Former Japan high school star aims to put Samoa on wrestling map

Monday, November 21, 2022 - 13:03 By Ikuo Higuchi

(Editor's Note: The following appeared on the Japan Wrestling Federation website on Nov. 2. It has been translated and published by permission.)

TOKYO -- On the Japan wrestling schedule, the National Non-Student Open falls far below the level of major tournaments like the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup, which serve as the qualifiers for the world and Olympic teams.

As such, it is rare to see a prospective Olympic team member entering the tournament. Yet at this year's event, which was held for the first time in three years due to the pandemic, there was one, although it is not Japan's team that Gaku AKAZAWA is hoping to make for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

A former high school star, Akazawa won the freestyle 70kg title as a member of a team from the Pacific Island nation of Samoa, which he hopes to represent in Paris.

The 32-year-old Akazawa, whose quest for Olympic glory included a four-year sabbatical in Russia, was wrestling in his native country for the first time in three years at the Non-Student Open, which was held Oct. 29-30 in Fujimi, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

Akazawa, who was unable to obtain Samoan citizenship in time for the Tokyo Olympics, is hoping the paperwork comes through in time for Paris. "I have never stopped dreaming of appearing in the Olympics," he said. "I will make every effort as I try to become an Olympian from Samoa."

JPN Gaku Akazawa celebrates his victory at freestyle 70kg for Team Samoa. (Photo by Japan Wrestling Federation)

Akazawa last competed in Japan at the 2016 Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships. The victory in Fujimi was his first anywhere since winning the National Inter-High School title at 66kg in 2008, which made him the first-ever national champion from Hanasaki Tokuharu High School in Saitama Prefecture.

His coach at Hanasaki Tokuharu, Takuya TAKASAKA, was on hand to watch the former prodigy show his fighting spirit with tough wins over several opponents with pedigrees. In the semifinals, Akazawa defeated 2018 national collegiate champion Hayato OGATA 8-2, then took the title with a 6-2 win over Kantaro YAMAZAKI, who won both the spring and fall titles of the East Japan collegiate league in 2018.

"It was a long time since I've wrestled in Japan, so I had no idea what level I am presently at," Akazawa said. "I was nervous. By winning the title, it gave me some idea of where I stand, and I'm honestly really happy."

Asked what was the source of his tenacity and stamina that allowed him to rally to victories, he replied, "Every morning and night, and sometimes three times a day, I train intensely. I think that came out today."

In Samoa, wrestling is still far from popular, and with the pandemic limiting activities, there are only about 10 wrestlers over the age of 14 in the entire country. The majority of competitors are still beginners, and he cannot train in a way that sharpens his skills. "Instead, I think I was able to win on physical strength," he said.

JPN1 Akazawa, right, poses with competitors at the Samoan national championships in the capital Apia in August 2021, where he served as a referee. (Photo courtesy of Gaku Akazawa)

From Russia, with determination

The Non-Student Open, as the name implies, is for anyone out of school, and draws a wide mix of wrestlers with various backgrounds, from former high school champions to more than a few who started the sport after leaving college to keep in shape and maybe practice on weekends at a local club.

But for Akazawa, it presented a challenge directly related to getting to Paris. "I hadn't wrestled in Japan for a long time, so I think there were people who thought I had retired," he said with a smile.

Akazawa, who had won national junior high school and JOC Junior Olympic titles, went to Nihon University following his Inter-High School success, but was unable to repeat it on the collegiate level. Plagued by injuries, Akazawa's file in the database of the Japan Wrestling Federation website, which lists all results, has no entries for his years at Nihon.

He would not make his first appearance at the Emperor's Cup (held in December) until 2013, the year he graduated from Nihon. He placed fifth at 60kg.

Never abandoning his Olympic dream, he chose a path that took him to one of the premier powerhouses in the sport, Russia. He headed to Krasnoyarsk, the Siberian city well known in Japan as the host of the prestigious Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix, to continue his career.

He had no sponsor. When his visa expired, he would return to Japan, work some odd jobs to save up money, then return to Krasnoyarsk. He endured this unstable life for four years from 2013 to 2017, all because of his love for the sport and his desire to become an Olympic champion.

But no matter how much he trained in a top wrestling country, such instability in his daily life certainly made it difficult to focus on the sport. He would return to Japan to compete in the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup (the All-Japan Invitational Championships, held in the spring), but was unable to finish on the podium.

