Soichi Hashimoto is a colorful figure in the judo world, aiming to win every contest by ippon.
Soichi Hashimoto is a colorful figure in the judo world, aiming to win every contest by ippon.
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Hashimoto was crowned world champion back in August after beating Azerbaijan's Rustam Orujov in the final.
Hashimoto was crowned world champion back in August after beating Azerbaijan's Rustam Orujov in the final.
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It means the Japanese judoka is now ranked No. 1 in the -73kg division and the third best pound-for-pound judoka on the planet.
It means the Japanese judoka is now ranked No. 1 in the -73kg division and the third best pound-for-pound judoka on the planet.
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He suffered the heartache of missing out on a place in the Japanese team for the Rio Olympics to Shohei Ono, who won gold.
He suffered the heartache of missing out on a place in the Japanese team for the Rio Olympics to Shohei Ono, who won gold.
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But with Ono taking a year out to study, Hashimoto bounced back from his disappointment to be crowned world champion for the first time in Budapest.
But with Ono taking a year out to study, Hashimoto bounced back from his disappointment to be crowned world champion for the first time in Budapest.
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Here he stands (second from left) with, from left, silver medalist Rustam Orujov, South-Korean Changrim An and Mongolia's Odbayar Ganbaatar, who both won bronze.
Here he stands (second from left) with, from left, silver medalist Rustam Orujov, South-Korean Changrim An and Mongolia's Odbayar Ganbaatar, who both won bronze.
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He is renowned for what he calls "the Hashimoto special" flicking opponents to the ground from his hip.
He is renowned for what he calls "the Hashimoto special" flicking opponents to the ground from his hip.
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His sights are now set on being the dominant force in his division at the next Olympics in his home town of Tokyo.
His sights are now set on being the dominant force in his division at the next Olympics in his home town of Tokyo.
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