2016 Rio Olympics – Judo – Men -90 kg Mashu Baker (JPN) of Japan poses with his medal.
Nikkan Sports News reported that Mashu Baker, gold medalist in the -90kg weight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics graduated from Tokai University (Kanagawa Prefecture) today and will continue his judo career on the trade team, Japan Racing association (JRA). JRA is the trade team of Rio Olympic teammate Hisayoshi Harasawa as well as Canadian olympian, Kyle Reyes, and former national team member Kaihan Takagi. The team is one of the best in Japan with a roster full of elite athletes. Baker stated to the press that he is set to become a “wandering judoka” as the company does not have a main dojo. He plans to train at various dojos, including his former university. He will live in the same dormitory as Harasawa and plans to train together at various locations.
Though he is the favorite to win next week’s All-Japan Weight Class Selection Championships (April 1・2), he suffered a pulled muscle in his left leg in February. He has said himself that compared to last summer’s olympic games that he is not in good condition but wants very much to qualify for an opportunity to win a world title, which he still does not have (roughly translated).
JRA’s judo team is one of the most decorated trade teams in Japan’s judo history. 2000 Sydney Olympic champion Makoto Takimoto and 4-time world champion, Naoya Ogawa both competed for this club. However, the training and work schedule is quite intense. According to the website of Token Corporation (All-Japan Judo Federation sponsor), athletes are all required to live in a dorm, begin training at 6:30am for about an hour before heading to the main office in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, where they work from 9:30am, to 3:00pm. After that, they train at various clubs around Tokyo. While judo has made great progress to establish itself as a commercial sport, the life of an elite Japanese judoka is still a far cry from more popular sports such as basketball and baseball.
Hopefully, this transition will prove to be a good fit for Baker in his run-up to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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