Cathy Cade, an LGBT pioneer and acclaimed photographer, immortalizes Sensei Keiko Fukuda, the remarkable individual who held the distinguished title of being the final living student of judo's founder,.
Judo practitioner Sensei Keiko Fukuda (born April 12, 1913, Tokyo, Japan and died February 9, 2013 at 99 years old in San Francisco, CA) was a pioneer and trained under one the greatest masters--Kanō Jigorō. Naturally, she was the highest-ranked female judoka in history reaching 10th dan two years before her passing.
Early trailer for Mrs. Judo film Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful
In 1934, at 21 years of age, Keiko Fukuda embarked on a long journey with judo as her vehicle. This path meant giving up marriage, family, and her Japanese citizenship. She has endured war, discrimination, and crossed oceans, to become the only woman to attain 10th degree black belt. She was the last living student of judo's founder, Kano. She continued to teach until just weeks before her death in 2013.
The photos below were taken by a famous Northern CA photographer Cathy Cade of Berkeley (now 82 years old).
"'Cade is a longtime activist in the civil rights, gay liberation, and women's liberation movements, and her photographs are intricately linked to her work for social justice.' In 1989 she shared her photographs 'showing the strength, diversity and pride of lesbians"'at a presentation in Davis."
These remarkable photos of the Fukuda were shot at Mills College in 1974. Sensei Fukuda taught there from 1967 to 1978. Ms. Cade has signed and dated each photo/card.
