SHOP
In memory of Kenji Yamada, Hachidan who passed away in the afternoon of April 10, 2014 very peacefully surround by his family.
We lost a father, grandfather, pioneer in judo and sensei whom had touch so many lives and in judo.
Born 03-11-1924 to 04-10-2014
Kenji Yamada, Seattle and Bellevue Judo Dojo, Hachidan, born in Sunnyside, UT, He started judo in 1937 at Fukushima High School, Fukushima, Japan. He retired from the Boeing Company after 30 years. He was a Judo Sensei, handyman, gardener, what he called putting around. He enjoyed watching his children grow up, taking them all camping, watching local sports teams. Going Mariners games. In post-war Judo the 1953 Seattle Judo Team consisted of Kenji Yamada, Fred Sato, Chris Kato, and George Wilson with Sam Furuta as the coach. The Seattle team placed first in the first post war national Judo tournament that year. He was a US National Judo Champion 1954, 1955, 1956. He traveled on the 1955 US Goodwill Team. In 1990 he was the Deputy Commissioner and Judo Competition Director of International Goodwill games in Seattle, WA. Since 1946 he continued to teach Judo at Seattle Dojo until his retirement in 2006 in which his son Alan, sandan runs today. In 1957 he founded the Bellevue Judo Dojo in which he retired in 2005, in which his son Harold, yodan runs today.
He preceded in death by his wife Haruko 1991. He is survived by his nine children Bea (Ken) Saito; Eileen (Robert) Iguchi; Patsy (Dennis) Yamada; Joyce (Peter) Tsai; Alan Yamada; Teresa Yamada; Harold (Cathy) Yamada; Michael (Candy) Yamada; Kathy Cummins; grandchildren; Aaron(Meaghan) Saito ; Stacey Saito; Stephanie Saito; Megan Iguchi; Allison Iguchi; Tyler Iguchi; Ryan Yamada; Jana Yamada; Evan Yamada; Melyssa Tsai; Whitney Tsai; Julianne Yamada; Jessica Yamada; Kyle Cummins; Dylan Cummins; great-grand child Kiran Saito. Many niece and nephews.
Memorial Services will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 9, 2014 at:
Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue
209-100th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-454-6162
