Dear Spartan Community,
Today we mourn the loss of Yoshihiro “Yosh” Uchida, a beloved Spartan who passed away on Thursday at the age of 104.
Yosh, as many affectionately called him, earned his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 1947 and an honorary doctorate in 2004 from SJSU, and is one of the most renowned and accomplished Spartans in the history of the university.
Born on April 1, 1920, in Calexico, Calif., Yosh was named San José State's first judo coach in 1940, when he enrolled as a student, and again in 1946 after he returned from four years in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1964, he coached the U.S. judo team at the Tokyo Olympics, the first time judo appeared in an Olympics.
He remained the coach of SJSU’s judo program for the rest of his life and in 2023 was honored for 75 years of service to the university. Overall, Yosh coached the Spartans to more than 40 collegiate titles and trained nearly two dozen Olympians, including four medalists. His judo prestige extended beyond San José State — Yosh served as president of U.S. Judo, the United States Judo Federation, and National Collegiate Judo Association.
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Yoshihiro Uchida from San José State University on Vimeo.
His incredible impact extended outside of judo. Yosh owned medical testing laboratories in the San José area, and became a driving force in investing more than $80 million into housing and commercial businesses to revitalize San José's Japantown. He also founded the Japanese American Chamber of Silicon Valley in 1996.
In a 2010 interview with the Pacific Citizen, Yosh said, “We are on this earth for a short period of time and we want to leave a better world for future generations.”
Among the many other distinctions and awards Yosh received throughout his life, a few of the most notable are:
- The Order of the Sacred Treasure of Golden Rays by Emperor Hirohito of Japan
- The building on campus now known as Uchida Hall, which houses the training facility for the SJSU judo team, was dedicated to Yosh in 1997
- San José State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and "legend" status in the Hall of Fame in 2012
- San José State University Tower Award, the university's highest award, in 1992
- Appointed to the U.S. President's Council on Physical Fitness in 1970
We are incredibly proud and thankful for the impact Yosh not only made on our university, but our nation and the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Uchida family and the many friends, athletes and Spartans who knew Yosh.
Sincerely,
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson
President
(She/Her/Ella)