Hisako Mizui | Today's AI Wiki

1. Overview

Hisako Mizui (水井妃佐子_{Mizui Hisako}^Japanese, born March 29, 1972) is a former Japanese badminton player. Born in Yamato Takada, Nara Prefecture, she was a prominent figure in Japanese badminton during the 1990s, achieving significant success in both national and international competitions. Mizui notably participated in two Olympic Games, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Her career highlights include winning a silver medal in women's singles at the 1994 Asian Games and securing multiple titles at the All Japan Comprehensive Badminton Championships. Standing 65 in ^{(165 cm)} tall and weighing 121 lb ^{(55 kg)}, she was a right-handed player. Following her retirement from competitive play in 1996, Mizui has remained actively involved in the sport, serving as a Yonex advisor and coaching a junior badminton team, contributing to the development of future generations of players. Her younger sister, Yasuko Mizui, also represented Japan in badminton.

2. Early life and education

Hisako Mizui was born on March 29, 1972, in Yamato Takada, Nara Prefecture, Japan. She attended Shijonawate Gakuen High School where she began to establish her presence in the sport. In November 1989, during her high school years, she achieved a significant victory by winning the women's singles title at the National High School Sports Festival (全国高等学校総合体育大会_{Zenkoku Kōtō Gakkō Sōgō Taiikai}^Japanese), defeating Aiko Miyamura, who would later become a Japanese representative at the Atlanta Olympics. After graduating from high school, Mizui continued her education at Shijonawate Gakuen Women's Junior College. While still enrolled in junior college, she secured her first major national title by winning the All Japan Comprehensive Badminton Championships in 1990, marking a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career.

3. Playing career

Hisako Mizui's professional badminton career spanned from her entry into a professional team in 1992 until her retirement in 1996, during which she consistently competed at the highest levels of both national and international badminton, including two Olympic appearances and multiple medal wins.

3.1. Professional debut and national success

In April 1992, after graduating from Shijonawate Gakuen Women's Junior College, Hisako Mizui joined Fuji Chu, a professional badminton team that later became known as MMG Arrows. Her initial success in 1990 at the All Japan Comprehensive Badminton Championships as a junior college student was followed by further dominance in the national arena. She achieved an impressive feat by winning the women's singles title at the All Japan Comprehensive Badminton Championships for three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995, building upon her first championship win in 1990.

3.2. Olympic participation

Mizui represented Japan in two Olympic Games. She made her Olympic debut at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in Barcelona, where she competed in both women's singles and women's doubles. In the singles event, she reached the round of 16, finishing in 9th place. In the women's doubles, partnering with Harumi Kohara, she also advanced to the round of 16, similarly finishing 9th overall. Four years later, she participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in Atlanta, competing solely in women's singles, where she once again reached the round of 16, securing a 9th-place finish.

3.3. International tournaments and major achievements

Hisako Mizui achieved notable success in various major international competitions throughout her career. At the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan, she earned a silver medal in women's singles. Her path to the final included a significant victory in the semi-finals, where she defeated Susi Susanti, who was the reigning world champion at the time. Mizui ultimately lost to Bang Soo-hyun of South Korea in the final with a score of 4-11, 6-11. In addition to her singles silver, she contributed to Japan's bronze medal in the women's team event at both the 1990 Beijing Asian Games and the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

At the 1996 Asian Championships in Surabaya, Indonesia, Mizui secured a bronze medal in women's doubles, partnering with her sister, Yasuko Mizui. They were defeated by Indonesian pair Indarti Issolina and Deyana Lomban with scores of 9-15, 9-15. Earlier, at the 1993 East Asian Games in Shanghai, China, she claimed two bronze medals: one in women's doubles, playing alongside Aiko Miyamura, where they lost to South Korean pair Kim Shin-young and Shon Hye-joo (18-13, 7-15, 5-15), and another in the women's team event. She also won the women's singles title at the 1992 Canada Open, part of the IBF World Grand Prix circuit, defeating Denyse Julien of Canada 11-5, 7-11, 12-10. In her junior career, she achieved a runner-up finish in girls' singles at the 1988 German Juniors and won the girls' doubles title at the same event, partnering with Aiko Miyamura.

