Four promotions to 9 dan have been announced by the FFJDA. I understand they will officially receive the red aka-obi at the Kagami Biraki in 2018. The judoka are Serge Feist, Patrick Vial, Guy Dupuis and Jean-Paul Coche.
They join the following judoka who have received 9 dan via the FFJDA: Shozo Awazu (died 2016), André Bourreau, Lionel Grossain, Maurice Gruel (died 2010), Jacques Le Berre, Haku Michigami (died 2002), Bernard Pariset (died 2004), Guy Pelletier (died 2011), Jean-Luc Rougé and David Starbrook.
They join the following judoka who have received 9 dan via the FFJDA: Shozo Awazu (died 2016), André Bourreau, Lionel Grossain, Maurice Gruel (died 2010), Jacques Le Berre, Haku Michigami (died 2002), Bernard Pariset (died 2004), Guy Pelletier (died 2011), Jean-Luc Rougé and David Starbrook.