The VJC is sad to announce the passing of one of our pioneers, Toshiro Yakura, at the age of 96. Tosh joined the club in 1945 and reached the level of Rokudan (6th-degree “red-and-white belt”) in 2010. Born and raised in Kitsilano, Tosh was amongst the judo class that went out to say farewell to the founder of judo Jigoro Kano on his final voyage, with a saikeirei, in 1938. Interned at Tashme, Tosh practised judo with many of the greats who were dispersed across Canada like our club’s founder Yoshitaka Mori but also Mas Takahashi, Frank Hatashita, Yosh Senda, and the father of Judo in Canada Shigetaka “Steve” Sasaki.
Tosh and his brother Ko were fearsome competitors and supported the club from its early days in his youth well into his retirement as he and Yosh Ouchi took on Koenkai responsibilities. He was involved in all aspects of the club, only stepping down as co-treasurer around the time he turned 90. He was involved in the early days of Judo BC and Judo Canada, before they were named such, as a Yudanshakai member.
A lumberman and local entrepreneur, he also had a BC Lotto franchise which—through sporting grants—purchased two club vans over the years and sponsored many local athletes making travel and competition possible, from absolute beginners to those who medaled at nationals like Brad Kirschner in the 80’s. Members like our Head Instructor George Okazaki, Donna Hanson (Rokudan/current Judo Canada Chair), and most of our current black belts were in those vans as kids. He and wife Mas organized the BC Open tournament for many years, taking registrations by phone, building it into a multi-mat event in the 70’s. He was instrumental in the formation of the Salmon Arm club, assisting Richard Mori by traveling there weekly.
Tosh was a former president and long-time member of the Vernon Japanese Cultural society—he recruited both our current president and treasurer-in-training into the VJCS. Both Tosh and Mas protested in Ottawa for the redress movement—and were part of the VJCS committee that saw that through to the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement of 1988. Both sons Dean and Brian became black belts in their own right—grandson Brendan is a 2-time nationals silver medalist. Tosh was a significant photo contributor to History of Judo in Canada (Leyshon 1998). Our best wishes go out to the entire Yakura clan.