Mamoru Matsunaga (松永護, Matsunaga Mamoru, 30 September 1936 – 20 December 2016) was a ninth degree (kudan) judo sensei. Introducing the sport to the Dominican Republic after emigrating there in 1957, he was called "the father of Dominican judo".[2][3][4] He was inducted into the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.[5][6]

Mamoru Matsunaga
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born(1936-09-30)30 September 1936
Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Died20 December 2016(2016-12-20) (aged 80)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
OccupationJudoka
Sport
SportJudo
Rank     9th dan black belt[1]

Some notable Dominican judoka who trained with him include Juan Chalas, John Adams, and Desiderio Lebron.[citation needed] He is also well-known as a landscape designer, creating the Japanese garden in the Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso National Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo[7] and redesigning the landscaping around the famous Monumento de Santiago.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "IJF Dan Grades Awardees" (PDF). International Judo Federation. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  2. ^ Diario Libre https://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/muere-mamoru-matsunaga-padre-del-judo-dominicano-KF5777738
  3. ^ "Reconocimiento Mamoru Matsunaga 28 de Octubre 2015 - Día Mundial del Judo". 24 October 2016 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "fedojudo".
  5. ^ "Mamoru Matsunaga". 5 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Mamoru Matsunaga, feliz de ser un inmortal en RD". 16 October 2009.
  7. ^ Listin Diario https://listindiario.com/economia-and-negocios/2010/10/28/164405/Matsunaga-aporta-a-RD
  8. ^ "Reemplazan jardinería del Monumento de la ciudad de Santiago". www.diariolibre.com.
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