As many of you know, my father Kenneth Tamai, passed away on June 30, 2004 at 2:00 am in Honolulu Hawaii. He was found to have a very advanced cancer of the pancreas which spread to his liver and into his kidneys. He passed away just a few days after being diagnosed. He was surrounded by his family when he passed. We were all able to say our own personal goodbyes to him. His ashes were placed at the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific on Honolulu, Hawaii. We brought some ashes back to be put with my mother when she passes.

    This sudden and unexpected passing of Ken Tamai is not a time of mourning but a celebration of his life. He would not want any of us to be sad. He has passed from this life in silent suffering as cancer spread through his body from the pancreas, to the liver and into the kidney, finally taking over his body functions. He lived a very full life through his judo and celebrated it through his family, which included his wife, 6 children and 8 grandchildren. He was noted for his love of his family, all children he met, the sport of judo and his trademark cigars. He was often remembered by his smile and laugh, his Hawaiian shirts, zoris(flip flops) and the cigar smells. His mannerism was very gentle and kind. Ken Tamai touched each of our lives in a different and unique way. He was able to give a little part of himself to each us and develop us into the people we are today. Whether or not we agreed with his style, he developed our character and instilled the framework of who we are, into each one of us. He gave of himself, in his own loving way, to guide us and to teach us. He became a mentor and friend to so many people. He was respected and loved by all of the students, friends and judoka he knew. I hope that each of you will celebrate his life and cherish fond memories of him.

    Kenneth Bunji Tamai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Shinichi and Setsue Tamai on January 13, 1933. He is one of seven children, Florence Ito, Tommy Yuta, Kenji Keigo, George Joe, Mary Kiku and Theodore Yasu.

    He was a devoted husband and loving father. He married his wife, Dorothy Marie, on November 10, 1962. They met studying judo together in Washington DC and have celebrated 42 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife and their six children, Margie Setsue Kettl, Joan Hanako Smith, Kevin Shinichi Tamai, Kurt Kenzo Tamai, Karl Eizo Imayoshi Tamai and Diane Mitsue Jackson, as well as his eight grand children, Jessica, Jack, Jimmy, Ross, Julie, Nicholas, Abigail and Alex.

    He is very proud of all of his children, though he may not have expressed it to them. He helped to forge us into the people we are today, ready to face all of the personal and professional challenges that lie ahead of us. He gave us strength of character. He helped us to stand strong when we just wanted to cry, helped us to face adversity, pushed us to excel and to be the best that we could be. He was not expressive about his love and pride for each of his children. In his own way he helped each of us to reach the levels in our personal and professional lives. His oldest daughter, Margie, is an office manager of a law firm and devoted mother of three children. His daughter, Joan, is a sales executive and manager of an office forms company, as well as a devoted mother of two. Kevin is a communication engineer for an international satellite company. Kurt is an electrical engineer for an electronics company serving as a specialized radar systems engineer, he is a loyal husband to Jennifer and father of one. Karl is a patent attorney for the US government. He is engaged to be married next year to Kelly. Diane is a nuclear engineer for the US government, committed wife to Christopher and mother of two.

    Kenneth Bunji Tamai loved doing and teaching the sport of judo. Throughout his life he worked to help others understand all of the wonderful aspects of the sport of judo. He believed that the aim of judo was to help develop the human character and to constantly improve oneself - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He began his judo career as a small boy in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1942 when he was 8. The dojo was a very humble place with makeshift walls. The practice area was very small. The dojo was run by his sensei, Mr. Richard Takamoto. Mr. Tamai worked very hard on basic techniques and skills. He was taught to perfect the basic skills as his foundation or building blocks for being a good judoka. Over the next nine years he achieved the rank of a junior black belt.

    He left Hawaii and went into the army from 1953 to 1955 serving as a clerk. He was decorated while serving in the Korean War. After leaving the army, he went to Milwaukee School of Engineering, a private university in Wisconsin, for a year then he transferred to Michigan Technological University, where he studied mechanical engineering specializing in aerospace engineering. He graduated in 1959. For the last two years of his schooling, he interned with the Department of Navy in Washington DC.

    After graduation in 1959, he moved to the Washington DC area, where he was employed as an aerospace engineer with the Department of Navy. He specialized in vertical propulsion systems.

    He restarted his judo career from scratch as a white belt with the newly forming Washington Judo Club. Sensei Tamai was instrumental in the development of Judo on the east coast. He helped to form one of the first yudanshakais - Shufu Yudanshakai (Capital Judo Black Belt Association). He once again focused on his foundation of basic techniques done to perfection. He earned his Sankyu in November of 1960, earned his Shodan in November of 1963, Nidan in 1967, Sandan in 1972, Yodan in 1981, Godan in 1991 and Rokudan in 2002.

