Hisao Sawada

Hisashi Sawada (1902 – August 30, 2001) was a Japanese diplomat. Information regarding his life is as follows.

Hisashi Sawada was born as the second son to Rentaro Sawada and Miki Sawada. He was born in 1924 and grew up in a family residing in Kyoto Prefecture. While attending Kyoto Imperial University (now Kyoto University), he was conscripted into the Navy and obtained a commissioned officer qualification. During World War II, he joined a Special Attack Unit but was discharged before deployment due to the war ending two weeks prior.

After the war, he resumed his studies and graduated from Kyoto University in January 1947. In the same year, he founded the Kyoto University American Football Club "Kyoto University Gangsters" and served as its first captain. His position was center. In the early days of the club, he received support such as being loaned a uniform by Shozo Ito, the captain of Doshisha University's Wild Rovers. Additionally, he organized dance parties and used the proceeds to cover costs for uniforms and protective gear. Having spent part of his childhood abroad and being proficient in languages, he personally negotiated with American John Pinkerman, who was working in the occupation forces’ Kyoto Military Government Department, and invited him as the first coach.

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University in 1949, he worked at Nippon Yusen (NYK Line) and Kodak. Subsequently, he served as a director at the Austrian Trade Representation in Japan and as an advisor to Mitsubishi Materials. In 1991, he was awarded the Great Decoration of Honor by Austria in recognition of his contributions to Austria’s economy.

Regarding his lineage, his maternal great-grandfather was Yataro Iwasaki, and his grandfather was Hisaya Iwasaki. His father was Rentaro Sawada and his mother was Miki Sawada. His older brother was Shinichi Sawada, who served as the fourth deputy chairman of the Elizabeth Saunders Home. His maternal ancestors trace back to the Iwasaki family line.

In his personal life, his first wife was Fumiko Kimura, and his daughter Akiko Kimura is a freelance announcer. His second wife was Sachiko Yasuda, with singer Saori Yuki as his sister-in-law.

Additionally, the actor Masatoshi Nakamura portrayed Hisashi Sawada in the television drama "The Birth Secret of the Kyoto University American Football Team: Tears Don't Suit You" (1988, Asahi Broadcasting Television).

Among his references are "Kuroi Hada to Shiroi Kokoro: Sanders Home e no Michi" (Soki-sha, first edition published April 20, 1991) and the January 30, 2016 issue of Weekly Diamond, which features a special on "Mitsubishi's Strongest Legend."

He passed away on August 30, 2001.