.
Where is Takehide Nakatani from?
Takehide Nakatani is from Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
What does Takehide Nakatani do?
Takehide Nakatani works as Judoka.
How tall is Takehide Nakatani?
Takehide Nakatani is 167 cm tall.
Where did Takehide Nakatani study?
Takehide Nakatani attended Meiji University.
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