[4] In the same year, he also won the Masters in Tyumen,[5] and the prestigious Grand Slams in Paris,[6] Tokyo[7] and Moscow.
[12] Specializing in drop kata guruma, his physical and technical fighting style has become iconic in judo.
[15] He once was the most decorated judoka on the IJF World Tour, having notably won eleven gold medals in Grand Slam competitions.
He joined Nogi-machi judo club as an elementary school student, which was also attended by future teammate Masashi Ebinuma.
He faced Yanislav Gerchev of Bulgaria in his first fight, and showed his form with sode tsurikomi goshi, successfully scoring yuko and waza-ari with the skill.
Takato attempted throughout the bout to bring the fight to newaza, however was unable to break Nagayama's defense.
He then went against Azerbaijan's Orkhan Safarov, who was the only fighter in the tournament to throw Takato for a score with kosoto gari.
Takato won his final fight by waza-ari, again with kouchi gari, and another newaza ippon with ushiro yoko shiho gatame.
[34] Takato's international rivals include Dashdavaagiin Amartüvshin, Kim Won-jin, Yeldos Smetov, Ganbatyn Boldbaatar and Beslan Mudranov.