Takato steps away from the tatami after a decade of domination

Naohisa Takato has called time on his competitive judo career at the age of 32, closing one of the most impressive runs the -60kg category has ever seen. The Japanese star confirmed his decision at a press conference in Tokyo, turning the page on more than a decade at the very top.

His defining moment came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he struck gold on home soil in the men’s -60kg division. That triumph followed his Olympic bronze from Rio 2016, proving that he could deliver under extreme pressure on the biggest stage. With those two medals, he became one of the key faces of lightweight judo in recent Olympic history.

From cadet prodigy to Olympic champion, Takato shaped a generation of -60kg judo.

On the World Championships stage, Takato built a legacy that will be hard to match. He captured his first world title in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 while still a 20-year-old student at Tokai University. Further golds in Budapest 2017, Baku 2018 and Tashkent 2022 took him to four world titles, equalling the Japanese men’s record.

He was also a constant force on the IJF World Tour. European events in particular became a happy hunting ground, with four Grand Slam victories in Paris and another gold at the Grand Slam in Düsseldorf. Added to wins in Tokyo, Moscow and at the IJF Masters, his medal collection reflects an athlete who could perform anywhere, against anyone.

Takato’s potential was clear from the beginning. In 2009 he became the first male judoka ever to win the World Cadet Championships, and two years later he claimed the World Junior title in Cape Town. Over the years he built fierce rivalries in the lightweight division, including strong winning records against Kim Won Jin of South Korea and Yeldos Smetov of Kazakhstan.

His final appearance came at the Kodokan Cup All-Japan Weight Category Championships last November, after missing out on selection for Paris 2024 and leaving the national elite training programme. Takato will now move into coaching with his long-time club Park24, guiding the men’s team and passing on the experience that made him one of the most influential -60kg judoka of his era.

Source: JudoInside