for performing Ju-no-kata, one of the seven Kodokan kata. Fukuda served as a technical adviser for US Women's Judo and the USJI Kata Judges' Certification Sub-committee. She also served as a National Kata Judge, and was a faculty member of the USJI National Teachers’ Institute, a member of the USJF Promotion Committee, and a member of the USJF and USJI Women's Sub-committee. Fukuda held the rank of 9th dan, the second-highest in judo, from two organizations, and in July 2011 received the rank of 10th dan from a third organization. In 1994, she was the first woman to be awarded a rare red belt (at the time for women still marking the 8th dan rank) in judo by the Kodokan. In 2001 the USJF promoted her to USJF 9th dan (red belt) for her lifelong contribution to the art of judo. On January 8, 2006, at its annual New Year's Kagami Biraki celebration, the Kodokan promoted Fukuda to the rank of 9th dan—the first time it had awarded this rank to a woman. On July 28, 2011, the promotion board of USA Judo awarded Fukuda the rank of 10th dan, an action which was followed by the USJF's promotion board on September 10, 2011. Later life Fukuda continued to teach judo three times each week, host the annual Fukuda Invitational Kata Championships, and teach at the annual Joshi Judo Camp until her death, at the age of 99, in San Francisco, California. She established the Keiko Fukuda Judo Scholarship to encourage and enable women to continue their formal training in the art. Apart from teaching in the USA, she also taught in Australia, Canada, France, Norway and the Philippines. Fukuda's personal motto was: "Tsuyoku, Yasashiku, Utsukushiku" (in English: "Be strong, be gentle, be beautiful, in mind, body, and spirit"). Death Fukuda died at her home in San Francisco on February 9, 2013. See also Atsuko Wakai Rena Kanokogi List of judoka References External links Soko Joshi Judo Club USA Dojo: A lifetime of Judo contains photographs of Fukuda (c. 1970 and c. 2000). contains a documentary on Fukuda (2009). Papers of Keiko Fukuda, 2004–2009 (inclusive), Schlesinger Library 1913 births 2013 deaths American female judoka Japanese emigrants to the United States Japanese female judoka Judoka trainers Martial arts school founders Martial arts writers Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th class Sportspeople from Tokyo American sportspeople of Japanese descent