Masaki SATO, Deaf Judo – “Life is bright even if you can’t hear” Yawara no michi (=the art of judo) that we want to pass on to the next generation

Masaki Sato
Born in Yamanashi in 1993.

After graduating from Kofu Kogyo Technical High School in Yamanashi prefecture, worked at an auto company for eight years. Now he belongs to KI Star Real Estate Co., Ltd. “KI Challenged Athlete Team”.
In 2021 he won a silver medal at the World Deaf Judo Championships. In the following year of 2024, he won Gold for the first time at 2nd World Deaf Judo Championship and stood on top of the world.
In parallel with his competitive life, he entered Seisa University (correspondence course) in 2017 with the aim of obtaining a teaching license. After 6 years of study, obtained a teaching license for middle and high school health, physical education, and special needs schools.
He is aiming to win a gold medal at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics in order to establish himself as a leader in Japanese Deaf Judo and a role model for deaf children.

 

I made a friend who can hear for the first time

―First of all, please tell me the difference between Judo and Deaf Judo, or what are the unique characteristics of Deaf Judo?

When the referee says “wait” in a game, players who are deaf can’t hear their voices, so they tap their bodies to let them know. I think that is the big difference. Other than that, it’s almost the same as judo.

――How did you start doing Judo?

I am the second son of three children, but I started judo at the age of 5 under the influence of my eldest brother. I thought the judo uniform was cool, so I stole my brother’s judo uniform. I thought the judo uniform itself was cool! When I was little, I loved Sentai Hero and Kamen Rider, and I felt like I could become a hero if I wore a judo uniform. So I took my brother’s judo uniform, and since I cried and wouldn’t give it back to her, my mother gave up. So I made the judo uniform my own, and that’s how I started judo.

――Since you started judo when you were 5 years old, please tell us about any impressive moments that remain in your memory.

When I was in the first grade of elementary school, I participated in my first big tournament and won, but the teachers and parents around me were crying. When I saw that, I thought that by showing how hard I worked, I could deliver excitement. And when I took the medals and trophies I received at that time to school and announced my victory, everyone said, “That’s amazing!” That’s when I made a friend who can hear for the first time.

――That is great.

Yes. When I was little, I only went to kindergarten one day a week, and the rest of the time I went to a school for the deaf. So I had a hard time making friends in kindergarten, so I didn’t have any friends for about six months since I went straight to elementary school. I was in such a situation, so I was very happy when I made friends for the first time after winning the Judo championship… I’m really glad I am doing Judo.

 

Stick with it, persevere, and win in the end

――Please tell us about your judo style. Do you have any special skills?

I think I have a tenacious style of judo. Attack at any rate, and use various technique. I won’t make it in my first attempt, but stick with it, persevere, and win in the end. That is my style of judo. I use various judo techniques such as seoinage and newaza.

――Today we are interviewing at Tokyo Gakugei University, but do you usually practice here?

Yes, that is right. I currently live in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture, so I can’t go there often, but I practice here about 3 or 4 times a month. I had a chance to practice here because the director of Tokyo Gakugei University’s judo club coaches deaf judo.

――What kind of practice do you usually do outside of Tokyo Gakugei University?

In Mishima City, I practice at a local high school. I practice together with the help of young students, but high school and university students have great physical strength, so I am trying my best to keep up with them. But on the other hand, it’s a good way to improve my stamina and my skills. I can really train myself.

 

Changing jobs to win in Tokyo and make dreams come true

――Now, I’d like to ask you about the world championships and so on. When did you start to become aware of the world?

Actually, I took a break from judo for a while after graduating from high school. Around that time, I was told that there was going to be an Asian Deaf Judo Games (Asia Pacific Deaf Games), so I decided to participate. This was in 2015 and was my first international tournament. But since it was my first time doing judo in 4 or 5 years, half of the time was just making memories. Still I won. At that time, rather than being happy to win, I felt that I had to work harder and I started to feel like I could do judo, so I decided to start playing judo again.

――Please tell us why you took a break from judo for a while after graduating from high school.

I did judo from the age of 5 until I graduated from high school, so I felt I was full of judo haha… I practiced to win in elementary school, middle school, and high school, so I practiced every day. That’s when I thought, “I have had enough of judo!” Besides, I had a strong feeling to play more!

――Your passion for judo was ignited by participating in your first international tournament. After that, you won a silver medal at the 2021 World Deaf Judo Championships. This was your first international tournament.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was a difficult environment to practice. I was happy to win the silver medal, but to be honest, I was disappointed because I was aiming for gold.

――What did you think of the level of Deaf Judo athletes around the world?

