Shiro Saigo

Saigō Shirō
BornFebruary 4, 1866
Aizu Wakamatsu, Japan
DiedDecember 22, 1922(1922-12-22) (aged 56)
Native name西郷四郎
NationalityJapanese
StyleJudo, Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
Teacher(s)Saigō Tanomo Kanō Jigorō
RankJudo: 6th Dan

Shiro Saigo (西郷四郎, Saigō Shirō, February 4, 1866 December 22, 1922) was one of the earliest disciples of Judo. Saigo, together with Tsunejiro Tomita, became first in history of judo to be awarded Shodan by the founder of judo Jigoro Kano, who established the kyu-dan ranking system. He was one of the Kōdōkan Shitennō or Four Guardians of the Kodokan along with Yoshitsugu Yamashita, Sakujiro Yokoyama, and Tsunejiro Tomita.