3.4. Retirement from competitive play

Hisako Mizui officially retired from competitive badminton in November 1996. Her final professional appearance was at the All Japan Comprehensive Badminton Championships in the same year, concluding a highly successful career.

4. Post-retirement activities and personal life

Following her retirement from competitive play, Hisako Mizui embarked on a new phase of her life, which included personal milestones and a continued commitment to the sport of badminton. She married Seiichi Watanabe, a former player for NTT East Japan (then NTT Tokyo) and who now serves as the badminton coach for Iwate Prefectural Hanakitaseiun High School. The couple had a daughter named Hirari.

In 2009, Hisako Mizui and Seiichi Watanabe divorced. Following the divorce, Mizui returned to her hometown of Yamato Takada in Nara Prefecture, where she took on a position at the Yamato Takada City Chamber of Commerce. Her daughter, Hirari Mizui, followed in her mother's footsteps and pursued a career in badminton. Hirari transferred between elementary schools in Yamato Takada and Ise, Mie, and later attended junior high school in Tomioka, Fukushima, ultimately joining Futaba Mirai Gakuen High School. As of April 2018, Hirari Mizui was recognized as a B-representative for the Japan national badminton team.

Since 2010, Hisako Mizui has transitioned into an advisory role with Yonex, a leading manufacturer of badminton equipment. In this capacity, she frequently conducts badminton clinics and serves as an instructor, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience with aspiring players. Concurrently, she has established her own junior badminton team, dedicating her efforts to nurturing and developing young talent in the sport.

5. Major tournament results

Hisako Mizui's career included numerous significant results in major national and international badminton tournaments. The following tables detail her achievements across various competitions, providing a comprehensive overview of her competitive record.

5.1. Asian Games

Women's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
1994	Tsuru Memorial Gymnasium, Hiroshima, Japan	방수현_{Bang Soo-hyun}^Korean	4-11, 6-11	Silver medal

Women's team

Year	Venue	Result
1990	Beijing, China	Bronze medal
1994	Hiroshima, Japan	Bronze medal

5.2. Asian Championships

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1996	GOR Pancasila, Surabaya, Indonesia	Yasuko Mizui	Indarti Issolina Deyana Lomban	9-15, 9-15	Bronze medal

5.3. East Asian Games

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1993	Shanghai, China	Aiko Miyamura	Kim Shin-young Shon Hye-joo	18-13, 7-15, 5-15	Bronze medal

Women's team

Year	Venue	Result
1993	Shanghai, China	Bronze medal

5.4. IBF World Grand Prix

The International Badminton Federation (IBF) sanctioned the World Badminton Grand Prix series, which ran from 1983.

Women's singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1992	Canada Open	Denyse Julien	11-5, 7-11, 12-10	Winner

5.5. IBF Junior Tournament

Girls' singles

Year	Tournament	Opponent	Score	Result
1988	German Juniors	Aiko Miyamura	(Score not available)	Runner-up

Girls' doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1987/1988	German Juniors (German International Junior)	Aiko Miyamura	Kaiko Nakahara Miwa Kai	(Score not available)	Winner

5.6. All Japan Comprehensive Badminton Championships

Women's singles

Year	Result
1990	Winner
1993	Winner
1994	Winner
1995	Winner

5.7. Other International Tournaments

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Result
1997	Taiwan Open	Yasuko Mizui	Bronze medal

5.8. Olympic Games

Women's singles

Year	Tournament	Result
1992	Barcelona Olympics	9th place (Round of 16)
1996	Atlanta Olympics	9th place (Round of 16)

Women's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Result
1992	Barcelona Olympics	Harumi Kohara	9th place (Round of 16)

6. Public appearances

Hisako Mizui has made appearances on television programs, contributing to the public's awareness of badminton and her journey. One notable appearance was on the NHK General program Totsugeki! At Home (突撃!アッとホーム_{Totsugeki! At Home}^Japanese), which aired on April 19, 2014.