Who is Shigeru Sugita?
Shigeru Sugita is regarded by many as the greatest bodybuilder in Japanese history. Shigeru is a person who raised the bar for the sport in his homeland.
Short Career of Shigeru Sugita
Shigeru Sugita not only became the first Japanese bodybuilder to ever win Mr. Universe, but he also managed to win Mr. Japan in 1972, beating off competitors like Kozo Sudo and other well-known Japanese competitors of the time.
What at first was just a simple excitement for improving one’s physical appearance subsequently developed into a lifestyle and love.
Body Measurements of Shigeru Sugita
| Full Name: | Shigeru Sugita |
| WEIGHT: | 185 – 195lbs (83.9 – 88.5kg) |
| ERA: | 1960, 1970 |
| PROFESSION: | Bodybuilder |
| NATIONALITY: | Japanese |
| HEIGHT: | 5’9″ (175 cm) |
Accomplishments
Competitions
- 1970 JBBA Mr. Japan 3rd
- 1971 JBBA Mr. Japan 2nd
- 1972 JBBA Mr. Japan 1st
- 1973 NABBA Mr. Universe short 2nd
- 1975 NABBA Mr. Universe short 2nd
- 1976 NABBA Mr. Universe short 1st
- 1979 NABBA Universe Pro. 4th
- 1981 IFBB Mr. International middleweight 1st
- 1985 IFBB Night of Champions 14th
Biography
Early Years
Shigeru Sugita was a typical young kid who went to school and participated in sports during his childhood. He was born in 1947 in the huge port city and commercial hub of Osaka Prefecture.
He didn’t begin to show an interest in working out and enhancing his physical appearance until his sophomore year of high school.
Shigeru was just 16 years old at the time, and he lacked clear instructions for appropriate fitness and nutrition, let alone knowledge of how to get started.
Since it was so uncommon to find a Japanese person interested in bodybuilding at the time, there were hardly any Japanese magazines about it. The land of the rising sun didn’t have a long history in the iron sport in the 1970s and 1980s.
Despite his lack of knowledge, Shigeru was adamant that he would figure out how to develop a great physique, primarily through trial and error.
First-place Awards
Sugita decided to compete after putting in many years of arduous work and dedication.
At the age of 23, the Japanese hopeful competed in the 1970 JBBA Mr. Japan show, which marked the beginning of his professional career. On that occasion, he entered the stage and won third place.
Shigeru was inspired to keep training harder so that he may win the same show the next year. After a year had gone by, Shigeru entered another competition and finished a respectable second.
The outcome didn’t deter him at all; in fact, it gave him more motivation than ever because he knew he could win the Mr. Japan award and that all he needed to do was to keep working for it.
3rd Show, 1st Victory
Shigeru would soon be holding the Mr. Japan trophy in his hands. He won first place the year after, in 1973, crushing the competition with his remarkable body.
Shigeru then went on to continue to rule the sport in his native Japan before beginning to play in international competitions.
First, he participated in NABBA Mr. Universe 1973 and 1975, placing second in both competitions.
With his victory at NABBA Mr. Universe 1976, the outstanding Japanese bodybuilder continued a string of outstanding accomplishments and became the first ever Japanese bodybuilder to claim this illustrious title.
Mr. International Champion of the IFBB
Shigeru Sugita decided to compete in NABBA Universe Pro 1979 because his confidence was high following the acquisition of two titles and years of competition experience.
That year, he finished in fourth place. Shigeru was aware that his biological clock was steadily ticking and that he would have to work harder at his diet and workouts if he wanted to win additional competitions.
Shigeru competed in the IFBB Mr. International competition two years after the NABBA Universe Pro 1979, taking first place in both the middleweight and overalls divisions.
His final competition was held at the IFBB Night of Champions show in 1985 when he finished 14th overall. He was happy with what he had accomplished.
With all of his achievements, he rose to legendary status in bodybuilding, not just in Japan but also internationally. He paved the way for succeeding Japanese champions who looked up to him as an example.
Training
During his competitive days, Shigeru loved to exercise hard and frequently because he felt that this was the greatest way to develop “rock-solid muscle mass.”
Nutrition
When it comes to dieting during his competitions, Shigeru mainly relied on his prior experience. He frequently erred just to learn from them and improve his diet the following time. In essence, it was a game of trial and error.
In the 1960s and 1970s, supplements were not yet fully developed. Furthermore, Japan wasn’t the best country for bodybuilders to reside in because the majority of Japanese people thought it was a strange and mysterious sport.
How can Shigeru Sugita Teach us?
Shigeru Sugita began his bodybuilding career when he was just a teenager. He had limited knowledge of nutrition and training, but he nevertheless managed to win multiple competitions and rule the Japanese bodybuilding scene for many years.
Shigeru demonstrated that no matter where you are from or your age if you want something badly enough, you can find a way to get it.
You too can get a great physique if you put enough effort and willpower into it.