Arash Yoshida, a 22-year-old Japanese wrestler who recently won a silver medal in the 97 kg category at the 2026 World Championships, is very eager to travel to Iran. Despite competing for Japan, this wrestler has maintained his family ties to his ancestral land and wishes to visit Iran one day.
Family Roots and Love for Wrestling
Arash Yoshida is the son of Javad Esfanjani, an Iranian coach and wrestler who emigrated to Japan years ago. His mother is from Japan, and the Yoshida family originally hails from Mazandaran. Javad Esfanjani has expressed his love and passion for Iran, emphasizing his desire to bring his children to their homeland and introduce them to Iranian culture and wrestling. He says, "My love is Iran. God willing, I will bring the kids soon to serve Iranian wrestling."
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Achievements and Sports Role Models
Arash Yoshida grew up in a sports family and has been practicing wrestling under his father's guidance since childhood. His achievements in international arenas have made his name well-known in the world of Iranian wrestling. In the 2026 World Championships, he reached the finals by defeating Hassan Yazdani, the celebrated champion of Iranian wrestling, and ultimately won a silver medal after a close loss to American Kyle Snyder. These victories have been a source of pride and joy not only for Arash but also for his family.
Arash's interest in Iran is not limited to his family roots. Hassan Yazdani, the great champion of Iranian wrestling, serves as a role model and source of inspiration for him. Arash has always mentioned Yazdani's impact on him in interviews, referring to him as one of the successful examples of Iranian wrestlers. The deep ties to the sport and love for wrestling continue to hold a special place in the Yoshida family.
Given the current circumstances and the uncertainty of when Arash will travel to Iran, he hopes to visit his ancestral land as soon as possible and familiarize himself with the culture, history, and people of his country. This dream is not only for himself but also for his father, Javad Esfanjani. Arash Yoshida looks forward to a bright future for himself and Iranian wrestling, hoping that one day he can serve his country's wrestling.
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