1. Overview
Takuto Otoguro is a distinguished Japanese freestyle wrestler who competes in the 65 kg weight class. He is an Olympic gold medalist, having triumphed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Otoguro also holds a World Championship title from 2018 and is a two-time Asian Continental Champion. He made history as the youngest Japanese male wrestler to win a world title at 19 years old.
2. Early Life and Background
Takuto Otoguro's formative years were deeply influenced by his family and an early introduction to wrestling, which set the foundation for his remarkable career.
2.1. Birth and Family
Takuto Otoguro was born on December 13, 1998, in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. His older brother, Keisuke Otoguro, is also a world-class wrestler and has competed alongside Takuto. Their father played a significant role in introducing them to the sport and providing early training.
2.2. Childhood and Entry into Wrestling
Otoguro began wrestling at a very young age, following in his brother's footsteps due to their father's influence. He trained extensively at the Yamanashi Junior Wrestling Club and continued his practice late into the night at a makeshift dojo at home under his father's guidance. From the age of five, he also started training at the Yamanashi Gakuin University wrestling club. During his time with the Tokyo GOLDKID Wrestling Club, he secured three national championships in youth wrestling and achieved success in various local tournaments, building a strong foundation for his future career.
2.3. Junior Career
Otoguro's junior career was marked by consistent success and rapid development. After moving to Tokyo and enrolling at Kitaku Inatsuke Junior High School, he joined the JOC Elite Academy, following his brother. During his junior high school years, he won the National Junior High School Selection Championship in the 47 kg class twice consecutively. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2013 Cadet World Championships in the 46 kg category. From his third year of junior high, he won the Cadet division of the Junior Olympics three times in a row.
While attending Teikyo High School, Otoguro achieved remarkable feats, including winning three different weight classes (50 kg, 55 kg, 60 kg) at the Inter-High School Championships and securing two consecutive victories at the National High School Selection Tournament. In his second year of high school, he became the Cadet World Champion in the 54 kg class. By his third year, he had also won the Junior division of the Junior Olympics.
3. Senior Career
Takuto Otoguro's senior career saw him rise to prominence, culminating in Olympic gold and World Championship titles, marked by both triumphs and challenges.
3.1. Early Senior Career and National Debut
Otoguro transitioned to senior-level competition in April 2018, making his debut at the World Cup. There, he notably secured victories against the 2016 World Champion and four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber of the United States, and India's 2017 Junior Asian Champion Sharvan. Following this, he comfortably won the All-Japan Invitational Championships with a flawless 6-0 victory in the finals against 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei Higuchi, which qualified him for the Japan World Team Trials. At the trials, he faced Daichi Takatani, the 2018 Asian Championship runner-up, whom he defeated by technical fall in under two minutes to secure his spot on the national team.
3.2. 2018: World Championship and Breakthrough
The year 2018 marked Otoguro's significant breakthrough. At the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, he advanced to the semifinals with three technical falls, including one over the seasoned veteran Vasyl Shuptar. In the semifinals, he engaged in a high-scoring 25-point match against Russian National champion Akhmed Chakaev, ultimately edging him out 15-10 to reach the finals. In the championship match, he faced Bajrang Punia, the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist, in another 25-point contest, defeating him 16-9 to claim the World Championship at 65 kilograms. This victory made Otoguro the youngest Japanese male wrestler to ever win a world title, achieving the feat at 19 years and 10 months old, surpassing the record held by his university coach, Yuji Takada. Following his world title, Otoguro quickly became Japan's National Champion, defeating Rei Higuchi and Daichi Takatani (by technical fall), and was named the "Outstanding Wrestler" of the tournament. His exceptional performance throughout 2018 earned him recognition as one of the "Breakout Performers of the Year" by United World Wrestling, and his match against Punia was named the "Match of the Year."
3.3. 2019: World Championships and Challenges
The year 2019 presented challenges for Otoguro. He was unable to compete at the Asian Championships or the World Cup due to a knee injury, only resuming practice a month before the All-Japan Invitational Championships. At this tournament, his limited preparation seemed to affect his performance, as he suffered his first senior-level career loss (excluding forfeits) by technical fall to Rei Higuchi. As the reigning 2018 Japan National Champion, Otoguro had a rematch against Higuchi at the World Team Trials, where he successfully defeated him to earn his spot for the World Championships.
At the World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, the defending champion advanced through the first round with a 6-0 score. However, he was decisively defeated 1-8 by two-time World Championship runner-up and eventual champion Gadzhimurad Rashidov in the third round. As Rashidov continued to advance, Otoguro entered the repechage bracket. There, he engaged in a high-scoring 20-point battle against three-time World and European Champion Haji Aliyev, whom he edged 11-9, and secured a 6-1 victory over Haji Mohamad Ali to reach the bronze-medal match. In the bronze-medal contest, he was defeated by 2018 Russian National runner-up Ismail Musukaev, ultimately placing fifth. In December, Otoguro secured his second Japan National Championship title and qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics by defeating 2017 U23 World Champion Rinya Nakamura in the finals.
