[My Doubles Partner] Hiroto SHINOZUKA: "TOGAMI-san led us to world No. 1; he’s the best partner."

Hiroto SHINOZUKA

2025 World Championships men’s doubles gold medalist

We were able to play with the reassurance that if I could somehow keep the ball in play and return it, he would finish the point

There have been many successful doubles pairs. Did they win through individual strength, or through the trust between the two of them? We asked some doubles experts to share stories and thoughts about their partners.

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From rival school opponents to the world’s best doubles partner. What Hiroto SHINOZUKA talked about was Shunsuke TOGAMI’s overwhelming attacking power, and the kindness that supports him no matter what.

I started partnering with TOGAMI (Shunsuke / Imuraya Group) in doubles when the Japan team began forming pairs with the Paris Olympics in mind. TOGAMI was at Noda Gakuen High School (Yamaguchi), and I was at Aikodai Meiden High School (Aichi), so we were rivals from different schools. In high school, we even faced each other in the doubles match in the No. 3 match of the Inter-High school team final. So at first, I had this strange feeling of, “I’m teaming up with that TOGAMI-san.”