About Yoshimi Ōsawa
Lived 1926 – 2022 (aged 96). Yoshimi Ōsawa was a Japanese judoka, coach, professor and referee.
was a Japanese judoka. Before his death, he was the only living Kodokan 10th dan (and one of only 15 to have attained this rank), having been promoted at the New Year Kagami Biraki Ceremony, 8 January 2006 along with Toshiro Daigo and Ichiro Abe.
Biography Ōsawa was born 6 March 1926 in Munakata Village, Inba District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan (now part of Inzai City). He was educated at Waseda University and later became a judo instructor there. Osawa weighed in at 145 lbs. but competed against all sizes. Although at times he went as big as 5' 6", 160 lbs. He was highly regarded as a Judo technician, particularly for his ashi-waza and, although a lightweight, was considered a favourite to win the All-Japan Judo Championships and defeated the 1948 champion Yasuichi Matsumoto to win the Fukuoka tournament in November 1948. After he retired, he made a trip to Brazil. Osawa was the head instructor at Waseda University. Osawa was considered to be one of the top technicians in Judo post World War II.
Ōsawa died from pneumonia on 21 October 2022, at the age of 96.
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Important facts
People in Yoshimi Ōsawa's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Yoshimi Ōsawa?
Japanese judoka (1926-2022)
When was Yoshimi Ōsawa born?
Yoshimi Ōsawa was born on 6 March 1926 in Sakura, Munakata.
When did Yoshimi Ōsawa die?
Yoshimi Ōsawa died on 21 October 2022.
What was Yoshimi Ōsawa's occupation?
Yoshimi Ōsawa was a judoka, coach, professor and referee.
What nationality was Yoshimi Ōsawa?
Yoshimi Ōsawa was Japanese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Yoshimi Ōsawa. https://biography.guide/yoshimi-osawa/
MLA: "Yoshimi Ōsawa." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/yoshimi-osawa/.
Chicago: "Yoshimi Ōsawa." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/yoshimi-osawa/.
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