Two-time Olympic skateboarding world champion Yuto Horigome has been stacking sponsorships over the last few years.
Not too long ago he landed a big partnership with Delta Airlines, then locked in with Red Bull.
Now he is adding a new name to his roster with the world’s leading soy sauce maker Kikkoman.
Kikkoman announced the signing with a mix of skate and sushi flair, posting on social media about bringing Yuto to their United States headquarters in San Francisco for a special tasting session.
Kikkoman Posted:
"Gold medal moves. Gold standard flavor.
Olympic street skating champ @yutohorigome is all about two things: skating and sushi. We brought Yuto out to our U.S. headquarters in San Francisco to try out some custom sushi inspired by his signature tricks. Because when it comes to sauce, Kikkoman is How Yuto Rolls.
Switch Eel Manny Roll – Teriyaki-grilled eel, cucumber
Tre-Yaki Salmon Roll – Kikkoman® Teriyaki Takumi salmon, avo, scallions
270 Tornado Roll – yellowtail, scallions
Fifty-Fifty Roll – tuna, white tuna, cucumber, shiso"
It is not every day you see a professional skateboarder tie their name to a soy sauce company but it makes sense for Yuto.
Yuto grew up in Japan, so sushi has always been part of his world. Kikkoman has been tied to Japanese food for generations, so the connection feels pretty natural.
Add in his love for skating and the creative way he approaches contests, and you can see why this pairing works.
This deal shows he is stepping into partnerships that go beyond the usual skate brand route, touching on food, travel and lifestyle too.
Bringing Yuto on board for the Kikkoman brand is a way to connect with younger fans while still staying true to their long history in the kitchen. For Yuto, it is another chance to link up with a brand that fits his own story and to enjoy some seriously creative sushi while he is at it.