HomeI am very sad to inform the Forum that the great Shozo Awazu 9 Dan and Busen Graduate has died at the age of 92.
RIP Sensei
RIP Sensei
RIP Shozo Awazu 9 Dan (1923 - 2016)
Jonesy- Posts : 1016
Join date : 2013-01-02
DougNZ- Posts : 403
Join date : 2013-01-28
Very sad to hear. One of the last of the old school who had a strong influence in both the East and West.
I come from the Kawaishi lineage and Awazu was very much his right hand man in Europe. I never met him but he always struck me as a man with a very kind face.
Waiting for the post-humous 10th dan ...
I come from the Kawaishi lineage and Awazu was very much his right hand man in Europe. I never met him but he always struck me as a man with a very kind face.
Waiting for the post-humous 10th dan ...
Jonesy- Posts : 1016
Join date : 2013-01-02
The Kodokan should seriously consider a posthumous 10th. It would be totally merited.
DougNZ- Posts : 403
Join date : 2013-01-28
Jonesy wrote:The Kodokan should seriously consider a posthumous 10th. It would be totally merited.
Yes, but my money's on the Frenchies getting in first.
Jonesy- Posts : 1016
Join date : 2013-01-02
DougNZ wrote:Jonesy wrote:The Kodokan should seriously consider a posthumous 10th. It would be totally merited.
Yes, but my money's on the Frenchies getting in first.
I believe one has been offered in the past by FFJDA, but for some it is KDK or nothing.....
tafftaz- Posts : 330
Join date : 2012-12-31
Age : 52
Location : Wales, UK
Condolences to all Awazu sensei family and students
noboru- Posts : 598
Join date : 2013-08-26
Age : 39
Location : Czech Republic
Info from Kodokan website
Mr. Shozo Awazu, Kodokan 9th Dan (Kodokan overseas Japanese instructor) has passed away
http://kodokanjudoinstitute.org/en/news/2016/04/mr-shozo-awazu-kodokan-9th-dan-kodokan-overseas-japanese-instructor-has-passed-away/
Mr. Awazu, Kodokan 9th Dan, passed away at his home in Paris on March 17th, 2016. He was 92 years old.(photo1)
告別式会場.jpg
His funeral was held solemnly at Crematorium of Clamart (Hauts de seine) in Paris and was attended by about 250 people from all over the country including his students and persons who represent French Judo community such as the officers of the French Judo Federation. Mr. David Douillet also attended the funeral. Mr. Shinro Fujita, Diector of the International Department, from the Kodokan attended.
ルージェ会長挨拶.jpg
Mr. Kozo Awazu (son of Mr. Awazu), Mr. Shinji Hosokawa (representative of Tenri University and Tenri Judokai) and Mr. Jean-Luc Rougé (president of French Judo Federation, IJF General Secretary) made speeches in the funeral.
Mr. Awazu, 9th dan, received Legion d'honneur in 1999 in recognition of his huge contributions to the development of Judo in France.
Legion d'honneur is a decoration of the highest value in France. It was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Its purpose is to give an award to citizens who made superb achievements in the fields of culture, science, industry, commerce and creative activities as well as to military men.
東京オリンピック感謝状.jpg ミュンヘンオリンピック.jpg
(photo2) (photo3)
photo2：A certificate of appreciation from the Organizing Committee for the Tokyo Olympic Games
photo3：The French Judo Team for Munich Olympics. For the first time, French team got 3 bronze medals for light-weight, middle-weight and Open.
Mr. Awazu is the second from the right in the middle row.
粟津道場１.jpg 粟津道場２.jpg
(photo4) （photo5）
photo4：A photo of Mr. Awazu is displayed at the entrance of Awazu Dojo in the Racing Club that is a prestigious sport club in Paris.
photo5：A Dojo in the building of French Judo Federation is also called Awazu Dojo.
A biography of Mr. Shozo Awazu, 9th Dan
1923
Born in Kyoto on April 18th and was raised there. Started practicing Judo when he was 10 years old. While he was a high school student, he won first prize for two consecutive years from 1939 when he participated in the All-Japan Inter-Prefectural Tournament as a representative of Kyoto.
1948
The best eight at the All Japan Judo Championship
1949
Graduated from the Ritsumeikan University.
