Kyoto, Japan – April 23, 2026 – After a decade-long absence, Kyoto Prefecture Police will have a representative at the All-Japan Judo Championships as officer Nakao Kosuke prepares for his debut in the open-weight division at the Nippon Budokan on April 26.
The 27-year-old judoka, who joined the Kyoto police force in 2023 as a specialized judo trainee, earned his spot by winning the prefectural qualifying tournament. His selection marks the first time a Kyoto police officer has competed at the national championships since 2016.
“Age-wise, I don’t get many chances like this. If I don’t make it to the All-Japan this year, I thought I might never get another opportunity,” Nakao said in a recent interview, reflecting on the significance of his breakthrough.
Nakao’s journey to the national stage began in his hometown of Tenri, Nara Prefecture, where he started judo at age four under the guidance of his father. He trained at the renowned Doto-kan dojo and competed nationally throughout his middle school, high school and university years.
Despite consistent success at lower levels, Nakao struggled to break through in the All-Japan qualifiers due to his 170-centimeter frame, which put him at a disadvantage against heavier opponents in the open-weight format. After graduating from university, he briefly joined the Osaka police but left after two years to pursue a posting that would allow him to continue competitive judo.
His move to Kyoto in 2023 proved pivotal. As a “special judo trainee” with the prefectural police, Nakao gained the institutional support needed to focus on his athletic development. He first competed at the Kansai regional championships last year before securing his national berth through strong performances in the Kyoto qualifying rounds.
Nakao’s competitive approach centers on a distinctive gripping strategy designed to offset his lack of size. As a right-handed grip specialist, he frequently uses his left hand to initiate upward lifts, disrupting opponents’ balance and creating throwing opportunities despite the weight disparity.
“My philosophy is to execute pure throwing techniques rather than rely on cautious tactics. I aim to engage fully for the full five minutes, making opponents uncomfortable with my style,” he explained, describing his commitment to aggressive, offensive judo.
This mindset was evident in his Kansai championship performance, where he won a fifth-place match by 2-1 decision to earn his All-Japan qualifying point. The victory came after overcoming significant adversity in earlier rounds.
The All-Japan Open Weight Championships, scheduled for April 26 at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan, brings together competitors from all weight classes to determine Japan’s absolute judo champion. The event receives support from major media organizations including the Asahi Shimbun.
Nakao’s participation represents more than just a personal milestone. it ends a ten-year gap in Kyoto police representation at Japan’s premier judo competition. His presence highlights the ongoing commitment of law enforcement agencies to support athletic excellence alongside public service duties.
As he prepares to step onto the Budokan’s historic mat, Nakao carries the hopes of demonstrating that technical precision and tactical innovation can compete with physical advantages in judo’s most demanding format.
The competition will serve as a key indicator of his development trajectory, with future national team selections and international assignments potentially influenced by his performance against Japan’s elite judoka.
For continued updates on Nakao’s performance and other Japanese judo developments, readers are encouraged to follow official announcements from the All Japan Judo Federation and Kyoto Prefectural Police Department.