3.4. 2020: Asian Championship
Otoguro made a strong return to competition in February 2020, claiming the Asian Continental Championship. He achieved notable and dominant victories, including a 10-3 win over 2019 World Championship runner-up and three-time Asian Champion Daulet Niyazbekov, and a decisive 10-2 victory against his rival Bajrang Punia in a rematch. Otoguro was initially scheduled to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in August, but the Games were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3.5. 2021: Olympic Gold Medal
After a full year without competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Otoguro returned to the mat at the 2021 Asian Championships in April. He dominated his way to the finals, securing a technical fall victory over 2019 Junior Asian Continental runner-up Nodir Rakhimov and defeating Morteza Ghiasi. In the final, he was set to face his rival Bajrang Punia, but Punia withdrew from the match due to an elbow injury, resulting in Otoguro claiming his second gold medal from the Asian Continental Championships.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, an unseeded Otoguro began his campaign against former U23 Asian Champion Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga of Mongolia, whom he defeated 6-3. In the quarter-finals, Otoguro faced Ismail Musukaev, who had defeated him for a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships. Otoguro exacted revenge, defeating Musukaev 4-1 and advancing to the semi-final. There, he met another former 2019 opponent, Gadzhimurad Rashidov, the 2019 World Champion. After a competitive six minutes, Otoguro again gained revenge, defeating Rashidov 3-2, securing his place in the final. The gold medal match pitted him against Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev, another opponent from the 2019 World Championships who was also a former Olympic bronze medalist and three-time World Champion. In a closely contested final, Otoguro defeated Aliyev 5-4, earning his first-ever Olympic medal and taking the top spot on the podium.
3.6. Post-Olympic Competitions
Following his Olympic victory, Otoguro continued to compete at the national level. He made his return to competition at the 2022 All-Japan Championships in December, where he secured a victory. In June 2023, he won the All-Japan Invitational Championships despite sustaining an injury to his right instep in the semifinals. At the World Championships in September 2023, he was defeated in the third round and subsequently withdrew from the repechage due to his injury, finishing in seventh place and missing the opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at that event. In the December 2023 All-Japan Championships, he faced Kotaro Kiyooka in the final. Otoguro appeared to secure a last-second victory with two points, but Kiyooka's challenge led to the points being overturned, resulting in Otoguro's loss by a 6-6 criteria decision and a second-place finish. This controversial decision meant he did not qualify for the Paris Olympics, prompting a strong protest from Otoguro, though the decision stood.
4. Competition Record
Takuto Otoguro's career match results and statistical achievements across various national and international wrestling championships are detailed below.
| Senior freestyle matches | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
| 2023 Japan Nationals 5th at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
 Toshihiro Hasegawa | FF | December 21-24, 2023 | 2023 Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 46-5 | Kotaro Kiyooka | 6-6 | ||||
| 46-4 | Kaiji Ogino | 8-2 | ||||
| 45-4 | Takurō Matsubara | TF 11-0 | ||||
| 2023 World Championships DNP at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
 Adil Ospanov | FF | September 19, 2023 | 2023 World Championships |  Belgrade, Serbia | ||
| 44-4 |  Ismail Musukaev | Fall | ||||
| 44-3 |  Erik Arushanian | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 43-3 |  | 9-2 | ||||
| 2023 Japan Nationals - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 42-3 | Ryoma Anraku | 9-0 | June 15-18, 2023 | 2023 Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 41-3 | Kaiki Yamaguchi | 3-2 | ||||
| 40-3 | Kaiji Ogino | 2-0 | ||||
| 2022 Japan Nationals - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 39-3 | Ryoma Anraku | 4-0 | December 22-25, 2022 | 2022 Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 38-3 | Kaiji Ogino | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 37-3 | Kenho Uto | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 2020 Summer Olympics - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 36-3 |  Haji Aliyev | 5-4 | August 6-7, 2021 | 2020 Summer Olympics | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 35-3 |  | 3-2 | ||||
| 34-3 | Ismail Musukaev | 4-1 | ||||
| 33-3 |  Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga | 6-3 | ||||
| 2021 Asian Championships - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
