9:28pm UK, Friday March 06, 2009
Judo’s answer to David Beckham, Kosei Inoue, is used to be mobbed wherever he goes.
Kosei Inoue has moved to Scotland with his TV presenter wife Aki Higashihara.
Except, that is, for the streets of Edinburgh where the Japanese star is currently enjoying the quiet life, virtually unnoticed.
Kosei, 30, has recently retired from the sport which he dominated for years.
Famous for his big hair and even bigger talent, he is the 'mop-top' of the judo mat who won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000 and has been World Champion three times.
He is a judo icon at home in Japan, where his image adorns billboards, magazines.
Kosei is married to a famous Japanese TV presenter, Aki Higashihara.Together, they are the nearest thing that Japan has to Posh and Becks.
Now, though, the couple live amidst the relative anonymity of Edinburgh where Kosei has come to study English.
The only hint of the celebrity treatment he gets at home is when he passes Japanese tourists in the street who are stunned at the sight of their national hero so far from home.
Kosei Inoue fights (in blue).
"I really appreciate my fame in Japan and the support from people," he said.
"Not being recognised here doesn’t bother me.My objectives are to learn English, to popularise judo and strive to better myself."
Kosei will spend two years in the UK and will go to Bath University after spending six months in Edinburgh under the wing of George Kerr, President of the British Judo Association.
"British judo can learn a lot from Kosei," said George Kerr.
"He's a great champion and so modest. Kosei's strong but he's also technically beautiful, poetry in motion."
The judo superstar trains twice a week with members of the Britain's judo Squad and his presence on the mat is almost unbelievable for the fighters aiming for London 2012.
"It's a true privilege," said British squad member Matthew Purssey.
"Kosei is awe-inspiring and has a real aura. You can learn so much just from five minutes practising with him."
Matthew Purssey, British judo teamWatching him is just a joy – he’s the judo equivalent of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. He does the impossible.
Kosei is immersing himself in Scottish culture. He is taking golf lessons and now possesses a Highland outfit from Kinloch Anderson which he plans to wear to next week's rugby international between Scotland and Ireland.
He and his wife are expecting their first baby in May and the birth will take place in Scotland.
British judo bosses still looking for a first Olympic gold in the sport could be forgiven for checking the rules on eligibility.