Japanese hero Kosei Inoue won admirers around the world during his competitive career.

The much-admired judoka won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and celebrated three World Championships triumphs during a glittering career. After retiring Inoue embarked on a trip to Britain on behalf of the Japanese Olympic Committee and was a well-received guest in Edinburgh, where he stayed for six months, and then in London where he spent a year at The Budokwai, following a long-standing tradition of Japanese greats coaching at Europe's oldest continuously running club.

Inoue is now the head coach of the Japanese team and firmly remains one of the most popular figures in the sport.