Fukuda held the rank of 9th "dan", the second-highest in judo, from two organizations, and in July 2011 received the rank of 10th "dan" from a third organization. In 1994, she was the first woman to be awarded a rare red belt (at the time for women still marking the 8th "dan" rank) in judo by the Kodokan. In 2001 the USJF promoted her to USJF 9th dan (red belt) for her lifelong contribution to the art of judo. On January 8, 2006, at its annual New Year's "Kagami Biraki" celebration, the Kodokan promoted Fukuda to the rank of 9th "dan"—the first time it had awarded this rank to a woman. On July 28, 2011, the promotion board of USA Judo awarded Fukuda the rank of 10th "dan", an action which was followed by the USJF's promotion board on September 10, 2011.