This article is about the judoka. For the World War II agent, see Suzuki Keiji.
Keiji Suzuki
Headercolor
  1. FF6347
NationalityJapanese
Birth date3 June 1980 (age 46)
Birth placeJōsō, Ibaraki, Japan
Alma materKokushikan University
CountryJapan
Weight class–100 kg, +100 kg, Open
Dan7
Worlds rank1
Worlds year2003
Worlds weightMen's Open
Worlds year 22005
Worlds weight 2Men's 100 kg
Regionals rank1
Regionals year2002
Regionals weightMen's 100 kg
Olympics rank1
Olympics year2004
Olympics weightMen's +100 kg
Updated30 May 2023
Keiji Suzuki
KumiteLeft
PositionHeisei Kanzai

Keiji Suzuki (鈴木桂治, Suzuki Keiji)[1] is a Japanese judoka and sports scientist.

Suzuki won the Olympic gold medal in the heavyweight (+100 kg) division in 2004. He is also a two-time world champion.

Suzuki is noted for being a remarkably small judoka in the heavyweight division; he also regularly competed in the light-heavyweight (100 kg) class.

Suzuki is known as having some of the best Ashi-waza of all heavyweights.

Suzuki was eliminated in the first round of the +100 kg event at the 2010 World Championships in Yoyogi, Japan, via ippon by Janusz Wojnarowicz of Poland.[2]

Suzuki dislocated his shoulder in the semi-finals of the 2012 All-Japan Judo Championships and subsequently announced his retirement as he was not selected to represent Japan at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Suzuki was appointed Men's Heavyweight Coach for the Japanese team by the new head coach, his friend and former rival Kosei Inoue.

He replaced Inoue as head coach of the national team in 2021.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Keiji Suzuki". Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  2. ^ Kyodo News, "Ex-champ Suzuki falls at first hurdle", Japan Times, 10 September 2010, p. 11.
  3. ^ "Judo: Keiji Suzuki replaces Inoue as new men's national team head coach". Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2026.