-
Special Collections andSpecial Collections andUniversity
ArchivesUniversity ArchivesUMass Amherst LibrariesUMass Amherst
Libraries
Yoshiaki Yamashita Photograph AlbumYoshiaki Yamashita Photograph
AlbumDigitalDigitalca.19041 volume (0.25 linear ft.)Call no.Call
no.: PH 006
About SCUAAbout SCUASCUA homeSCUA homeCredo digitalCredo
digitalScopeScopeInventoryInventoryAdmin infoAdmin
infoDownloadDownloadxml versionxml versionprint version (pdf)print
version (pdf)
Read collection overviewFrom 1903 to 1906, Yoshiaki Yamashita of
Tokyo toured the United States providing instruction in the new
martial art of judo. InWashington, D.C., he provided instruction
for the sons and daughters of the nation's political and business
elite and was broughtto the White House to teach President Theodore
Roosevelt. In 1905-1906, he was employed by the U.S. Naval Academy
to trainmidshipmen, but after his contract ended in the fall 1906,
he returned to Japan and continued to teach judo until his death
onOctober 26, 1935. He was posthumously awarded the 10th degree
black belt, the first ever so honored.
https://www.umass.eduhttps://www.umass.edu/admissions/visits/visit-campushttps://www.umass.edu/admissionshttps://securelb.imodules.com/s/1640/rd17/form/form.aspx?sid=1640&gid=2&pgid=443&cid=1121https://www.umass.edu/searchhttp://scua.library.umass.eduhttp://library.umass.eduhttp://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/services-at-scua/askanarc/http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/collection/muph006http://scua.library.umass.edu/http://scua.library.umass.eduhttp://credo.library.umass.edu/http://scua.library.umass.edu/file:///tmp/muph006.xmlfile:///tmp/muph006.pdf
-
Yoshiaki and Fude Yamashita, ca.1904
The Yamashita photograph album contains 53 silver developing out
prints apparently taken to illustrate various judo throws andholds,
along with Yamashita's calling card and four documents relating to
his time teaching judo in Washington.
See similar SCUA collections:
JapanJapanPhotographsPhotographs
Background on Yoshiaki YamashitaBackground on Yoshiaki
YamashitaSeeking to strengthen his nine-year old son's
"character,"Samuel Hill sought out a suitable man to provide
instruction inan exotic art he had seen during a business trip to
Japan: judo. Awealthy Seattle railroad executive, Hill had the
contacts -- andfunds -- to hire the best and in February 1903,
KazuyoshiShibata, a Yale student and friend of a Japanese
acquaintance,recommended Professor Yoshiaki (Yoshigutsu) Yamashita
as thebest man for the manly job.
Born in Ishikawa Prefecture on Feb. 16, 1865, the son of a
minorsamurai, Yamashita had a basic grounding in the
traditionalmartial arts before joining the new Kodokan dojo of
Jigoro Kano,the founder of judo, in August 1884. Yamashita rose
steadily,even rapidly, through the ranks, achieving his sixth
degree blackbelt in 1898 and gaining wide respect for his technical
mastery.By the turn of the century, his reputation earned him a
positionteaching judo at the Japanese Naval Academy and
TokyoImperial University.
Having long believed that making judo better known abroadwould
be good for Japan, Yamashita was an outstanding choiceto spread the
discipline in America, and he quickly responded toHill's inquiry.
Accepting the offer in August 1903, Yamashitasailed for Seattle the
following month, bringing with him hiswife, Fude, and a 19-year old
assistant, Saburo Kawaguchi. Barely a week after their arrival, the
trio gave a private judo exhibitionfor Hill and prominent invited
guests, which historian Joseph Svinth believes may have been the
first Kodokan judo exhibition fora non-Japanese audience in North
America.
From Seattle, Yamashita and his party traveled across country by
rail to Washington, D.C., where Hill's son, John Nathan Hill,
wasthen living. Offering demonstrations and lessons through the
Japanese Legation, Yamashita found an eager audience of studentsin
the nation's capitol, and a surprisingly strong interest among the
daughters of the nation's political and corporate elite. Amongthe
many who took notice was the President, Theodore Roosevelt, who had
a well-known passion for what he considered manlypursuits. Through
the Japanese Naval Attaché, Isamu Takeshita, Yamashita was
introduced to Roosevelt at the White House in1904 and by the
spring, he had Roosevelt adding judo to his regular fitness
regimen.
In January 1905, Yamashita left Washington to accept a position
instructing midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in
Annapolis,Maryland. At the same time, representatives of the Army
visited Annapolis to investigate the potential of Japanese martial
arts,but while these representatives were favorably impressed, the
Academy opted instead to hire a wrestling champion to train
thecadets, a man who preferred the traditional western sports of
boxing and wrestling.
