Hashimoto first encountered the yo-yo when he was in fifth grade. He started yo-yoing because of the so-called third yo-yo boom, but he was one of the poorer players among his friends. Nevertheless, he continued to practice, and as a result, he ended up becoming a more skilled player than his peers. “I had an inferiority complex because I wasn't good at sports, but yo-yoing was the first thing that I was able to do with confidence. It is no exaggeration to say that this experience changed my life,” says Hashimoto reflecting on his encounter with the yo-yo.

Hashimoto’s passion for the yo-yo continues unabated. He was inspired to compete after he happened to see a video of a world yo-yo championship. “I was amazed by the way the players performed a series of high-level tricks that I had never seen before, all in perfect time with the music. I remember clearly how excited I was. I wanted to try it!” explains Hashimoto. Not long after, Hashimoto purchased a competition grade yo-yo and decided to absorb everything he could about the yo-yo world in order to hone his skills. He watched every yo-yo video he could get his hands on, and he poured himself into mastering the tricks.

When Hashimoto found out the World Yo-Yo Contest 2015 would be held in Japan, he decided to throw his hat in the ring. He wanted to fully enjoy this global competition to the fullest, so he applied for both the 1A Division, which is what he had been practicing, and the 4A Division, which was his hobby. In the end, he lost in the 1A Division qualifying round, but was able to advance to the 4A Division semi-finals. After this, he was contacted by the yo-yo manufacturer Japan Technology with a sponsorship offer. Seeing his potential for improvement in Division 4A, they asked him to join their team. Hashimoto was taken aback by the sudden offer, but he decided to switch to Division 4A without hesitation. It was the first step to becoming a professional yo-yo player.

Not long after this, Hashimoto made his mark. The following year, he won Division 4A for the first time at the Japan Open Yoyo Champion Ship 2016, and he placed fourth in the same division at the World Yo-Yo Contest 2018. “I just happened to give a good performance as a result of my hard work," says Hashimoto modestly, "but the judges recognized my ability.”

Underpinning this breakthrough performance was an insatiable desire to improve and his singular dedication. “I get inspiration for my tricks by watching figure skating videos, movies, cartoons, and other kinds of creative works. If you only focus on yo-yoing, before you realize it, you can no longer think flexibly. Learning from different fields has definitely helped me to expand my expressiveness and technique," explains Hashimoto.

In 2019, Hashimoto was poised to make great strides based on his track record to date. Unfortunately, however, he suffered an unexpected loss in the semi-finals of the Japan National Yo-Yo Contest in May. Attempting to the turn the page, he went to the World Yo-Yo Contest 2019, but after making a series of mistakes, he ended up finishing fourth. “I missed third place by just 0.1 points. This made me keenly aware that I would not be able to move up in the ranks unless I not only improved the difficulty and success rate of my techniques, but also overcame the mental hurdles," said Hashimoto. Driven by his frustration, he thoroughly reviewed his tricks to see where he was lacking, and he trained hard to ensure he could perform when it counted most.

Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, he decided to take on a new challenge. He applied for both Division 1A and 4A in an attempt to become a two-division yo-yo player. This decision was met with a great deal of negativity from those around him. “I was only good enough in 1A to maybe make it to the finals, so people would often tell me I should focus on 4A instead of 1A.” But Hashimoto stuck to his guns. “A lot of tricks in 4A come from 1A, so I was certain that improving my skills in 1A would help me improve my yo-yoing," explains Hashimoto. Hashimoto’s steady efforts gradually led to results. He moved up the ranks in 1A every year in the Japan National Yo-Yo Contest, and in the 2022 competition, he was able to place fourth in 4A and 11th in 1A.

Then came the Japan National Yo-Yo Contest 2023. Although he made a mistake and dropped his yo-yo due to the pressure of the fierce competition, he didn't lose his concentration and perfectly performed his final trick to take second place in Division 4A. Next, he performed in Division 1A, where he placed fifth, marking the first time in his career that he earned prize-winning placements in two different divisions. Although he regretted what he called “a really terrible performance” in 4A, Hashimoto cracked a smile when talking about placing in two divisions. “I feel that I have finally shown that I am able to compete in 1A. There were times when I was unsure of the choice I made, but I am glad I believed in myself and kept trying," said a delighted Hashimoto. Undeterred by the voices of those around him, he has clearly demonstrated his potential through his exceptional efforts.

At the World Yo-Yo Contest 2023 held this past August, Hashimoto took third place in the 4A Division, his highest ever finish. Having declared that he could get on the podium if he could perform what he practiced, he accomplished what he said he would do.

Hashimoto says one thing he says he is determined to accomplish in his competitive career is to establish his own practice method. “I want to establish a more efficient practice method for people who want to get better. When I started yo-yoing, I didn't know how to improve, and I forced myself to practice more and more, but because of this, many things were hindered. I would be happy if I could contribute to the advancement of yo-yo culture by using my experiences from that time to create a practice method that would be helpful to beginners," says Hashimoto. Hashimoto, who has enjoyed yo-yoing more than anyone else, has continued to take on challenges. We look forward to the day when he becomes a leading figure in the yo-yo world who will train many new young players.