Kenji Yamada

Kenji Yamada
Nationality  United States

Kenji Yamada (1924[1]-2014) was a former competitive judoka who was a two-time U.S. National Judo champion.[2]

Yamada was born in Sunnyside, Utah, but was raised in Japan. In 1941, he returned to the United States to rejoin his father in Seattle, Washington. A year later, he was interned at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho. Yamada graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle and later, the University of Washington.[3]

Yamada won the 1954 and 1955 US Judo National Championships[2] where he competed at 150 lbs.[4] He lost to Heavyweight judoka Gene Lebell, who won the Heavyweight division in 1954.[5] Yamada was a former member of the Seattle Dojo[6] and was one of the key people in spreading judo around the United States.[7] Yamada obtained his 8th degree black belt in judo.[2] Yamada died on April 18 2014.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "NARA - Display Full Records - [Japanese-American Internee Data File], 1942 - 1946". AAD. 2005-06-30. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The North American Post – Kenji Yamada, National Judo Champion, Passes". napost.com.
  3. ↑ "Kenji Yamada Obituary - Seattle, WA - The Seattle Times". The Seattle Times.
  4. ↑ Hickok, R. (1977). New encyclopedia of sports. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-028705-1. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  5. ↑ Udel, J.C. (2013). The Film Crew of Hollywood: Profiles of Grips, Cinematographers, Designers, a Gaffer, a Stuntman and a Makeup Artist. McFarland, Incorporated Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4766-0226-4. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  6. ↑ Franks, J.S. (2010). Crossing Sidelines, Crossing Cultures: Sport and Asian Pacific American Cultural Citizenship. University Press Of America. ISBN 978-0-7618-4744-1. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  7. ↑ Nishioka, H. (2000). Judo: Heart & Soul. Literary links to the Orient. Ohara Publications. ISBN 978-0-89750-137-8. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
  8. ↑ "Memorial service for Kenji Yamada - USJF.COM". usjf.com.