The yo-yo serves as a medium, connecting Hajime Miura with his deeper self, and fortunately, also connecting him with us, and with anyone who will read this story in the future. Perhaps any hobby, any pursuit, or any group of people in this world works the same way: immerse yourself, try to connect, and unknown possibilities will keep unfolding.

That day’s performance seemed to hold a strange magic. Hajime Miura walked barefoot onto the stage amid cheers, and the audience instantly fell into a transcendent calm. Having not competed in a public yo-yo contest for nearly four years, he was relaxed yet focused, as if floating in the universe.

At twenty years old, a seven-time consecutive world champion in 3A, Hajime Miura has almost single-handedly defined the highest standard of this sport. His name is always linked with words like "genius" and "god." At this year’s world championship, we met Hajime, who had been at the center of so much discussion, and had an unplanned conversation with him.

 Resonance With Space

Unlike the quiet, powerful presence he projected on stage, the Hajime we met again at yoyorecreation* was gentle and shy. A university student, he spends his free time at the shop chatting with players from the community. Whenever someone greets him or asks a question, an involuntary smile appears.

During a break, he willingly shared with us the story behind the world championship. Like anyone who plays yo-yo, a three-minute performance relies on years of continuous practice. From choreography, music, and moves to all the technical details, his effortless stage presence comes from mastery honed through relentless repetition.

But for Hajime, those three minutes mean something more. Beyond competition, his performances increasingly resemble a dialogue beyond language—sending wordless signals outward, sparking boundless imagination. The source of this unique expression can be found in his creative inspirations. "When I don’t have contests, I focus on things outside yo-yo," he says with a smile. "I try to immerse myself in all kinds of music, films, art, and design."

Hajime’s performance blends a keen sensitivity to the world around him. Sometimes, even a ceramic piece in a gallery will trigger his inspiration.

"I enjoy the process of blending the inspiration and personal interests around me into the yo-yo. Those moments feel like a real connection between 'myself' and 'the yo-yo.'"

Naturally, the yo-yo has also become an invisible way of thinking for him. "This artwork feels like that player’s improvisation." Or, "Within the yo-yo industry, how does the current global situation resemble the relationships inside the field?" From big questions to small ones, filtering them through the lens of the yo-yo, he sees everything as something happening to him—"no matter how distant it may seem."

The world is like an open notebook of inspiration. Time, experience, refined mastery, and artistic perception and creativity all converge in a yo-yo performance, released in just three minutes, pushing the boundaries of competition.

Using art as expression is a new way Hajime has connected with his passion. At the moment he throws the yo-yo, all those inspirations evolve into new structures, rhythms, and limitless possibilities. Recently, inspired by ambient music, Hajime has been trying to "make the yo-yo resonate with space." "Ambient music is a fusion of sound and environment. I think it’s very similar to the atmosphere of a competition venue," he explains earnestly, his eyes sparkling with the joy of discovery.

Compared to choreographing dense technical moves, the key to "making the yo-yo resonate with space" lies in moderation. Focusing deeply while staying aware of the surroundings allows the atmosphere to flow naturally in the gap between "self" and "external world." This principle of moderation also runs through Hajime’s practice habits. Surprisingly, he doesn’t increase training intensity as a contest approaches; instead, he practices less frequently. Even the day before a competition, he practices only once, to maintain optimal feel until he steps on stage.

He leaves "space" in both practice and expression. Finding and holding the right measure between things is why Hajime always radiates a sense of calm.

This inclination also influences Hajime’s clothing choices. As the "environment" closest to the body, clothing is like a warm, comfortable shell that must balance proportion. It should wrap the body while allowing it to float freely. "I like simple sweatshirts and casual pants that don’t need a belt," he says easily, wearing a loose pullover hoodie.

In daily life, fascinated by natural settings, he enjoys wearing loose clothes to the forest, a park, or the seaside. "Entering a forest feels mysterious, as if a giant living being is waving to me." Moments of connection with nature, like playing yo-yo, always help him relax, immerse himself, and find calm and room to think.

Yet competition demands not only talent and endurance but also willpower. Beneath the calm, where does the deep-seated willpower in Hajime’s heart come from? This curiosity only grew as we spent time with him.

When asked why he has kept playing yo-yo all these years, his answer was again surprising and moving: "People often call me a 'genius,' but there was a time when I couldn’t even spin a yo-yo. The fact that I can do extremely difficult tricks means that everyone else can too."

"One of the yo-yo’s greatest appeals is that it gives people the belief that if I try hard enough, I can do it too. Thinking that I’m the only one in the world who can do something—that doesn’t matter."

He added, "Yo-yo is so deeply rooted in my life that I can’t stop playing it. It’s intertwined with my thoughts, my relationships, even my identity."

The yo-yo is a thread that connects him with his deeper self, and fortunately, also connects Hajime with Still Genius, and with anyone who might read this story in the future. Perhaps any hobby, any pursuit, or any group of people in this world works the same way: immerse yourself, try to connect, and unknown possibilities will keep unfolding.

Hajime Miura, with his sustained and deep self-reflection, leaves us eager to see what new works he will create after some time, once again refreshing our perspectives. More importantly, there is the inspiration from this conversation. He shows us a lasting, comfortable way of living with one’s own talent—a state of "synergy and balance": not total indulgence, not excessive restraint, but a relaxed sense of measure that leaves room for creativity. For Still Genius, isn’t the relationship between clothing and people exactly the same?

One day after the interview, Hajime arrived in Paris to catch a connecting flight. He sent a message: "These cotton sweatpants without a belt have become the best flight companion." Even though he had just panicked about missing his flight.

In the future, as a sponsored player for Still Genius, but more often as our friend, we look forward to many more wonderful connections.

Content production: Still Genius Group

Featuring: Hajime Miura

Photography: Takumi Yasumoto

Featured items: Still Genius raw selvedge denim, vintage zip hoodie, organic cotton sweatshirt, organic cotton sweatpants

Special thanks to: yoyorecreation