The Olympics seemed farther away than ever. But his dream never faded. What caught his attention was that one of his Russian wrestling buddies, instead of competing for the stacked Russian team, had changed nationalities and made it to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

While such a move is exceedingly rare in Japan, it is not without precedent. A minor comedian named Neko HIROSHI (neko means cat; his real name is Kuniaki TAKIZAKI) became a Cambodian citizen so he could run the men's marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

While his move gained attention as a celebrity, he also faced criticism as his best time would not have even made the Japanese women's team. He finished 138th in Rio, 37 minutes behind the winner with a time that would have placed 85th in the women's race.

Akazawa, whose case is different in that he is already on a global level, began to think about how he could go about changing nationality. Thinking of countries with the easiest route for qualifying he was attracted to Oceania. An English teacher from his junior high school days just happened to be dispatched to Samoa under a Japan International Cooperation Agency program as a judo instructor, and Akazawa got the wheels in motion by contacting him.

With that as the turning point, he relocated to Samoa in June 2017.

JPN3 Maulo Willie ALOFIPO, a former rugby player, accompanied Akazawa to Japan and finished second in both styles. (Photo by Japan Wrestling Federation)

Spreading the word in Samoa

Jerry WALLWORK, president of the Samoan Wrestling Federation, bought into Akazawa's enthusiasm and dedication and pledged his support. The following year, Akazawa married a local nurse named Sinevalley. He applied for a change of nationality with eyes on the Tokyo Olympics, but it did not come in time. "It's hard to get Samoan nationality," Akazawa said.

Akazawa currently earns a living as the owner of a massage parlor, and is able to continue his wrestling career through support from the federation. For the Non-Student Open, Samoa had come out of lockdown and Akazawa had needed to return to Japan for a family matter, so he decided to use the opportunity to enter the tournament and see where he stood.

He was to be accompanied by two Samoan wrestlers, who entered the individual tournaments in both styles. The trio would also enter the team event. However, the father of one wrestler took ill and was unable to make the trip, and Team Samoa had to withdraw.

The remaining wrestler, Maulo Willie ALOFIPO, made the most of his trip, winning silver medals in both styles at 97kg and gaining valuable international experience. The 25-year-old was originally a rugby player and has only been wrestling for two years.

"There are common points between rugby and wrestling," Akazawa told Alofipo in recruiting him to the latter. "You can do it just once a week if you want, but why don't you give it a try?"

Alofipo gradually started spending more time in wrestling. He practices in the morning before going to his day job on a cacao plantation, then returns to the mat for an evening session. He made his international debut in August this year, finishing fifth at freestyle 97kg at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

As for his runner-up finishes in the Japan tournament, he commented, "I'm really happy. Japan is a very high level. It's a thrill to be able to fight here."

Asked about his goal from here, he replied, "The Olympics."

Both Akazawa and Alofipo remained in Japan after the tournament with plans to stay until late December. Akazawa said they will work out at his alma maters of Hanasaki Tokuharu High School and Nihon University.

Although his victory earned him a spot in the Emperor's Cup in December, Akazawa did not enter. His latest foray was to test his current level, and, regarding himself now as "Samoan," he said he draws the line at competing for the title of No. 1 in Japan.

JPN3 Akazawa records a fall in the second round at the National Non-Student Championships. (Photo by Japan Wrestling Federation)

Building a new powerhouse

When deciding what high school he would go to, Akazawa bypassed the powers of the day for Hanasaki Tokuharu, which was virtually unknown in wrestling circles. "Rather than get stronger on a strong team, I wanted to go to a no-name school and beat the powerhouses one after another," he said at the time.

And that was pretty much what he did. In his third year in 2008, he helped Hanasaki Tokuharu end the 14-year reign of Ibaraki Prefecture's Kasumigaura High School at the Kanto High School Championships (Kanto is the region of Japan that includes Tokyo and its environs).

Kasumigaura would get revenge later in the team final at the Inter-High School Championships, but in that match, Akazawa defeated the reigning national champion (shown in the top photo). He made a name for himself and helped launch a new powerhouse on the scene just four years after its founding.

The energy and enthusiasm that Akazawa feels in Samoa now are incredibly similar to "those days." Samoa enjoys warm weather year round, with average lows of 23 C and highs of 31 C. The wrestling room is an open-air facility with a roof, much like in the Japan of another era when each town had an outdoor sumo ring located next to the local shrine.

