He was highly regarded as a Judo technician, particularly for his ashi-waza and, although a light weight, was considered a favourite to win the All-Japan Judo Championships and defeated the 1948 champion Yasuichi Matsumoto to win the Fukuoka tournament in November 1948.
Han var ofte anset som en teknisk udøver af judo, mest på grund af hans ashi-waza, og selvom han ikke vejede meget, var han anset som en favorit ved All-Japan Judo Championships (hvor han i øvrigt besejrede den tidligere mester fra 1948, Yasuichi Matsumoto) til at vinde Fukuoka tuneringen i November, 1948.