Hana Sekine is the daughter of Gunji Koizumi, founder of the Budokwai in London and also inaugural President of the British Judo Association. Born on 29th July 1920, she turned 100 today.
Hana and her husband Percy Sekine, student of Koizumi Sensei, established and ran the London Judokan from 1954 to 2004 and as Hana was a nurse it follows that she saw to her fair share of judo-related first aid.
We wish Hana a joyous birthday celebration and thank her for her services to judo.
Hana Sekine with a painting of her father, Gunji Koizumi, on display at the Budokwai in London. Photo courtesy of David Finch