1949
Participated in the All Japan Judo Championship
1950
Moved to France as an assistant of Mr. Mikinosuke Kawaishi, with a recommendation from Mr. Tamio Kurihara, 10th dan (at the time, 9th Dan)
1956
He trained many instructors and great players such as Mr. Henri Courtine who won 4th prize in the first World Judo Championships and Mr. Bernard Pariset who won 4th prize in the second World Judo Championships.
1964
At the Tokyo Olympics, he played an active role as a coach of the French national team.
1967
At the Munich Olympics, French team won 3 bronze medals (light-weight, middle-weight and Open)
1999
Received Legion d'honneur
2002
Promoted to Kodokan 9th Dan
Photos were reproduced from the following materials:
1: A book about Mr. Awazu Shozo and Mr. Shozen Nakayama (published by Tenrikyo Doyusha)
2: France News Digest
http://www.newsdigest.fr/newsfr/features/4412-shozo-awazu-interview.html
Mr. Shozo Awazu, Kodokan 9th Dan (Kodokan overseas Japanese instructor) has passed away
http://kodokanjudoinstitute.org/en/news/2016/04/mr-shozo-awazu-kodokan-9th-dan-kodokan-overseas-japanese-instructor-has-passed-away/
Mr. Awazu, Kodokan 9th Dan, passed away at his home in Paris on March 17th, 2016. He was 92 years old.(photo1)
告別式会場.jpg
His funeral was held solemnly at Crematorium of Clamart (Hauts de seine) in Paris and was attended by about 250 people from all over the country including his students and persons who represent French Judo community such as the officers of the French Judo Federation. Mr. David Douillet also attended the funeral. Mr. Shinro Fujita, Diector of the International Department, from the Kodokan attended.
ルージェ会長挨拶.jpg
Mr. Kozo Awazu (son of Mr. Awazu), Mr. Shinji Hosokawa (representative of Tenri University and Tenri Judokai) and Mr. Jean-Luc Rougé (president of French Judo Federation, IJF General Secretary) made speeches in the funeral.
Mr. Awazu, 9th dan, received Legion d'honneur in 1999 in recognition of his huge contributions to the development of Judo in France.
Legion d'honneur is a decoration of the highest value in France. It was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Its purpose is to give an award to citizens who made superb achievements in the fields of culture, science, industry, commerce and creative activities as well as to military men.
東京オリンピック感謝状.jpg ミュンヘンオリンピック.jpg
(photo2) (photo3)
photo2：A certificate of appreciation from the Organizing Committee for the Tokyo Olympic Games
photo3：The French Judo Team for Munich Olympics. For the first time, French team got 3 bronze medals for light-weight, middle-weight and Open.
Mr. Awazu is the second from the right in the middle row.
粟津道場１.jpg 粟津道場２.jpg
(photo4) （photo5）
photo4：A photo of Mr. Awazu is displayed at the entrance of Awazu Dojo in the Racing Club that is a prestigious sport club in Paris.
photo5：A Dojo in the building of French Judo Federation is also called Awazu Dojo.
A biography of Mr. Shozo Awazu, 9th Dan
1923
Born in Kyoto on April 18th and was raised there. Started practicing Judo when he was 10 years old. While he was a high school student, he won first prize for two consecutive years from 1939 when he participated in the All-Japan Inter-Prefectural Tournament as a representative of Kyoto.
1948
The best eight at the All Japan Judo Championship
1949
Graduated from the Ritsumeikan University.
1949
Participated in the All Japan Judo Championship
1950
Moved to France as an assistant of Mr. Mikinosuke Kawaishi, with a recommendation from Mr. Tamio Kurihara, 10th dan (at the time, 9th Dan)
1956
He trained many instructors and great players such as Mr. Henri Courtine who won 4th prize in the first World Judo Championships and Mr. Bernard Pariset who won 4th prize in the second World Judo Championships.
1964
At the Tokyo Olympics, he played an active role as a coach of the French national team.
1967
At the Munich Olympics, French team won 3 bronze medals (light-weight, middle-weight and Open)
1999
Received Legion d'honneur
2002
Promoted to Kodokan 9th Dan
Photos were reproduced from the following materials:
1: A book about Mr. Awazu Shozo and Mr. Shozen Nakayama (published by Tenrikyo Doyusha)
2: France News Digest
http://www.newsdigest.fr/newsfr/features/4412-shozo-awazu-interview.html