Shintaro Higashi is a Japanese-American judoka and two-time U.S. National judo champion who competed on the IJF circuit, reaching 43rd in the world and representing the U.S. at two World Championships. He is head instructor at the Kokushi Budo Institute in Manhattan's Upper West Side, a Sambo Pan-American champion, a BJJ black belt, and a former college wrestler. He hosts The Shintaro Higashi Show, a judo and grappling podcast covering training and coaching.