Background
He was born in Fukuno, Toyama and began judo at the age of 5.
湊谷 弘
He was born in Fukuno, Toyama and began judo at the age of 5.
After graduating from Tenri University, Minatoya coached judo at the dojo wichi Anton Geesink managed in Netherlands. Minatoya retired in 1972, when he was defeated by Toyokazu Nomura at the All-Japan Selected Judo Championships and missed the participation of the Olympic Games held in Munich. From 1967 to 2009, he also coached judo at Kanazawa Institute of Technology in Kanazawa, Ishikawa.
1965 - World Championships (-68 kg) 2nd 1970.
1965 - World Championships (-68 kg) 2nd 1967 - World Championships (-70 kg) 1st 1968 - All-Japan Selected Championships (Half-Lightweight) 3rd 1969 - World Championships (-70 kg) 1st - All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) loss - All-Japan Selected Championships (Lightweight) 1st 1970 - All-Japan Selected Championships (Lightweight) 1st - All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) loss 1971 - World Championships (-70 kg) 2nd - All-Japan Selected Championships (Lightweight) 3rd 1972 - All-Japan Selected Championships (Lightweight) 2nd.