Yasumatsu Nakashima (1905 - 1972)
Yasumatsu in his early 20's seated next to the boy wearing the Navy Hat. He was single and from the rumors that I heard, he was very popular with the young women. The older man holding the banner is Eikichi Nakashima, his father, who was a booster of the Vancouver Sumo Club. This picture was taken in the late 1920's.
Yasumatsu is in his late teens when this photo was taken. He is in the 2nd row, to your left. He was a Brown Belt ( 1 kyu). His sensei was Shinzo Takagaki, who later became a 9th degree. Sensei Takagaki published a judo textbook titled " The Technique of Judo" in 1957. Contrary to what you read in the Judo B.C. website, Sensei Takagaki opened the first dojo in Canada, not Mr. Steve Sasaki. Mr. Sasaki succeeded Mr. Takagaki after he was recalled back to the Kodokan. There was a reunion held by his former students in the 1960's . The only thing that I can remember is that my father was organizing the reunion since he was the president of the Koenkai which was the Booster Club
Later photo of the Vancouver Sumo club. Yasumatsu is seated in the 2nd row , next to the man with the boy holding the banner. I think it is the same boy in the previous sumo photo who was wearing the Navy Hat.
