Keiji Suzuki: this is just the beginning for Tatsuru Saito

At the Masters in Jerusalem the Japanese heavyweight will aim to capture both heavyweight titles. With Olympic Champion and Tokyo Grand Slam winner Akira Sone Japan have a serious chance for gold and might be opposed to world champion Romane Dicko. In the men’s heavyweight division both Kokoro Kageura and Tatsuru Saito are lined up for the Jerusalem masters. Now Teddy Riner is not present as well as Olympic Champion Lukas Krpalek there are chances for the Japan’s big boys.

Men’s headcoach Keiji Suzuki knows Tatsuru Saito since he was a baby. Japan is ready to take the succession of Krpalek as Olympic Champion in Paris, Keiji Suzuki explains. The heavyweight Olympic title has been something significant for Japanese judo. It's not necessarily the most important, but there is something special about it.

Suzuki: “Saito won the heavyweight Gold medal in Seoul, 1988. I followed in Athens, 2004, 16 years later. Yamashita, Saito were my idols since I was a child. Saito was very strict and he never complimented me. However, after I won the Olympic Gold he gave me a strong hug and told me "Good job, you did it"

“His son is Tatsuru, and I am now his coach. I've known Tatsuru Saito since childhood, I've held him when he was a baby. To see him grow into an international judoka makes me happy, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Saito-sensei was very strict to his son Tatsuru. It was tough love. His father taught him judo that does not take advantage of his big size, no maki-komi. To throw with traditional techniques, to prevent injuries.”

“Tatsuru was strong since he was a kid. However, since his father passed away his attitude changed. This was 6-7 years ago. There was a new fire inside of him. Saito-sensei taught me my judo. It's my responsibility to carry that on to his son. However I have my own way of teaching judo through my own experiences. Tatsuru has standard judo but he isn't necessarily skilled. I always keep it in my mind to stick with the fundamentals and basics with him.”

He made his senior IJF Tour debut at the Baku Grand Slam. This is just the beginning as his name has just arrived on the scene and in Israel he will be one of the candidates for the gold medal.