From a young age, Masaaki Hatta displayed a tenacity and love for wrestling that would guide him through a life filled with impressive achievements and heartfelt connections.

In Japan, he received his education through Keio private school through childhood and subsequently attended the prestigious private Keio University. Masaaki's journey in the United States began when he moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma to pursue his wrestling career and education at Oklahoma State University, as one of the first international recruits. During a period when freshmen were not eligible to compete, he was a three-time finalist at the NCAA Division I Championships and captured the national title as a senior in 1962. He also represented Japan in the World Championships in 1962, earning a silver medal in freestyle. Masaaki won the prestigious Midlands tournament twice and earned AAU All-America honors on numerous occasions.

Hatta then became an assistant coach and pursued his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. Masaaki's career as a system analyst at Burroughs Corporation, which later became Unisys, was marked by diligence and innovation. Even as he excelled professionally, his heart remained with wrestling. Under the mentorship of Dean Rockwell, who received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Michigan Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019, Masaaki wrestled competitively for many years and continued to do so well into his 60s, winning gold and silver medals multiple times at the World Veterans Championships. Later in life he even became an avid marathon runner.

His contributions to wrestling extended far beyond his personal accomplishments as he became a pillar in the wrestling community. He hosted training sessions at Hazel Park and Berkley High Schools for over five decades and coached at Oakland University while also advising and training wrestlers at wrestling clinics, locally and worldwide. Masaaki's dedication to nurturing young talent led to success for many wrestlers including Steve Fraser, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame who in 1984 became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman.

Masaaki's passion for wrestling transcended borders, as he played a pivotal role in organizing cultural exchanges between Michigan wrestlers and teams from Asia, Europe, and South America. He also worked with the Michigan Wrestling Club and the Rhino Wrestling Club.

For all that he did on behalf of wrestling, Masaaki never accepted compensation or awards.

His hard work and dedication to the sport that he loved was recognized in 2007 when the Michigan Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame presented him with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award.