10 Facts About Toshihiko Koga

Toshihiko Koga died of cancer on 24 March 2021 at the age of 53.

Toshihiko Koga traveled to Tokyo during junior-high school to enter Kodogakusha, a judo school later attended by Olympic gold medalists Hidehiko Yoshida and Makoto Takimoto.

Toshihiko Koga continued his education at the Nippon Sport Science University, and captured several awards including five consecutive championships at the Kodokan Cup and six consecutive championships at the All-Japan Judo Championships.

Toshihiko Koga placed 3rd in the 1987 World Judo Championships held in Essen, and was chosen to participate in the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he lost in the 3rd round of the competition.

Toshihiko Koga returned to the Olympics in 1992 after winning the 1989 and 1991 World Judo Championships, but seriously injured his left knee during a randori session against Hidehiko Yoshida, which prevented him from using his best technique; the Ippon Seoinage.

Toshihiko Koga won the gold medal overcoming this injury, and was given the JOC Sports Award by the Japanese Olympic Committee.

Toshihiko Koga briefly retired from competitive judo after his victory at the Olympics, but made his return with a gold medal at the 1995 World Judo Championships in Chiba, Japan.

Toshihiko Koga suffered a surprising defeat by ippon in a qualification match for the 1996 Summer Olympics, but was chosen as the representative anyway because of his past experience in the Olympic games.

Toshihiko Koga announced his final retirement from competition in 2000, and became the head coach for the All-Japan women's judo team.

Toshihiko Koga became the head coach of the International Pacific University's judo team in April 2007, and has enjoyed celebrity status in Japan as an 8th dan rank holder in judo, appearing on several national television shows.