The sportsmen came to Russia after being invited by Vladimir Putin. The Russian head of state personally invited Yasuhiro Yamashita during his last visit to Tokyo in November 2005.
After a brief conversation the President and Japanese visitors went to have supper in one of St Petersburg's restaurants.
Yasuhiro Yamashita is a member of the Russian-Japanese Council of Wise Men, a professor of Physical Education at the University of Tokai, 1984 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in judo.
Kosei Inoue has been World Champion many times and is the 2000 Olympic Champion.