Tokyo, 15 June 2009 – Music filled the heart of Japan’s vibrant capital city last night as thousands of people from Tokyo and across Japan turned out to enjoy an elegant evening of classical entertainment to celebrate international Olympic Day, and support Tokyo 2016’s plan to host the most compact, athlete and environmentally friendly Olympic and Paralympic Games in history.
 
The Japanese Olympic Committee’s (JOC) annual concert to mark Olympic Day this year additionally served as both a celebration of the nation’s sporting achievements – from Youth Championships to the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games – and a demonstration of the momentum of Tokyo 2016 as the Bid campaign enters its final months.
 
Masahiko Enkoji took to the stage to conduct the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists Nanae Mimura and Wu Ru-Jun through a program of stirring compositions for the marimba and jinghu, respectively; accompanying the music were highlights from past Olympic Games shown on a big screen behind the orchestra. Together, the music and images created an exhilarating atmosphere for the audience. The concert was hosted by Ai Shibata, 2004 Olympic swimming gold medallist. Located among 1964 legacy venues still in use today and situated in the Tokyo 2016 Heritage Zone’s Yoyogi Cluster, the concert venue – NHK Hall in Shibuya – was a fitting stage for musical heroes.
 
Prior to the concert was a ceremony honouring some of Japan’s top athletes with JOC Sport Awards. Recipients included the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning women’s softball team; four-time swimming gold medallist and head of the Tokyo 2016 Sports Supporters Squad, Kosuke Kitajima; women’s freestyle wrestling gold medallist and member of the Tokyo 2016 Athletes' Commission, Saori Yoshida; and women’s judo gold medallist, Ayumi Tanimoto.

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USA

Tadaaki Hatta named 2008 USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling 06/13/2009
Tadaaki Hatta of Elyria, Ohio has been named 2008 Women’s Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. This is the first time that Hatta has received this prestigious award. Hatta served as an official U.S. Olympic Team Coach, working with the athletes at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.. The U.S. team was led by bronze medalist Randi Miller. Three of the four U.S. Olympic team members in women’s wrestling placed in the top five of their weight class at the Beijing Olympics. He was also a 2008 World Cup coach, leading the USA to a strong second-place finish behind host China. Included was a victory over the World champion team from Japan in a pool match. Hatta is a club coach with the New York AC, which was the 2008 U.S. Nationals team runner-up in women’s wrestling. Hatta served as coach for the 2007 Pan American Games team, which competed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S. won medals in all four weight classes. He was the head coach of the 1991 U.S. Women’s World Team that placed fifth in the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan and featured two medalists. He was the coach of the 2006 World University Championships in Ulan Batar, Mongolia. Hatta was also the coach of the 2005 World University Games team in Izmir, Turkey, where the U.S. team placed fourth, led by four medalists. He was on the coaching staff for the women’s team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. He was a finalist for the Women’s Freestyle coaching position for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. He served as the Assistant Coach of the 2003 U.S. Women’s World Team that placed second at the World Championships in New York, N.Y., and featured seven individual medalists, including champion Kristie Marano. Hatta was also a member of the 1988, 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic team coaching staff in men’s freestyle wrestling. He was also a coach of the 1968 and 1984 Japanese Olympic team, as well as the 1972 Mexican Olympic team. Hatta was also head coach of the Women’s 1999 Cadet World Team, the 2001 and 2002 Women’s Junior World Team, the 2002 Women’s University World Team and the 1998 Men’s Cadet World Team. He is a USA Wrestling Gold Certified Coach. Hatta was a leader within USA Wrestling Ohio for many years, previously serving as Director of Wrestling Development and Coaches Education Director. Hatta is also an M-1 referee within USA Wrestling. He also coaches with the All-American Wrestling Club, a youth club in LaGrange, Ohio. Hatta previously was a coach with the Dave Schultz WC and the Sunkist Kids. Hatta was active as a coach on the high school levels in Ohio, serving 20 years (1978-98) in positions with Oberlin High School, Ravenna High School, St. Edward High School, Walsh Jesuit High School and St. Ignatius High School. He also served nine years as the rugby coach at St. Edward. Professionally, he works as an art teacher for Ravenna High School. He competed for Oklahoma State Univ., where he was a 1965 NCAA champion and third in the 1966 NCAA Championships. Hatta also won two Big Eight titles for the Cowboys. He was a national runner-up in freestyle three times. Hatta has received a Master’s degree from Northwestern Univ. PAST WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 2008 – Tadaaki Hatta, Elyria, Ohio 2007 – Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore. 2006 – Joe Corso, Metairie, La. ,Gator WC 2005 - Bill Scherr, Glenview, Ill., Sunkist Kids 2004 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids 2003 - Townsend Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids 2002 - Joe Corso, Des Moines, Iowa, Sunkist Kids

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