 Bajrang Punia | INJ | April 17-18, 2021 | 2021 Asian Continental Championships | Almaty, Kazakhstan | ||
| 32-3 |  Morteza Ghiasi | 8-2 | ||||
| 31-3 |  Nodir Rakhimov | TF 13-0 | ||||
| 2020 Asian Championships - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 30-3 | Bajrang Punia | 10-2 | February 18-23, 2020 | 2020 Asian Continental Championships | New Delhi, India | |
| 29-3 | Nyamdorj Battulga | TF 11-1 | ||||
| 28-3 | Daulet Niyazbekov | 10-3 | ||||
| 27-3 |  Mohammed Al Jawad Zuhair Kareem | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 2019 Japan Nationals - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 26-3 | Rinya Nakamura | TF 10-0 | December 19, 2019 | 2019 Japanese National Championships | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 25-3 | Ryoma Anraku | 8-1 | ||||
| 24-3 | Shoya Shimae | 6-1 | ||||
| 23-3 | Yasuki Tsutsumi | 5-2 | ||||
| 2019 World Championships 5th at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 22-3 | Ismail Musukaev | 3-5 | September 19-20, 2019 | 2019 World Championships | Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan | |
| 22-2 |  Haji Mohamad Ali | 6-1 | ||||
| 21-2 | Haji Aliyev | 11-9 | ||||
| 20-2 | | 1-8 | ||||
| 20-1 |  Vazgen Tevanyan | 6-0 | ||||
| 2019 JPN World Team Trials - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 19-1 | Rei Higuchi | PP | July 6, 2019 | 2019 Japan Play-offs | Wakō, Saitama | |
| 2019 Meiji Cup - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 18-1 | Rei Higuchi | TF 5-15 | June 17, 2019 | 2019 All-Japan Invitational Championships | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 18-0 | Yujiro Ueno | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 17-0 | Kouki Shimizu | 3-0 | ||||
| 2018 Japan Nationals - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 16-0 | | TF 10-0 | December 20, 2018 | 2018 Japanese National Championships | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 15-0 | Rei Higuchi | 8-3 | ||||
| 14-0 | Rinya Nakamura | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 13-0 | Hirotaka Abe | TF 14-3 | ||||
| 2018 World Championships - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 12-0 | Bajrang Punia | 16-9 | October 21-22, 2018 | 2018 World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 11-0 | Akhmed Chakaev | 15-10 | ||||
| 10-0 |  Andrei Prepeliţă | TF 12-2 | ||||
| 9-0 | Vasyl Shuptar | TF 11-0 | ||||
| 8-0 |  George Bucur | TF 13-2 | ||||
| 2018 JPN World Team Trials - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 7-0 | | TF 11-0 | July 7, 2018 | 2018 Japan Play-offs | Wakō, Saitama | |
| 2018 Meiji Cup - at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 6-0 | Rei Higuchi | 6-0 | June 15, 2018 | 2018 Meiji Cup | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 5-0 | Koki Shimizu | TF 10-0 | ||||
| 4-0 | Shoya Shimae | TF 11-0 | ||||
| 3-0 | Ryoma Anraku | 4-0 | ||||
| 2018 World Cup - for Team JPN at 143 lb (65 kg) | ||||||
| 2-0 | Sharvan Sharvan | TF 10-0 | April 7-8, 2018 | 2018 World Cup |  Iowa City, Iowa | |
| 1-0 | Logan Stieber | 10-5 | ||||
5. Awards and Honors
Takuto Otoguro has received numerous accolades for his distinguished wrestling career:
- Olympic Gold Medal: 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics (held in 2021).
- World Championship Gold Medal: 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest.
- Asian Championship Gold Medals: 2020 and 2021 Asian Wrestling Championships.
- Japan National Championships Gold Medals: 2018, 2019, and 2022.
- All-Japan Invitational Championships Gold Medal: 2018 and 2023.
- Cadet World Championship Gold Medal: 2015.
- Asian Cadets Championships Gold Medal: 2014.
- Emperor's Cup: Awarded in 2018 for winning the All-Japan Wrestling Championship.
- Outstanding Wrestler: Named after his performance at the 2018 Japan National Championships.
- Breakout Performer of the Year: Recognized by United World Wrestling in 2018.
- Match of the Year: His match against Bajrang Punia at the 2018 World Championships was named "Match of the Year" by United World Wrestling.
- Purple Ribbon of Honor (紫綬褒章Shiju HōshōJapanese): Awarded in 2021 by the Japanese government.
6. Personal Life
Takuto Otoguro is the younger brother of Keisuke Otoguro, who is also a professional wrestler. Their shared passion for wrestling was fostered by their father from a young age. After graduating from Yamanashi Gakuin University in March 2021, Takuto joined the JSDF Physical Training School, becoming a self-defense official, specifically a 2nd Lieutenant as of August 2021. His brother Keisuke is also affiliated with the same institution.
7. Legacy and Recognition
Otoguro's Olympic gold medal achievement has been recognized with lasting tributes in Japan. On December 15, 2021, a commemorative gold post (the 29th of its kind) was installed in front of the Fuefuki City Hall Citizen's Window Building in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, his hometown. This installation is part of the Gold Post Project which honors Japanese Olympic medalists.