Whereas gyms in Japan are now air-conditioned, it is a world of difference in Samoa. "Every day, I practice drenched in sweat," Akazawa said.

Rugby is still king in Samoa, and trying to increase participation in other sports is no easy task. But there have been inroads made, as Samoa has been represented at the Olympics in judo. In wrestling, the lone Olympic entry in its history was at the 2000 Sydney Games, when Faafatai IUTANA qualified at Greco-Roman 76kg. Samoa had a fair number of gold medalists at the Oceania Championships, although none since 2011. So the potential is there.

Achieving his own Olympic dream will be a link to the spread of wrestling in Samoa. For now, as he awaits word of being granted citizenship, Akazawa will continue to focus all of his efforts on making it to Paris. Most of his high school teammates have long left the mat and have followed a path into coaching. But at least one of the "Class of 2008" still has a burning passion for the Olympics.

-- Translation by Ken Marantz

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games

Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 15:49 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 24) -- Not even an untimely knee injury, much less any opponent on the mat, was going to deter Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI from her next major objective.

Fujinami showed little effects of a knee injury suffered three weeks ago in capturing the women's 57kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Sunday, stretching her amazing winning streak to 153 matches dating back to 2017 and her junior high school days.

With her 8-0 victory in the final over Sena NAGAMOTO on the final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, Fujinami earned a ticket back home, so to speak -- a spot on Japan's team to this year's Asian Games, which will be near her Mie Prefecture hometown in neighboring Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

"The Asian Games will be in my home area of Nagoya, so I have strong feelings about it," Fujinami said. "I know the competition is going to be tough, but that only makes me look forward to it even more. I will go into it imagining the people from back home seeing me crowned as champion."

The Meiji Cup was serving as the second of two qualifiers, along with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held in December, for not only the Asian Games, but also for the World Championships to follow three weeks later in late October.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) defeated Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) in the 57kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami would not commit making the trip to Astana for the World Championships, where she could win a third world gold and first since moving up to 57kg after winning the 53kg gold at the Paris Olympics.

Another factor weighing on the Japanese wrestlers is that the World Championships is just two months before this year's Emperor's Cup, which will have increased importance as the starting point in the qualifying process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I will consult with my coach. There is also the Emperor's Cup, and we will discuss it seriously and make a decision," said Fujinami, who has made no secret of her ultimate goal of an Olympic repeat and whose demeanor showed her leaning toward giving the worlds a pass.

Two days earlier, Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI passed on a chance to compete in a playoff for the world team spot at Freestyle 61kg because he is solely focused on a return to the Olympics at 57kg. For him, a shot at another world title has no bearing on his plans.

Meanwhile on Sunday, two-time former world champion Nonoka OZAKI fended off world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI in a blockbuster women's 62kg final, then expressed her excitement over earning a ticket to both big events, as did fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI, who cruised to victory at women's 50kg.

Two Paris gold medalists -- Kotaro KIYOOKA at Freestyle 65kg and Nao KUSAKA at Greco-Roman 77kg -- also emerged victorious, with the former saying he will be going to both global competitions, but the latter stating definitively he will skip the World Championships.

Fujinami, who is still making the adjustment to the higher weight, won the world U23 gold at 57kg last October before capturing the Emperor's Cup title, although that included the biggest threat to her winning streak when she had to fight off her back in a 4-2 win in the final over Himeka TOKUHARA.

Her next big test was to have come at last month's Asian Championships in Bishkek, but she was forced to pull out due to an ankle injury. No sooner had that healed when she suffered a left knee injury in preparation for the Meiji Cup.

But, with the Asian Games in mind, as well as having new obligations and an increased fan base after gaining a corporate sponsorship upon her graduation from Nippon Sports Science University, she was determined to press on.

“I injured my knee three weeks ago," Fujinami said. "My ankle had finally healed and was I training for the Meiji Cup when I got injured, and at that time I could barely even walk. At that moment, I thought, ‘Why again, why now?’

"But for the first time, I pictured the faces of the people supporting me. If it were my old self, I probably would have just given up, but when those faces came to mind and I thought about what to do, the people around me helped. I came to realize that I am able to do wrestling thanks to various people.”

