First 10 Judo 10th dans

First ten men to ever be promoted to 10th dan rank in Judo

1. Yamashita, Yoshitugu (1865-1935) Promoted 10th Dan 1935
2. Isogai, Hajime (1871-1947) Promoted 10th Dan 1937
3. Nagaoka, Hidekazu (1876-1952) Promoted 10th Dan 1937
4. Mifune, Kyuzo (1883-1965) Promoted 10th Dan 1945
5. Iizuka, Kunisaburo (1875-1958) Promoted 10th Dan 1946
6. Samura, Kaichiro (1880-1964) Promoted 10th Dan 1948
7. Tabata, Shotaro (1884-1950) Promoted 10th Dan 1948
8. Okano, Kotaro (1885-1967) Promoted 10th Dan 1967
9. Shoriki, Matsutaro (1885-1969) Promoted 10th Dan 1969
10. Nakano, Shozo (1888-1977) Promoted 10th Dan 1977

Although all of these men were Jigoro Kano's contemps, only the first three made Judan during Kano's lifetime.  Since 1977 there have been several notable promotions to the rank of Judan.  There were, of course, many notable judoka who never reached 10th dan.

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Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com