Photo Credit: Courtesy of ACENBO—Associação Cultural e Esportiva Nipo Brasileira do Osasco

During his "sabbatical" as an athlete, he organized and refereed athletics events for children, adults and especially children. At the same time, together with other veteran athletes and officials, he took an active part in the mobilization that made the first Masters athletics competition in Brazil possible.

As a Masters athlete, he has taken part in countless regional, national and South American meets, as well as 10 world meets, most notably the South American Championships in Chile (2017) in the M85 category, winning 5 gold medals and 5 South American records, and was recognized by the WMA as the best Masters athlete (thrower) in 2017. Recently in 2022 at the World Championships in Tampere - Finland, category M90, he won 6 gold medals. In the hammer throw, he beat the world record for the category.

Takumi Matsushima has always endeavored to encourage the practice of athletics, either by his own example or by helping to train new generations of athletes. His formula for longevity is simple: eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water, sleep well, read a lot, occupy your mind with relevant subjects, always walk and play sport.

São Paulo, 3rd May 2024.
PS: Recorded by TV Globo's Esporte Espetetacular programme in a documentary in the "Masters of Time" series