Satoshi Ishii, the youngest ever Olympic judo champion, embraced vegetarianism as part of his Buddhist upbringing and training.
In a revealing interview on Bodoni’s podcast, Ishii shared that he attended a Buddhist junior high school in Japan, where he spent a month living at a temple and learning Buddhist practices. During this time, he adhered to a strict vegetarian diet.
“When I went to Junior High School I have to go temple one month and I have to learn Buddhism,” Ishii explained. “We woke up early morning every day, clean like Temple and meditation praying all day. Then we cannot eat meat, eat always like vegetables.”
This experience left a lasting impact on Ishii, who continues to incorporate Buddhist principles into his daily life. “I pray every day,” he said. “I always appreciate my God and people also. Even before training I always appreciate the place, gym, because I can train.”
While Ishii did not specify if he maintains a fully vegetarian diet today, his early exposure to vegetarianism and Buddhist practices clearly shaped his approach to nutrition, training, and life philosophy. The discipline and mindfulness cultivated through these experiences likely contributed to his remarkable success in judo, culminating in Olympic gold at just 21 years old.
Ishii’s story highlights the potential influence of diet and spiritual practices on athletic performance at the highest levels. It also offers a glimpse into the lesser-known aspects of training and preparation for elite judokas in Japan.
