Senior Daniel Oshima’s national championship in the 73 kg division last month gave the Oshima family and Harvard back-to-back national titles in judo.
The Mannings have football. The Molinas have baseball.
For the Oshimas, judo is the family business.
Last year, Michael Oshima ’09 won the NCJA Collegiate National Championship in the Senior Men’s 90 kg category. His younger brother, Daniel Oshima, then a junior, took second place in the Senior Men’s 73 kg.
Earlier last month, Daniel earned victory in the same weight division, giving Harvard—and the Oshima family—back-to-back national championships.
“For me, it’s great to be able to repeat from what my brother did last year,” Daniel said.
He also won the Outstanding Male Competitor honor at the tournament, and single-handedly led Harvard to a third-place finish in the Senior Men final team standings.
“The coolest moment was when the Harvard men’s team overall took third place,” Daniel commented. “Harvard is the third best college team in the nation right now, but we only had two competitors … Other colleges will bring as many as 20 or 30 people.”
But the Oshima legacy extends beyond its two consecutive national collegiate titles.
Michael started the mixed martial arts and self-defense clubs here on campus, giving students an opportunity to practice judo. They trained at the same Somerville gym that they have since their childhood.
And their father is their coach.
“I’ve been coaching them since they were eight years old, so I have that role completely separate in my life,” said Harold Oshima, who runs the nearby gym. “I’m just a coach. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m a father too.”
Given the closeness in age and clear overlap in athletic interest, Michael and Daniel have trained together for most of their judo careers.
And like any siblings together in sports, they cannot help but compete with one another.
“They’re very competitive,” Harold said. “Fortunately, we were always able to keep them in separate weight groups, and they never had to compete directly against each other, but they are extremely competitive.”
The coach briefly paused.
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