From this point forward, Yamashita's American sojourn wound
down. His contract with the Naval Academy was not renewed forthe
fall 1905, but after Roosevelt personally intervened,
Superintendent James H. Sands agreed to rehire him for another
year. Atthe end of this second term, however, Sands recommended
that the judo program be discontinued as not essential to
shipboardlife. Yamashita returned to Japan in the fall 1906 and
continued to teach judo until his death on October 26, 1935. He
wasposthumously awarded the 10th degree black belt, the first ever
so honored.
Scope of collectionScope of collectionThe Yamashita photograph
album consists of 53 silver developing out prints of Yamashita's
tour of the United States in 1903-1905. Laid onto stiff cardboard
pages in a canvas-bound album, the images appear to have been used
as teaching aids or aspromotional material for classes taught by
Yamashita in Washington, D.C., during the early months of 1904. A
small number ofimages show Yamashita, Yamashita's wife, Saburo
Kawaguchi, and their students, but the majority are intended to
depictparticular judo holds and throws.
http://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/category/asia/japanhttp://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/category/photographs
-
Laid into the album are four documents: a list of judo exercises
(2p.); Yamashita's address ("kindness of Lt. [Isamu] Takashita"
ofthe Japanese Legation); a receipt in Japanese and English for
payment by George de Geofroy, (presumably for judo lessons);
andinstructions for various judo throws (6p.). Yamashita's calling
card is included in an envelope laid into the front of the
album.Many of the images are numbered in the negative and appear to
have been photographed in a rather elaborate setting.
InventoryInventory
Mr Kamaguchi -- Mr. Kitagaki -- Prof. Yamashita -- Mrs.
YamashitaMr Kamaguchi -- Mr. Kitagaki -- Prof. Yamashita -- Mrs.
Yamashitaca.1904Silver developing out print
Children's class: Margaret Perrin -- Miss A. LeeChildren's
class: Margaret Perrin -- Miss A. Leeca.1904Silver developing out
print
Nage no kata: Uki OtoshiNage no kata: Uki Otoshica.1904Silver
developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i001http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i002http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i003
-
Se oi NageSe oi Nageca.1904Silver developing out print
Sukui NageSukui Nageca.1904Silver developing out print
Uki GoshiUki Goshica.1904Silver developing out print
Harai goshiHarai goshica.1904Silver developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i004http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i005http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i006http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i007
-
Tsurikomi goshiTsurikomi goshica.1904Silver developing out
print
Uchi mata (rotation [arrow])Uchi mata (rotation
[arrow])ca.1904Silver developing out print
Tomoe nage (a)Tomoe nage (a)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i008http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i009http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i010
-
Tomoe nage (b)Tomoe nage (b)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
Ura hageUra hageca.1904Silver developing out print
Tsuri otoshiTsuri otoshica.1904Silver developing out print
Yoko gake [photo loose, laid into album]Yoko gake [photo loose,
laid into album]ca.1904
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i011http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i012http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i013http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i014
-
Silver developing out print
Yoko gakeYoko gakeca.1904Silver developing out print
Yoko gurumaYoko gurumaca.1904Silver developing out print
Uki maza (a)Uki maza (a)ca.1904Silver developing out print
Uki maza (b)Uki maza (b)ca.1904
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i015http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i016http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i017http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i018
-
Silver developing out print
Dai i kyo: Tai otoshiDai i kyo: Tai otoshica.1904Silver
developing out print
Osoto gariOsoto garica.1904Silver developing out print
Da ashi haraiDa ashi haraica.1904Silver developing out print
Yoko otoshiYoko otoshica.1904
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i019http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i020http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i021http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i022
-
Silver developing out print
Dai san kyo: Harai goshiDai san kyo: Harai goshica.1904Silver
developing out print
Dai shi kyo: Kata gurumaDai shi kyo: Kata gurumaca.1904Silver
developing out print
Dai roku kyo: Giyaku maki komi (a)Dai roku kyo: Giyaku maki komi
(a)ca.1904Silver developing out print
Giyaku maki komi (b)Giyaku maki komi (b)ca.1904
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i023http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i024http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i025http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i026
-
Silver developing out print
Dai i kyo: Tai otoshiDai i kyo: Tai otoshica.1904Silver
developing out print
Dai hi kyo: O goshiDai hi kyo: O goshica.1904Silver developing
out print
Sumi gaeshiSumi gaeshica.1904Silver developing out print
Dai san kyo: Obi otoshiDai san kyo: Obi otoshica.1904Silver
developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i027http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i028http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i029http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i030
-
Dai shi kyo: Utsuri goshiDai shi kyo: Utsuri goshica.1904Silver
developing out print
Tawara gaeshiTawara gaeshica.1904Silver developing out print
Dai go kyo: Uchi maki komiDai go kyo: Uchi maki
komica.1904Silver developing out print
Se oi otoshiSe oi otoshica.1904Silver developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i031http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i032http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i033http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i034
-
Se oi otoshiSe oi otoshica.1904Silver developing out print
Osoto gurumaOsoto gurumaca.1904Silver developing out print
Dai raku kyo: kube nage (a)Dai raku kyo: kube nage
(a)ca.1904Silver developing out print
Kube nage (b)Kube nage (b)ca.1904Silver developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i035http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i036http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i037http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i038
-
Hiza gurumaHiza gurumaca.1904Silver developing out print
Kueki raoshi (a)Kueki raoshi (a)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
Kuyeki raoshi (b)Kuyeki raoshi (b)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i039http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i040http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i041
-
Uchi konei (a)Uchi konei (a)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
[Uchi konei] (b)[Uchi konei] (b)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
Tsuki komi (a)Tsuki komi (a)ca.1904Silver developing out
print
(same)(same)ca.1904Silver developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i042http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i043http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i044http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i045
-
Ke komiKe komica.1904Silver developing out print
Yoko uchiYoko uchica.1904Silver developing out print
[unidentified throw][unidentified throw]ca.1904Silver developing
out print
[unidentified kick][unidentified kick]ca.1904Silver developing
out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i046http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i047http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i048http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i049
-
[unidentified throw][unidentified throw]ca.1904Silver developing
out print
[Prof. Yamashita, Mrs. Yamashita, unidentified American][Prof.
