24 Facts About Naohisa Takato

Naohisa Takato became one of judo's most prominent fighters by winning the 2013 World Championships.

Naohisa Takato was one of the most searched judokas in 2015.

Naohisa Takato once was the most decorated judoka on the IJF World Tour, having notably won eleven gold medals in Grand Slam competitions.

Naohisa Takato won the bronze medal as Japan's extra-lightweight representative at the 2016 Olympics and won the gold medal in the same event at the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.

Naohisa Takato joined Nogi-machi judo club as an elementary school student, which was attended by future teammate Masashi Ebinuma.

Naohisa Takato had won in various weight divisions throughout elementary and middle school.

Naohisa Takato started attending Tokai University in 2012, and had graduated in 2016.

Naohisa Takato returned to the Grand Slam in Tokyo for his first outing after the Olympics.

Naohisa Takato faced Yanislav Gerchev of Bulgaria in his first fight, and showed his form with sode tsurikomi goshi, successfully scoring yuko and waza-ari with the skill.

Naohisa Takato then faced Korea's Choi In Hyuk in a deadlocked fight.

Naohisa Takato attempted throughout the bout to bring the fight to newaza, however was unable to break Nagayama's defense.

The upset left Naohisa Takato smiling as he congratulated Nagayama, settling for a silver medal.

Naohisa Takato opened his international competition in 2017 with the Grand Slam in Paris.

Naohisa Takato faced local Vincent Manquest in his first fight and scored waza-ari with seoi nage.

Naohisa Takato then earned ippon with kesa-gatame after bringing the fight to the ground, going through to round 3.

Naohisa Takato fired an early waza-ari with kouchi gari, and scored a second using ouchi gari.

Naohisa Takato then transitioned to newaza, pinning his opponent again with kesa gatame, showing a versatility masterclass.

The bout only lasted 40 seconds, as Naohisa Takato threw him for ippon with kouchi gari.

Naohisa Takato then went against Azerbaijan's Orkhan Safarov, who was the only fighter in the tournament to throw Takato for a score with kosoto gari.

However, with Naohisa Takato scoring two waza-aris, both using kouchi gari, and then eventually scoring ippon, he was through to the final.

Naohisa Takato won his final fight by waza-ari, again with kouchi gari, and another newaza ippon with ushiro yoko shiho gatame.

Naohisa Takato is known for having a more modern style of fighting than traditional Japanese judo, with kata guruma being one of his favorite techniques.

Naohisa Takato has competed against them a total of twenty times.

Naohisa Takato married in 2014 and has a son who was born on 25 August that year.