Asahi Judo Academy - Profile of Asahi Dai sensei

Located on a darkened side street near the Higashi-Hakuraku train station, Asahi Judo Academy at first appears to be just another of the many nondescript apartment buildings in Yokohama. However, the noise of bodies falling heavily on the mat, the yells of energetic students, and the shouts of encouragement from both coaches and parents spill out onto the street in the unmistakable clamor of a very active judo dojo. Despite its common external appearance, Asahi Judo Academy is currently rated as the top training dojo for high school judoka in all of Japan.

Asahi Dojo members in 1988.

Asahi Judo Academy was founded in 1958 by Mr. Asahi Hayao, father of the current dojo master, Mr. Asahi Dai. Born May 5, 1924, in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu Island, Asahi Hayao was a talented judo competitor in high school. Upon graduation from Takushoka University, which he attended on a judo scholarship, Asahi Hayao joined the Kanagawa Prefecture Police Department as judo instructor and competitor.

Asahi Dojo instructors in 2002. Asahi Dai sensei is third from left.

Although just slightly taller than 5-foot-2 and weighing only 154 pounds, Asahi Hayao won numerous judo tournaments. Among his many accomplishments, Asahi Hayao qualified four separate times for the Zen-Nippon (All-Japan Open), one of the most prestigious of all judo competitions. The All-Japan Open is held annually on April 29, the Showa emperor's birthday. Through a grueling series of competitions, only one judoka is eventually selected to represent each region of Japan. There are no weight categories in these competitions.

Junior judoka practicing at Asahi Dojo.

Asahi Hayao decided to focus on developing young judo talent after his own retirement from competition. In addition to classes at Asahi Judo Academy, Asahi Hayao served as judo instructor at nearby Keio University. He was also the first Japanese judo team's chief instructor when judo was introduced as an official sport at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

Asahi Hayao died of cancer at the age of 45. Because of his dedication to judo, the Kanagawa Police Department and Keio University embarked on a joint effort to support Asahi Judo Academy. Both groups provided instructors to continue teaching judo until Hayao's then 6-year-old son, Dai, was old enough to assume leadership of the dojo.

Born Dec. 28, 1962, at Asahi Judo Academy, Asahi Dai continued in the family's judo tradition. Already in the public eye because of his famous father, Asahi Dai excelled as a judo player in his own right. He took first place in all judo competitions throughout primary school. 

Due to his extraordinary talent, Asahi Dai was recruited by Meiji Nakano Junior High School, which is famous for martial arts. Even though he was a member of the judo club, Asahi Dai was frequently requested to compete for the school's sumo team due to his unusual strength and superior wrestling skills.

The biggest event in high school judo is the annual Inter-High School Competition, where the champion of all Japanese high schools is decided. Asahi Dai represented Meiji Nakano High School in this tournament during his senior year. Weighing 220 pounds, Asahi Dai made it to the final round, losing only to Masaki who weighed well over 330 pounds by kinsa hantai (judge's decision). Masaki went on to become a heavyweight world champion.

Judo practice at Asahi Dojo.

As a student at Meiji University, Asahi Dai continued winning judo awards. During his college years, he was a silver medalist at the World Judo Competition, first place in the Kobe World University Student Tournament, and first place in the All-Japan University Championship, among others.

After receiving his degree, Meiji University offered him a judo instructor position, but Asahi Dai's dream was to follow in his father's footsteps. Therefore, Asahi Dai accepted a position with the Kanagawa Police Department as a representative judo competitor. His dream truly became a reality during the first year as Asahi Dai was elected through several arduous trial heats to represent Tokyo in the Zen-Nippon. This is the only time a father and son had both qualified to compete in the All-Japan Open during the tournament's entire 50-year history. Because of his extraordinary judo talent, Asahi Dai was also nominated Zen-Nippon Kyoka Senshu (All-Japan reinforcement player) and represented Japan in several international judo competitions from 1984 to 1986.

Junior judoka at Asahi Dojo.

Retiring from competition in his early 30's and ranked as a sixth dan, Asahi Dai succeeded his father by managing Asahi Judo Academy. At the same time, he accepted an offer from Keio University to teach their judo team just like his father. In the meantime, Dai Asahi continued his graduate studies at Hanada Gakuen, a school for bone-setting. (The bone-setting association is very closely connected with the judo association in Japan. Many judo teachers are also trained to treat sports injuries.)

It was at Hanada Gakuen that Asahi Dai met a fellow student and his future wife, Yoko, who is also a well-known women's judo competitor.

Following graduation, they were married in 1995, and together operate the Asahi Judo Academy and bone-setting clinic. Asahi Dai can be contacted at the following address: