In Canada, Yeiji Inouye was “Mr. Judo.” As an athlete, Yeiji was only the second Canadian to achieve 9th Dan Black Belt. He has coached the Canadian team at World Championships. In 1974, he achieved his International Judo Association “A” Referee certification and has refereed at World Championships and the Olympic Games. But it is his contributions as a builder to his sport that are most remarkable.
Yeiji started judo in 1938 at age 13 in Haney and continued to progress in the sport throughout his 25-year career in the Canadian Navy, which afforded him several opportunities to train in Japan. By 1954, he was training service personnel in Esquimalt and, in 1957, founded the Victoria Judo Club. Between 1958 and 1962, he co-founded the University of Victoria Judo Club, and the Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo and Comox clubs.

He served his sport as President of Judo BC, Chair of the Judo BC Grading Board and Referees Committee as well as National Councillor to Judo Canada, Chair of both the National Grading Board and National Referee Committee for multiple terms from 1968 through 2006. In 1972, he created the new Canadian Black Belt grading syllabus. He has acted as Tournament Director, Chief Referee and Evaluator at various national and provincial championships and arranged international clinics in Canada. Throughout this time, he gave clinics around BC and was chief instructor at the Victoria Judo Club for 41 years, producing athletes who have competed nationally and internationally.

Yeiji has been recognized many times for his contribution to Judo, including Life Membership and induction into the Judo Canada Hall of Fame in 2001. Sadly, Yeiji “Lanky” Inouye passed away in June 2018, but his achievements will live forever.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA JUDO CLUB/JUDO BC/JUDO CANADA