The level was higher than I expected. Personally, when I found out that the Deaflympics would be held in Tokyo in 2025, I decided to change jobs to change my environment in order to win in the championships. The 2021 World Championships was my first international tournament since changing jobs, and I don’t think it would have been possible to win a medal if I hadn’t changed my environment. That’s how high the level of Deaf Judo athletes were.

――It is a surprise that you changed jobs in order to win at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics!

Yes. That was a big reason, but also, when I was in high school, I had a dream of “becoming a teacher at a school for the deaf”. But I didn’t have the money to go to university, so I gave up on that dream. However, I thought I should never give up on my dreams, so I enrolled in a correspondence course at Seisa University to obtain my teaching license. Because of that situation, I was determined to change my environment someday in order to make my dreams come true.

 

Spreading sign language through the power of sports

――You also participated in the last Deaflympics held in Brazil in 2022. You ended up finishing in 5th place, but was this a disappointing result?

Yes. It was really frustrating. I think that the fact that I had won second place at the world championships before led to my carelessness. It made me realize once again how difficult it is to win at the Deaflympics.

――Next year’s Tokyo Games will reflect that regret, but what do you think about the significance of holding the Deaflympics in Tokyo now?

I believe that sign language will be the main language at the Deaflympics. In order to spread sign language in society, we need the Deaflympics. In other words, I think we can spread sign language through sports. That’s why I think it’s of great significance that the Deaflympics will be held in Tokyo to make the existence of the Deaflympics known throughout Japan.

――What kind of stage do you think the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics will be in your competitive career or life itself?

I think if I can win a gold medal at the Deaflympics, I will go down in history. So, I’m working hard on training for the next year so that I can leave my name as a gold medalist. Although I was able to win the World Championship in April, there were still many issues to be solved. I am currently working on various issues to resolve them one by one.

 

I’m looking forward to the “heart-to-heart exchange” with athletes from other countries.

――As you have just said, you won the gold medal in the men’s 66kg class at the 2nd World Deaf Judo Championships held in Kazakhstan in April of this year. Please tell us how you felt being number one in the world for the first time.

After the disappointing result of 2nd place in the last tournament, I reviewed and changed a lot of my actions and lifestyle habits, and my efforts finally paid off. I would be happy if by winning the championship, I could show myself as a deaf senior that deaf children look up to and think they’re cool. I think I was able to express to the parents of deaf children that “life is bright even if you can’t hear”.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Japan Judo Association for the Deaf, who have worked hard to dispatch athletes and hold training camps in preparation for this tournament, and to the All Japan Judo Federation, which has been supporting Deaf Judo.

――I think there are many people who want to see more of your success. What kind of performance do you want to show at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics?

First of all, “bow” firmly. And “respect” the other person. I want to spread the word about the wonders of judo. Although there are a limited number of people and children who cannot hear, there are many types of sports, so I would like to promote the wonders of judo so that at least some of them will choose judo. I would be happy if Deaf Judo would develop further as a result.

――Is there anything else you are looking forward to at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics other than the match?

I am looking forward to interact with various deaf athletes. The last Caxias do Sul tournament had movement restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, so even though I really wanted to interact with everyone, that didn’t happen. So for the Deaflympics next year I want to communicate a lot with athletes from other sports and other countries. I am currently trying my best to learn international sign language, but I think it will be quite difficult to learn it unless I actually meet and communicate with players from overseas. Even so, I believe that we can have “heart-to-heart conversations,” so I’m looking forward to that.

 

Newlyweds aim for gold medal together with wife

――Please tell us your personal side from here. How do you spend your days when you don’t have practice?

As for me, I recently got married, so I often travel with my wife.

――Actually, I really wanted to ask you about your marriage, haha. You just announced your marriage on SNS on May 13th of this year. How is your married life?

My wife understands me very well, and has learned sign language. She has recently started judo.

――Wow!? That is amazing!

It’s only her third time since she started learning, but I think she will improve if she tries hard. My wife is working hard with the goal of getting a black belt, so I’m working with her to support her and improve my skills.

――Wow, she is a wonderful wife. I am so jealous. What kind of person is your wife?

She is really bright and unnecessarily positive! Haha. Also, when I was single, I often looked irritable due to losing weight before competitions, but now I don’t feel irritable anymore because my wife makes me feel relaxed. So when I went to the World Championships in April, I realized once again how important my wife was to me.

――You married with a really wonderful person. That means the two of you are on a trip together for the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.

Yes that’s right. We’ve never had any fights since we started dating, and she’s a really calm and kind person. My wife is a good cook, but she’s not very good at organizing things. On the other hand, I like to be organized, so I think we complement each other’s strengths.

 

I love pancakes!

