Fumio Imamura, coach of the Japan Federation and personal trainer of some of the best Japanese and World athletes, including Yusuke Suzuki and Koichiro Morioka, was in his time a good walker of international level.
From athlete he formed at the Spanish school of Moise Llopart, training with his son Jorge, European Champion and Olympic silver medalist on the 50 Km.
He took part in two editions of the Olympic Games in 1992 and in 2000, in 6 editions of the World Championships (best result was 6th place in the edition of 1997), in four editions of the World Cup and has risen two times on the podium of Asian Games in 1994 (2nd) and 1998 (3rd) always in 50 Km.
In September 2005, for a technical training program created by the Japanese Olympic Committee and JAAF, arrived for about 1 year and 3 months to a period of training at the IAAF Authorised Training Centre of Saluzzo.
During his stay in Italy has followed the preparation of some of the best Italian and foreign athletes and has made an update from the educational field, thanks to the fact that he had a working knowledge of Spanish.
In that period in the center were training: Alex Schwarzer, Elisa Rigaudo, Patrick Ennemoser, Dario Privitera, Agnese Ragonesi, Federico Tontodonati, Lorenzo Civallero and Colin Griffin.
He followed day by day these athletes taking notes and doing a countless number of videos.
Meanwhile he worked part-time on internet (thanks to the difference of time) with his company: the Fuijtsu, one of the best known companies in the world in the field of technology.
In the same period came to ATC IAAF Saluzzo several Japanese athletes who began a process of renewal in the organization, in programming and in technical job training.
Among these athletes were: the 50km athlete, Yuki Yamazaki that during this stage he had the opportunity to compete and win in Piacenza one edition of "Pino Dordoni International".
After Yamazaki more arrived: Yusuke Suzuki (then just sixteen), Koichiro Morioka, Takaiuki Tanii and women Mayumi Kawasaki and Ryoko Sakakura that immediately favorably impressed by the commitment and willingness in training, but from the technical point of view they left a lot to be desired.
Together with Sandro Damilano worked much in being able to obtain a technical level of race walking less expensive and more acceptable in judgment. Fumio followed daily every athlete scrupulously and constantly writing the suggestions that were given.
Immediately showed a great capacity to assimilate the recommendations and some very important skills for a coach like: modesty, the desire to emerge, the desire to updating, the ability of motivation, the ability to convey security, serenity and patience.
On his return to Japan, he was entrusted, with only one brief interval, of the technical responsibility of the national race walking team, where he had the opportunity to apply and improve their knowledge. He was given the task to personally follow, along with others, Suzuki and Morioka, athletes who repeatedly reached annually and reach Italy in the IAAF ATC Saluzzo for periods of preparation.
Since 2007, the World Championships in Osaka, Japan began to make a marked improvement in terms of results and, especially at the youth level, to win several medals at the international championships.
Together with Fumio Imamura, coach of the team of athletic Fuijtsu and Juntendo University, joined other Japanese coaches in order to capitalize on the experience he gained in Italy.
Today, the Japanese Head Coach, as well as being a member of the IAAF Race Walking Committee, has a significant role in the Japanese system of race walking and continues to coach with increasing success. The last amazing result of his athlete Suzuki (world record in 20 km. with the time of 1:16:36) is a demonstration of how Fumio has been able to improve his knowledge and positive impact on the results of his athletes.
Fumio Imamura in an interview after 20 km road walk Japan Championships in Kobe 2015
Fumio Imamura, together with Koji Hoga Miura (sx) and Shigeyuky Shimizu (dx)