Eiichi Kazama

Eiichi Kazama advanced from Niigata Commercial High School to Waseda University and participated in the lightweight class of Freestyle wrestling at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Two years later, he travelled to the United States as a member of the all-Japan student selection and returned with a clean sweep of twelve 12 wins. Domestically, Kazama was one of the most successful wrestlers of all times, winning ten 10 All Japan Championships. He won the first ever championship in 1934 in the lightweight class followed by two more consecutive titles each in the lightweight and welterweight class. After the break of World War II, Kazama continued his winning streak with another five consecutive titles in the welterweight from 1946-50. Since 1948, he also taught wrestling at high schools in his hometown Niigata for five years.

Later Kazama served as chairman of the Niigata Prefecture Amateur Wrestling Association and vice chairman of the Niigata Prefecture Athletic Association. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he successfully coached the national team of Japan bringing home five gold medals. From 1987-89, Kazama served as president of the Japan Wrestling Federation.