In Sunday's final, Fujinami relied solely on her unstoppable single-leg attack against Nagamoto, the Asian silver medalist at 59kg. She twice used it to gain a 2-point exposure when Nagamoto tried for counter lifts, and twice finished it off for proper takedowns.

Asked if she was concerned about her lack of ground points, Fujinami inferred she was working on it by saying, "Please look forward to [seeing me at] the Asian Games."

An expanded reportoire would seem essential in what Fujinami herself acknowledges is one of the stronger women's weight class.

"In the world, the level of the 57kg weight class is very high, and also in Asia," she said. "I expect very good wrestlers to be entered at the Asian Games, and I want to start preparing for that right away."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) managed a close 2-1 victory over Sakura ONISHI (JPN) at 62kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ozaki, who has had her fill of missing out on national team spots for major competitions, assured she won't miss the two coming up this year with a well-executed 2-1 victory over rising star Onishi in their highly anticipated 62kg final.

Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown in the first period, then limited Onishi to a stepout after she got in deep on a single leg of her own in the second.

"While I was thinking what I should do on the mat, I kept my heart strong until the end," Ozaki said.

The victory came a day after Ozaki defeated Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI in the semifinals, a repeat of her win in the Emperor's Cup final. That had avenged a loss to Motoki in last year's Meiji Cup final and subsequent playoff that kept Ozaki out of the 2025 World Championships.

"When it comes to Japanese opponents, we all pretty much know each other well, and it makes it more difficult to fight," Ozaki said. "We are all preparing for the Olympic qualifying.

"Separately from opponents from around the world, dealing with Japanese opponents, I have already experienced the Olympic qualifiers, so I understand very well how emotionally tough it can be, and I think various things can go out of sync."

Ozaki, the world champion at 62kg in 2022 and at 65kg in 2023, also has some unfinished business at the Asian Games, which Japan will be hosting for the first time in 30 years.

"First of all, I finished second at the last Asian Games [in 2023]," she said. "As for making the World Championships, last year I lost out in a playoff and didn't go. Now I have the chance to become a three-time world champion."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) secured a fall over Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in the 50kg final on Sunday. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Susaki, the Tokyo Olympic champion who had to settle for a bronze in Paris, let out an uncharacteristic roar after completing the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double with a victory by fall over Rinka OGAWA in the 50kg final.

"I definitely wanted to win and make it to my first Asian Games and to my first World Championships in three years, and the moment I won, I was truly ecstatic," Susaki said.

Susaki opened with a pair of takedowns, but her chicken wing after the second one slipped off, allowing Ogawa to get behind to make it 4-1 at the break. Early in the second period, Ogawa slipped in an underhook, but Susaki deftly clamped down and blocked the opposite inner thigh to slam Ogawa to the mat. She completed the fall in 3:33.

"When she got the underhook, I thought she had the advantage, but I didn't panic, knowing I had a move for that situation," Susaki said. "I had confidence and was able to use a throw technique.

"It was just instinct. In my first match yesterday, I also used a throw for a fall. I think that I've become better at making the most of lone chances. I've included it in my practice, so I can use it any situation."

Susaki's domination bodes well in her quest to regain the Olympic gold in Los Angeles.

"At this tournament, the 50kg field had everyone who will be competing to go to the Los Angeles Olympics, so to win here is a big step forward," she said. "I was able to use a winning pattern that I practiced and won the title, so it was a very good tournament."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) won the 65kg gold medal at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Kiyooka, not to be outdone by his younger sister Moe, defeated longtime practice partner and fellow NSSU alum Kaisei TANABE 3-0 in a repeat of last year's 65kg final.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown, then added a stepout in the second period to beat Tanabe, with whom he participated -- and even faced -- during a stint in the German Bundesliga.

"It's been almost exactly a year since [Tanabe and I] met in this same final, and there are things we were both aware of about each other," Kiyooka said. "Last year he was injured and couldn't give his all. I went back and reviewed our matches, and I came up with a strategy. Looking back on what I actually did, I felt the main thing was that I was able to stay calm."

Last year, Kiyooka defeated a hampered Tanabe in a playoff for the world team spot after beating him in the final, in which Tanabe was injured. Kiyooka then lost in the final in Zagreb to Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), whom he had beaten for the gold in Paris.

"Getting to the World Championships, it gives me a chance for revenge and to win my first world title, making it an important event," Kiyooka said.