    He met his wife of 42 years while they were both practicing judo at the Washington Judo Club at the Florida Avenue markets in Washington DC. They moved to Maryland just after their first daughter was born while they were expecting their second daughter. Through their love for each other six wonderful children were born and raised. All of them, including his wife Dorothy, are all various levels of black belts in judo.

    His career in judo continues to be a legacy. His commitment to the development of judo in the US is unrivaled. His service has included 25 years as tournament recorder, 25 years as a member of the Board of Examiners, 25 years as registration chairman, 25 years on the Maryland Judo Inc Promotional committee, member of the US Senior National pairing committee 6 times and numerous other posts and assignment too many to mention. He has been the coach multiple times for both the male and female teams at the national championships for both the United States Judo Federation and United States Judo Inc. He has been the delegate for Shufu at national and international events and meetings. He was on the USJF Junior Development Committee and the USJI Tournament Committee.

    He was a technical official at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles serving as the head scorekeeper for the International Judo Federation. He served as head scorekeeper for over 15 years at various tournaments including the US Senior Nationals, US Junior Nationals and the US Open. He has been on many of the subcommittees for the development of judo and the direction of the future of judo. He has been the Shufu delegate to the USJF board of governors 15 times.

    He started is own club, Hui-O-Judo, which is Hawaiian meaning "club of judo", in Berwyn Heights, Maryland in 1968 as a family dojo to teach both competitive and recreational judo to students of all ages (juniors and seniors, ages 5 and older). Sensei Tamai teaches judo for the development of the students. He trains each judoka based on the principle and morals established by Dr. Jigoro Kano in the formation of Judo. Judo’s aim is to develop character of each person and help them develop into the best person they can be.

    Hui-O-Judo developed and grew through the 1970's. The club captured its first team trophy (junior division) in 1976 at the Eastern Invitational held at the Police Academy in Washington, DC. The junior team successfully defended the team title in 1977 and 1978. A junior team comprising Karl Tamai, Robert Fetrow, Kevin Tamai, Chang Cho, and Billy Veater placed second in a five-man team competition at the Jamie Tower's Invitational in New York City in 1979.

    Hui-O-Judo outgrew the Berwyn Heights dojo in 1981, and relocated to the current dojo at the Beltsville Community Center. The new dojo permitted Hui-O-Judo to host local tournaments and Shufu Yudanshakai events. Sensei Tamai acquired new mats in 1994 to provide for the continued growth in the club. Sensei Tamai coached the Shufu Female Youth Team to a USJF national title in 1991 and a second place finish in 1997. The Shufu Male Youth Team had a strong showing in 1997 placing third. Hui-O-Judo has maintained a presence in the area through out the 1990's by capturing the senior team trophy at the Beltsville Invitational in 1993 and 1997. The club has recently achieved a Hui-O-Judo first by taking both the junior and senior team trophies at the 1999 Eastern Open. In 2000 and 2001, as we entered into the new millennium, Hui-O-Judo Beltsville became a leading judo team in the Washington Area by taking the team award championship honors at the Shufu Open Championships, Beltsville Spring Open, Eastern Open Championships, Beltsville Fall Championships, Maryland State Championships and the Virginia State Championships.

    Sensei Tamai, in cooperation with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has hosted most of the local tournaments and clinics in the DC area since 1981. Through his commitment to the judoka in the area, he hosted at least one clinic or tournament a month at the Beltsville location. He ensured that judo would be accessible to everyone by keeping the cost of tournaments and clinics very low. He helped to develop interest in the sport of judo in the area. Currently, within a 7 mile radius, there are now five large judo clubs.

    He is currently a Rokudan (6th degree black belt), recognized by the Kodokan in Japan, the United States Judo Federation (USJF) and the United States Judo Inc (USJI). He continues to be recognized and honored with awards and citations for his service and dedication to the advancement and development of the sport of judo.

    In addition to being survived by his wife, six children and 8 grandchildren, he is also survived by his oldest sister, Ito, and youngest bother, Yasu, as well as a host of other relatives.

    We can look back at his life and easily see how much he loved his judo and his family. He leaves behind a legacy. He gave so much of himself to all that he did. His happiness was found in the experiencing of the entire journey through his life rather than a goal at the end of the path. He leaves his mark not only by the life he led, but in each one of his children. He will be greatly missed but his spirit will always live on inside of us.

    On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time for all of us.

    We are setting up a memorial fund, in his honor, for the development of judo in this area. For those who are interested in donating to this fund please contact Kevin S. Tamai,

Thank you again

Kevin Tamai

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Last modified March 18, 2005