Building Futures Through Judo / IJF.org
In the vibrant aftermath of the African Judo Championships in Nairobi, one name has quietly emerged as a driving force behind the progress of the host nation: Yusuke Utashiro. Originally from Japan, Yusuke will soon mark two years in Kenya. His impact, however, is already being felt. As highlighted by Shadrack Kitili Maluki, President of the Kenyan Judo Federation, Utashiro has played a central role in the steady rise of Kenyan judoka, whose performances in 2026 have shown clear signs of progress.
Working under the guidance of the International Judo Federation, Yusuke arrived in May 2024 after nearly five years in Bhutan, where he contributed significantly to the development of judo at grassroots level. That experience shaped his approach, patient, committed and deeply rooted in the field.
“The change was radical,” he explains, “but I adapted quickly. What I noticed first was that the Kenyan federation was already more developed, which reflects the long history of judo in this region.”
Yusuke Utashiro during the African championships in Nairobi.
Results soon followed. At his first African Championships as a coach, the Kenyan team returned without a single win. One year later, the difference is tangible: a bronze medal, two seventh-place finishes and numerous victories in the preliminary rounds. The team also secured a respectable seventh place in the mixed team event.
“I am never fully satisfied as a coach,” he admits, “because we can always do better. But I am very happy with these results.” What gives him confidence is the emerging generation. “We have a strong group of young athletes pushing towards the national team. This new energy gives us real hope for the future.”
Yusuke Utashiro in Bhutan © JICA Bhutan Office.
That progress is no accident. Since January, the team has undergone an intensive preparation programme, laying the foundations for long-term success. Yet for Yusuke, performance is only part of the mission.
Alongside his work with the national team, he is actively developing a Judo for Peace initiative. Kenya hosts a large number of refugees, and judo is becoming a powerful tool for integration and opportunity. In Nairobi and soon in the Kakuma refugee camp, programmes are being built to offer young people a sense of belonging and purpose.
“Refugee judoka bring something special,” he says. “They strengthen the team dynamic.” He points to athletes like Kevin, originally from Burundi, who has already achieved success in continental competitions under the refugee team banner. “He motivates everyone.”
Zeddy Cherotich is celebrated after clinching bronze medal for Kenya in the judo championships. © Jeff Olubuyi.
For Yusuke, this path was a natural choice. He began judo at the age of eight in Gifu, in a rural part of Japan. While many of his peers pursued traditional careers after university, he chose a different direction, teaching, sharing and travelling.
“I wanted to combine judo and discovering the world,” he explains. Supported by Japanese cooperation programmes, JAICA, he first went to Bhutan, then continued his journey to Kenya. “It is a beautiful adventure. I enjoy discovering new cultures, sharing what I know and learning just as much in return.”
At just thirty years old, Yusuke Utashiro embodies a new generation of coaches, open, committed and driven by purpose. His work is already transforming lives, both for national athletes and for refugees seeking a new beginning.
In Kenya, his influence is growing quietly but surely. And if the current trajectory continues, his legacy will be visible for many years to come, a testament to the power of judo not only to build champions, but to build futures.
