National & International Roundtable

Yoshihiro Uchida arrived on San Jose State College’s campus fresh off his parents’ strawberry and lettuce farm during the fall of 1940.  As a student assistant to Emilio “Mel” Bruno, who coached the SJSC Police School Cadets in judo, Uchida would begin his whirlwind courtship with the martial art form.  Bruno’s departure from SJSC to the California Department of Corrections later that semester provided a key opportunity upon which Uchida, who will be 96 on April 1, would pounce.  With Bruno’s departure, Uchida was given an opportunity to coach the Spartan cadets. But upon America’s entrance into World War II, Uchida joined the Army. There he and his Japanese peers—just as Black Americans—served in segregated units.  Initially, his unit served KP (Kitchen Patrol) duty, and cleaned military bases throughout the Midwest.  But once a superior officer spotted Uchida’s impressive academic record, he was transferred to a military hospital.  There, he worked in the lab, and was provided tutoring by military doctors.