Koji Yokoyama is a Japan National & two time Asia Pacific international 2A Champion and a former member of Team YOMEGA and Team TOP, where he also had his own signature version of the Yomega Raider. He competed in the 2A division of the World Yo-Yo Contest from 1999-2007, placing within the top two every year (excluding 2002, where he placed third) although he never won. While he competed, he was the only player who consistently had a true chance of defeating Shinji Saito for the World Title, coming within a five point range of Saito multiple times.
He would outplace Shinji twice. Those were at Japan Nationals '03 and '04 which were during Shinji's consecutive World title runs. Notably in 2004 Shinji got 4th when Koji won his only Japan National title. The closest to becoming a World Champion was his final contest routine in 2007, losing to Shinji by scores of 98.5 to 95.5 points. Koji being devastated with the last loss in 2007 ended up retiring from competition and still has not entered in a competition since. This makes him among the group of non-World Champions with the most World 2nd places in history, in any Division.
Koji would attend and perform a special demo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Japan Nationals in 2018. This was the only time he stepped on a contest stage since 2007.
Achievements[]
2007[]
- West Japan Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 1st Place
- Japan National Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
2006[]
- West Japan Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 1st Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
- Asia Pacific Yo-Yo Championships - 2A Division - 1st Place
2005[]
- Japan National Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
- Asia Pacific Yo-Yo Championships - 2A Division - 2nd Place
2004[]
- West Japan Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 1st Place
- Japan National Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 1st Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place (Tied with Hiraku Fuji)
2003[]
- West Japan Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 1st Place
- Japan National Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - 2A Division - 2nd Place
- Asia Pacific Yo-Yo Championships - 2A Division - 1st Place
2002[]
- UTYJ National - AA Division - 4th Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - AA Division - 3rd Place
2001[]
- UTYJ Nagoya Regional - AA Divison - 1st Place
- UTYJ National - AA Division - 1st Place
- World Yo-Yo Contest - AA Division - 2nd Place
2000[]
- World Yo-Yo Contest - AA Division - 2nd Place
1999[]
- World Yo-Yo Contest - AA Division - 2nd Place