Hajime gets my vote. Goat to goat, his tricks are harder. He could learn and do just about any trick any other goat can do. But how many goats could even hit ONE of Hajime’s tricks? I don’t think very many.
Edit: above, i was only talking about Hajime’s 3A. His soloham skills had slipped my mind. C’mon… Hajime is insane. And his last years 3a performance… it brings me to tears everytime.
I mean major divisions
Even if it’s subjective, I love these conversations.
In terms of competitive dominance over their division, I think it’s pretty clearly Hajime, Takeshi, and Shinji. If you add in other styles for added comparison, then Hajime and Takeshi.
Hiroyuki wasn’t close to as competitively dominant in his respective division as those 3 IMO. Even in the years he won, it was often by a narrow margin and he had other players at, near, of even above his competitive level. 2005 for example, Yuuki made up a routine virtually on the spot and narrowly missed clinching first.
Whereas with Hajime, Takeshi, and Shinji, in most of the years they won, they more or less wiped the floor competitively and their only real possibility of losing was if they significantly messed up their routines. Their dominance is unreal.
Beyond competitively, I think you also see a huge level of progression, growth, and innovation year over year with Hajime and Takeshi. Always so fresh. Whereas I think Hiroyuki never truly leveled up or evolved his yoyoing in big ways past his 04 win, and largely played it safe following his 06 win. (Though I should say that his 04 and 06 routines are two of my favorite freestyles of all time.)
It’s difficult to answer, but if any name is brought up, that in itself signifies innovation or great talent. I think it’s easier to state great innovators, people who created the tricks that modern play is built on.
Jason Lee
If we are talking best at overall yoyo play it’s Shinji and it’s really not close at all. He absolutely OWNED his division and he was untouchable in the combined division.
I’ll note that in combined, he was numerically unbeatable BEFORE they even got to the 2A round. He was just that much better than everyone. And yes, we did stop doing it because he couldn’t be beaten.
There are countless moments from his competitive career that stand out, he was truly on a different level.
Many of the others mentioned here might be the best ever at their division, but nobody comes close to his long term dominance and all-round abilities.
But where would he be without those who preceded him? Top talent in anything is built upon those who came before. Although it is a point, like an athlete who excels at numerous divisions or sports, it’s exceptional.
Yes, yes, but don’t forget a long time ago when you were shipwrecked and you thought you were alone on that island. You fell asleep in the sand but when you woke up, you were surrounded by 10,000 natives.
They were trying to figure out whether to eat you or feed you?
You were sure things weren’t looking good and thought your time was up.
So you stood up and you busted out your yo-yo and you threw that trapeze for maybe the last time in your life.
And not one of those 10,000 natives had ever even seen anything like that
They gave you a standing ovation and then took you to In-N-Out and bought you a double cheeseburger, an order of fries and a strawberry shake.
And they made you their King.
Wherever you are on the trick ladder, your yo-yo skill level is better and higher than 99% of the population of the entire earth.
Yup🤓
Who told you that story!?! I thought it was a secret!!!
Jason Lee has been a good customer of mine at the shop I work at and, I just found out yesterday he was Jason Lee 
Really nice guy too.
Jensen
In my opinion the one goat is either Zach Gormley or John Ando.
