UK NEWS
JAPAN’S OWN BECKHAM WITH A YEN FOR SCOTLAND
Japanese judo star Kosei Inoue
By Stephen Wilkie
AS the ancient martial art of judo’s answer to David Beckham, he is used to being mobbed by adoring fans in his home country.
But Japanese star Kosei Inoue is able to enjoy anonymity for the first time in more than a decade as he shops for a kilt, samples famous malts and learns another ancient sport – golf – after moving to Scotland to help future UK Olympians.
Kosei, who has won three world championship titles as well as Olympic gold, has set up home in Edinburgh for six months as he and his television presenter wife, Aki Higashihara, learn English.
The couple are Japan’s equivalent of David and Victoria Beckham and are mobbed by admirers wherever they go.
But the only hint of the celebrity treatment Kosei gets now is when passing Japanese tourists spot their national hero.
The couple, both 30, have relocated to the UK for two years, spending an initial period in Scotland before making their new home at Bath University. There, Kosei will help mentor future generations of judo competitors, with the eventual aim of helping Great Britain lift gold at a future Games.
Famous for his big hair and even bigger talent, he is the ‘mop-top’ of the judo mat who won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000 and lifted three world titles.
He said: “I really appreciate my fame in Japan and the support from people. But not being recognised here doesn’t bother me. My objectives are to learn English, to popularise judo and to strive to better myself.”
Kosei and Aki came to the UK at the suggestion of George Kerr, president of the British Judo Association.
Mr Kerr said: “British judo can learn a lot from Kosei. He’s a great champion and so modest. Kosei’s strong but he’s also technically beautiful, poetry in motion.”
