Defending champion Kosei Inoue overcame a slow start against determined Yasuyuki Muneta on Monday to hold onto his All-Japan judo championship crown with a hard-earned split-decision victory.
Inoue, plagued with nagging injuries since winning the world title in Germany last July, earned the 2-1 verdict at Nippon Budokan with some late "uchimata" attempts and a foot sweep in the closing moments of the championship bout.
The Sydney Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion at 100 kg became the eighth judoka to win titles back-to-back in the annual national open competition.