Julie Koyama Oral History Interview

In the interview, Julie Koyama describes her childhood and the large influence her father’s career as a Marine had on both her and her sister. Because of his military appointment, Julie’s family would often follow her father wherever he was stationed, including Japan, where he began to practice the martial art of judo. When the family returned to the U.S., Julie’s father enrolled his two daughters in a judo class at a local dojo, since he believed that every little girl should be able to defend herself. Beginning at the age of seven, Koyama developed a passion for judo, though her progression was cut short at the age of 14, when she was made to quit from competing for lack of a women’s division.

The discussion then moves on to Koyama’s undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon. Julie’s mother, who was a judge in based Eastern Oregon, wanted Koyama to pursue a career in law, but Julie instead chose to pursue Marine Biology and then Biochemistry. Koyama was first exposed to careers in medicine through her time as a teen working at her uncle’s office, who was a surgeon, and after graduating from the UO, she was accepted into medical school at Oregon Health and Science University. Prior to enrolling though, she broke her leg in an accident, and after talking to an admissions advisor at the medical school, she was told that she would have to go through the whole application process again since she couldn’t attend that year because of her injury. Koyama mentions that her spot was taken because medical schools commonly had a set number of women students who were accepted annually. She recounts that the advisor had a very dismissive attitude and when he told her that she had lost her spot, Koyama decided not to reapply for the upcoming year.

From there, Koyama notes that she first used her degree to become a chemistry teacher but did not enjoy it largely because of her students’ parents. After leaving that position, her aunt suggested working as a nurse since she herself was one. This seemed like a good opportunity, so Koyama went back to school and eventually pursued a career as a nurse in emergency medicine. After retiring in Newport, Oregon with her husband, she began volunteering with the Judo Club at OSU since it was the nearest dojo. Over time she became the club’s coach, and later was hired as an instructor to teach judo classes along with a class on self-defense.