Yamashita, Mrs. Yamashita, unidentified American]ca.1904Silver
developing out print
[Prof. Yamashita seated between unidentified Americans][Prof.
Yamashita seated between unidentified Americans]ca.1904Silver
developing out print
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i050http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i051http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i052
-
[Prof. Yamashita seated between unidentified Americans][Prof.
Yamashita seated between unidentified Americans]ca.1904Silver
developing out printGeofroy, George de: Receipt for $50 to Yoshiaki
Yamashitaca.1904Receipt, 1p.In Japanese and English, signed
"Received payment, Prof. Y. Yamashita."
Yamashita, Yoshiaki: Address in Washington, D.C.ca.1904AMs,
1p.In English, listed as c/o Japanese Legation and "kindness of Lt.
Takashita" and "Jiu dow in London, Ukio Tani, co. Jap.
Embassy."
Yamashita, Yoshiaki (?): Instructions on judo throwsca.1904AMs,
6p.In English, includes detailed information on how to perform
throws, parrys and counters.
Yamashita, Yoshiaki (?): List of judo holds and
throwsca.1904AMs, 2p.In English, organized by kata and roughly
equivalent to the images in the album.
Administrative informationAdministrative
informationAccessAccessThe collection is open for research.
ProvenanceProvenanceGift of Caroline Watson, December 2007.
BibliographyBibliographySvinth, Joseph R., "Professor Yamashita
goes to Washington," Journal of Combative Sport (Oct. 2000)
Digitized contentDigitized contentAll images in the collection
have been scanned and are available onlineavailable online through
our digital repository, Credo.
Processing InformationProcessing InformationProcessed by rsc,
February 2008.
Language:Language:English
Copyright and Use Copyright and Use ((More informationMore
information ) )Cite as: Yoshiaki Yamashita Photograph Album (PH
006). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois
Library,University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Search termsSearch termsSubjectsSubjects
http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/muph006-b001-i053http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/collection/muph006http://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/?page_id=690
-
Judo--Photographs.Kawaguchi, Saburo.Yamashita, Fude.
ContributorsContributorsYamashita, Yoshiaki [main entry][main
entry]
Genres and formatsGenres and formatsPhotographs.
Link to similar SCUA collectionsLink to similar SCUA
collectionsJapanJapanPhotographsPhotographs
Special Collections & University ArchivesUniversity
LibrariesUniversity Libraries : UMass AmherstUMass Amherst154 Hicks
Way : Amherst, Mass. 01003-9275Ph. 413-545-7282 (545-SCUA)
2020Site PoliciesSite PoliciesAccessibilityAccessibility
http://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/category/asia/japanhttp://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/category/photographshttp://scua.library.umass.edu/http://www.library.umass.edu/http://www.umass.edu/http://credo.library.umass.edu/https://www.facebook.com/SCUA.UMasshttps://www.instagram.com/umass_scua/https://twitter.com/scua_umasshttp://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/services-at-scua/askanarc/https://www.umass.eduhttps://www.umass.edu/site-policieshttps://www.umass.edu/diversity/our-commitment-accessibility/
Yoshiaki Yamashita Photograph AlbumBackground on Yoshiaki
YamashitaScope of collectionInventoryAdministrative
informationAccessProvenanceBibliographyDigitized contentProcessing
InformationLanguage:Copyright and Use (More information )
Search termsSubjectsContributorsGenres and formatsLink to
similar SCUA collections