China's Wang Hao, in white, lives and trains in Japan. GUANGZHOU--A Chinese judoka appeared on the tatami mat at the Asian Games with the name of Los Angeles Olympics gold-medalist Yasuhiro Yamashita sewn on his black belt. Wang Hao, 19, is a Chinese judoka currently studying in Japan at Tokai University.
Wang got the black belt from Yamashita himself in November 2009, when he was about to take the entrance exam for Tokai University. When giving him the belt, Yamashita said to Wang, "Work hard." For Wang, the belt has become a good-luck charm and he never leaves home without it.
"(Yamashita) is a judoka I respect from the bottom of my heart," said Wang. "There is not a person among Chinese judoka who doesn't know him."
Wang's talents were discovered by Kenji Mitsumoto, 59, who was a senior teammate of Yamashita at Tokai University and is now a professor at Tokai University's School of Physical Education. When Mitsumoto was coaching the Chinese national team in 2007, he saw raw talent in Wang, who had quick moves despite his 194-cm frame.
"He's still a bit immature, but if he comes to Japan, he can be much better," Mitsumoto thought.
Since March 2009, Mitsumoto has let Wang live with him at his Kanagawa Prefecture home, and has been teaching him judo while Wang also studied Japanese.
"At first, I was very lonely because I couldn't speak Japanese," Wang said.
He admits that he contacted his mother almost every day. But now that he has made some friends, he shyly says he contacts his mother just two or three times a week.
After coming to Japan, Wang has steadily gained experience. He is now considered a hopeful who can win a medal for China in the heavyweight divisions at the 2012 London Olympics. At the World Championships in Tokyo in September, Wang lost in the quarterfinals, but showcased many powerful techniques. At the World Junior Championships in late October, he was second in the over-100-kg class.
Mitsumoto says of his apprentice, "He has only shown 20 percent of his true skills. He still has room for growth."
At the Asian Games, held in Wang's home country of China, he lost in the first round in the over-100-kg division Saturday and was eliminated in a bronze-medal match in the open-weight category Tuesday.
As Japan-China relations have become tense, both Wang and his instructor Mitsumoto are hoping to become bridges to bring the two nations closer.
"I want Wang to learn Japanese culture and not just judo. I want him to tell China how great Japanese culture is," Mitsumoto says.
Wang, meanwhile, says with high hopes, "I want to strengthen the bond between Japan and China as a judo instructor in the future."
Wang got the black belt from Yamashita himself in November 2009, when he was about to take the entrance exam for Tokai University. When giving him the belt, Yamashita said to Wang, "Work hard." For Wang, the belt has become a good-luck charm and he never leaves home without it.
"(Yamashita) is a judoka I respect from the bottom of my heart," said Wang. "There is not a person among Chinese judoka who doesn't know him."
Wang's talents were discovered by Kenji Mitsumoto, 59, who was a senior teammate of Yamashita at Tokai University and is now a professor at Tokai University's School of Physical Education. When Mitsumoto was coaching the Chinese national team in 2007, he saw raw talent in Wang, who had quick moves despite his 194-cm frame.
"He's still a bit immature, but if he comes to Japan, he can be much better," Mitsumoto thought.
Since March 2009, Mitsumoto has let Wang live with him at his Kanagawa Prefecture home, and has been teaching him judo while Wang also studied Japanese.
"At first, I was very lonely because I couldn't speak Japanese," Wang said.
He admits that he contacted his mother almost every day. But now that he has made some friends, he shyly says he contacts his mother just two or three times a week.
After coming to Japan, Wang has steadily gained experience. He is now considered a hopeful who can win a medal for China in the heavyweight divisions at the 2012 London Olympics. At the World Championships in Tokyo in September, Wang lost in the quarterfinals, but showcased many powerful techniques. At the World Junior Championships in late October, he was second in the over-100-kg class.
Mitsumoto says of his apprentice, "He has only shown 20 percent of his true skills. He still has room for growth."
At the Asian Games, held in Wang's home country of China, he lost in the first round in the over-100-kg division Saturday and was eliminated in a bronze-medal match in the open-weight category Tuesday.
As Japan-China relations have become tense, both Wang and his instructor Mitsumoto are hoping to become bridges to bring the two nations closer.
"I want Wang to learn Japanese culture and not just judo. I want him to tell China how great Japanese culture is," Mitsumoto says.
Wang, meanwhile, says with high hopes, "I want to strengthen the bond between Japan and China as a judo instructor in the future."
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