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Kosuke Mashiyama (27), a former member of Japan’s national judo team, announced on his Instagram that he has acquired Mongolian citizenship and will aim for the World Championships and the Olympics as a member of Team Mongolia. His parents are both Japanese and he has no Mongolian roots, but he says the Mongolian Judo Federation gave him the opportunity. Under IJF rules, he won’t be eligible to compete for Mongolia until April of next year at the earliest. On 5ch, reactions were split — some cheered him on with comments like “good luck,” while others were harsher, saying things like “he’s taking a spot from a pure Mongolian athlete” or “isn’t this just switching because he couldn’t make Japan’s team?”
Daily Sports, 8/28
Former Japan judo national team member Kosuke Mashiyama announces switch to Team Mongolia after changing citizenship, “To become Olympic champion” — parents are Japanese, “I have no roots there, but the Mongolian federation gave me this opportunity”
Kosuke Mashiyama (27), a former member of Japan’s men’s national judo team, updated his Instagram on the 28th, announcing his intention to change citizenship and pursue the World Championships and the Olympics, stating, “I have decided to acquire Mongolian citizenship and challenge myself on the world stage as a member of Team Mongolia.” Due to IJF rules, he reportedly won’t be able to compete internationally for Mongolia until April of next year.
Source: daily.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
Good luck. Doing it in Japan just isn't worth the effort (bad cost-performance).
Good luck to him.
Hmm, not sure about that.
Still a step up from Minato Ward though.
There's not much judo on TV these days so I've lost track of the athletes.
If he's going to do it, he needs to be prepared to live as a Mongolian, for Mongolia, for the rest of his life.
There was that guy from Croatia, Bepo Mongol or something like that.
Well, whatever — only second-tier athletes do that kind of thing anyway.
Well, if he's already planning ahead for a pro wrestling debut, maybe that actually makes sense.
Doesn't seem like he's just leaving Japan because he wants to make the Olympics.
Mongolia's actually pretty strong at judo, so I doubt he'll even make their Olympic team.
If you want to be an Olympic representative, you need to pick a weaker judo nation.
Also, he's underestimating what nationality actually means.
If he took Mongolian citizenship prepared to spend the rest of his life there, fine — but if not, he should drop it.
Well, Deguchi actually had roots there, so that one made a bit more sense.
To win Olympic gold you'd have to beat Japan's team anyway, so the odds are the same whether he competes for Japan or Mongolia.
I get it if he just wants to make the Olympics at all, though.
At this point he's way behind his rivals in the race for Japan's team spot — probably no way to catch up.
Wonder if that applies to naturalized citizens too?
Background and Key Points
Switching nationality to chase an Olympic berth has precedent in sports like table tennis and sumo, and the IJF imposes a waiting period before newly switched athletes can compete, to keep the practice from being abused. That rule is presumably why Mashiyama can’t compete for Mongolia until April next year. Where the thread split was over whether to view this as taking a spot away from Mongolia’s judo community, or as a rational move given the gap in competitive depth between the two countries. Note that Japan does not generally recognize dual citizenship, so a change of nationality effectively amounts to naturalization. Mongolia has produced many sumo wrestlers, but its Olympic medal record in judo isn’t nearly as deep as Japan’s — it isn’t necessarily the “judo powerhouse” some might assume, a nuance the original article doesn’t really convey. Mashiyama has never competed in the Olympics, and given that he’s 27, some see the Games two years from now as effectively his last shot.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Breaking News+) thread “Former Japan judo national team member Kosuke Mashiyama announces switch to Team Mongolia after citizenship change, “To become Olympic champion,” “I have no roots there, but the Mongolian federation gave me a shot”.”
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