Kenji Yamada

Background

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.

Education

University of Washington.

Career

A year later, he was imprisoned with other Americans of Japanese descent at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho. Yamada graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle and later, the University of Washington. Yamada obtained his 8th degree black belt in judo.

Yamada died on April 18, 2014.

Achievements

• Yamada won the 1954 and 1955 United States Judo National Championships where he competed at 150 lbs. He lost to Heavyweight judoka Gene Lebell, who won the Heavyweight division in 1954.

Membership

Yamada was a former member of the Seattle Dojo and was one of the key people in spreading judo around the United States.