(The following interview appears courtesy of the 2015 World YoYo Contest)
Q1. When did you start playing yo-yo?
When I was in 1st Grade in Elementary School!
Q2. Why did you start playing yo-yo?
Because of the 2003 Hyper Yo-Yo [promotion]!
Q3. Who are some of the yo-yo players you respect/admire/look up to?
There are players I admire but I’ll leave it without saying who.
Q4. What made you choose 5A as your main style?
I was shocked to realize “There’s such a division in yo-yoing!” and it seemed interesting!
Q5. Last year you were also the runner-up in the WYYC 1A Division. Other than 5A and 1A, do you plan to enter any other divisions in the future?
I haven’t really decided, but if I start to feel like I want to enter [a division] I will!
Q6. How do you usually practice (where, who with, etc.)?
Usually I don’t play yo-yo in a “practicing” sense. I just kind of do what I want to do at that moment.
Q7. How does that change when you are preparing for different types of contests?
Before contests I rent a room in the community center and practice in a wide-open space.
Q8. Do you have any good stories from before you became a world champion that you want to share with us?
Do you have any good stories from before you became a world champion that you want to share with us?
None in particular.
Q9. How did you feel when you became a world champion?
I was happy!
Q10. Is there anything that changed for you after becoming a world champion?
I received the Global Award from my home prefecture, Saitama, and became a Saitama Goodwill Ambassador!
Q11. How do you feel going into this year’s World Yo-Yo Contest?
This year I plan to make a great effort in not only 5A, but also 1A. I want to do freestyles I can personally feel satisfied with and I aim to win, so please cheer for me!
Q12. What is yo-yo to you?
[Yo-Yo is] Something that continues to broaden my world!
Many thanks to Takeshi Matsuura! We wish him the best of luck at the 2015 World YoYo Contest.
He’s going to win 5A again, isn’t he?