"As for the Asian Games, it gives my family, those in my company and people who otherwise would not have the chance to see me compete overseas to see me up close. And just like at the Olympics, I hope to give them the best result possible."

On Saturday, Kiyooka's sister Moe won the women's 53kg title to clinch her national team place. She has already one-upped her in the world gold department, having won the 55kg title in 2024.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) managed a 6-3 victory in the gold medal bout at 77kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

At Greco-Roman 77kg, Kusaka took issue with a mysterious penalty called against him and a phantom stepout that produced no point, but otherwise was untroubled in notching a 6-3 victory in the final over Isami HORIKITA, a repeat of the Emperor's Cup final.

Kusaka was leading 3-0 when his challenge of an apparent stepout that was not awarded a point was unsuccessful. He then added an indisputable stepout to lead 4-1 at the break. In the second period, he sandwiched two more stepouts around a 2-point penalty that he was at a loss to explain.

"I really don't know," he said, while imploring that he was not being critical of the referees. "The referee kept telling me, 'Head up, head up.' It's the first time I've ever been penalized in that situation."

What Kusaka made crystal clear was his decision to bypass the World Championships in favor of the Asian Games, saying he lacked motivation for the former. Like Kiyooka, he won a silver medal at last year's worlds in Zagreb.

"I don't have loads of motivation and like to channel it all into one thing," Kusaka said. "Winning the Asian Games title, that's my objective for this year."

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) pinned Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the 74kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

In a battle between reigning world champions, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI defeated Kota TAKAHASHI in the Freestyle 74kg final to earn a return trip to the World Championships.

Aoyagi, the world 70kg champion last year, was leading 7-0 when Takahashi launched a comeback late in the second period. He pulled to within 7-4, helped by a penalty point against Aoyagi for kicking and a fleeing point during a stepout.

But a desperation throw in the final seconds was stopped dead by Aoyagi, and Takahashi stayed motionless on the mat, allowing a fall to be called just before the buzzer.

At Greco-Roman 60kg, 2023 Asian Games silver medalist Ayata SUZUKI defeated reigning Meiji Cup champion Kaito INABA 3-3 in the final, then edged Emperor's Cup champion Koto GOMI 7-6 in the playoff for the national team.

Suzuki trailed 6-2 in the playoff when he hit a 4-point arm throw to go ahead on criteria, then added a stepout for good measure.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Rikuto NAGAI df. Kento YUMIYA, 13-4

BRONZE: Isami TAKATA df. Yuta KIKUCHI, 8-2
BRONZE: Daito KATSUME df. Rin SAKAMOTO by Inj. Def.

World team playoff: Yamato OGAWA df. Nagai, 9-8

65kg
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Kaisei TANABE, 3-0

BRONZE: Kaiji OGINO df. Kaito MORIKAWA by Inj. Def., :02 (0-0)
BRONZE: Takara SUDA df. Shuya MIURA, 2-1

74kg
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kota TAKAHASHI by Fall, 5:59, 11-4

BRONZE: Ryoya YAMASHITA df. Yujin TAKIZAWA, 2-0
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA df. Shingo ANDO, 6-1

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Ayata SUZUKI df. Kaito INABA, 3-3

BRONZE: Daijiro SONE df. Koto GOMI by Def.
BRONZE: Maito KAWANA df. Yu SHIOTANI, 8-1

World team playoff: Suzuki df. Gomi, 7-6

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 6-3

BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA df. Naoki KADODE, 3-2
BRONZE: Issei HONNA df. Ariya YOSHIDA, 12-9

87kg
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA df. So SAKABE, 5-4

BRONZE: Rondo KODAMA df. Takahiro INAMOTO by TS, 8-0, 2:24
BRONZE: Daisei ISOE df. Genki YAHAGI, 4-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI df. Rinka OGAWA by Fall, 3:33 (8-1)

BRONZE: Umi ITO df. Minoriho YONEHARA by TS, 13-2, 5:59
BRONZE: Haruna MORIKAWA df. Miyu NAKAMURA, 7-0

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 8-0

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Rin KINOSHITA by Fall, 1:30 (2-0)
BRONZE: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NOGUCHI, 9-4

62kg
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Sakura ONISHI, 2-1

BRONZE: Sakura MOTOKI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 10-2

Former Japan high school star aims to put Samoa on wrestling map

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Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games