――It’s a really good relationship. So, do you have any hobbies that you have been into recently?

Well, let’s see… I guess it’s about being with my wife. Going out somewhere together has now become a hobby. For example, even if something bad happens somewhere, we can still laugh together. So I have fun wherever I go with my wife, and I think we can go anywhere.

――I have heard that you love pancakes. What is so good about pancakes?

The best thing about it is that it fills you up. I can’t get enough of other sweets. Judo consumes a lot of energy, so I want to eat a lot of sweets, but I can’t eat enough ice cream or pudding. But pancakes will fill you up. Now I eat it about once every two weeks.

――Are there any shops you recommend?

There is a store in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture called “TAMAGOYA, an egg specialty shop”, and it’s delicious. As the name suggests, it’s a shop specializing in egg dishes, but it seems like they produce their own specialty eggs, and the pancakes made with those eggs are really delicious.

 

Inspired athlete

――Now, let’s change the topic completely. You are currently a member of the KI Challenged Athlete Team. Do you often get inspired by the team members?

Well, the Deaf Futsal World Cup was held in Brazil before the World Championships in April,, and the members of the Japanese team became the best in the world. That was a huge inspiration for me.

――Who do you think is the most interesting player on the “KI Challenged Athlete Team”?

In addition to myself, there are eight other para-deaf athletes on the team, and they are all truly attractive and respectable people. Among them, the most interesting player is Noriyuki Mori, who plays both wheelchair basketball and badminton. Mr. Mori was a TV commentator on wheelchair basketball during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, so he is very good at speaking. Although he is already over 50 years old, I think he is a cool guy with the attitude of wanting to continue working as an active athlete for the rest of his life.

 

“Not being able to hear is also part of your personality.”

――So, who are the people that have made the biggest impact on you, and not just athletes?

It would be my high school homeroom teacher. When I was in junior high school, I couldn’t accept that I was deaf and took a rebellious attitude. Also, there is something that my homeroom teacher, whom I met when I entered high school, told me. That is, “some people are fast and some people are slow. Not being able to hear is also part of your personality”. With those words, I was able to let go of what had been bothering me.

――That is a good word. Speaking of school teachers, you mentioned earlier that you also attended a University Correspondence School in order to obtain a teaching license. Are you thinking of teaching in the future?

Last year, I had two opportunities to go to teaching practice, the first being at a junior high school and the second being at a school for the deaf. At my first school, I had to practice teaching surrounded by people who could hear, so it was difficult, but the teachers and students helped me and even learned sign language. As a result, I received the following words from them:” The atmosphere of the school has changed significantly”. By being at the school, I gained an awareness of the relationship with deaf people. I felt like I was able to show the significance of my existence.

At my second school for the deaf, I think I was able to show a role model as a deaf senior. Even if a hearing teacher tell something important to deaf students, it may not resonate with them, but it touches their hearts when I tell them. What people who can hear say and what I, who is in the same position as them, the way they take it is completely different. I believe that I have a mission to provide role models to parents so that they can feel secure about their future.

However, there are many other things I want to do besides being a teacher. I want to spread deaf judo. I also want to share my experiences with as many people as possible, and I want to spread sign language to people who can hear. I also want to create people who understand deaf people… Sometimes I worry about which path I want to take the most and what I can do. This is a happy dilemma to have. As I continue to gain various experiences, I am thinking about what I would most like to do in the future. I would like to spend each day thinking about this with my wife, who is with me, and the people around me.

Gold medal declaration: “Please wave at the venue.”

――What do you want to convey to the next generation of children?

I believe that judo is a sport that everyone can enjoy equally. Once we team up, everyone is equal. Even people with visual impairments or intellectual disabilities can do judo just like anyone else once they get together. I also want to convey the wonders of judo that can educate people.
However, how can we convey to people that “judo is fun”? This is something that judo teachers are also worried about. There is always a huge difference between those with judo experience, so those with no experience tend to think, “I can’t do it, I can’t do it.” My wife recently started judo, and that’s something that is bothering me now. So, what can we do to make judo fun for everyone? I would like to think about this together with everyone and share it with you.

――Maybe your wife’s opinions and ideas will give you some hints in that regard. Finally, do you have a message for our readers who are looking forward to the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics?

First of all, please watch the Deaflympics. I’m planning on winning and getting the gold medal, so if you’re watching me win at the venue, please give me a wave. I look forward to seeing you at the venue!

Instagram：masaki.sato.3139

《KI Challenged Athlete Team》
Web：https://www.athlete.ki-group.co.jp/
Instagram：ki_athlete

text by Atsuhiro Morinaga
photographs by Uta Mukuo