#JapanWrestling

Fujinami stays on path to Paris, via Belgrade, with 53kg title

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 17) -- A day after vanquishing the Olympic champion, Akari FUJINAMI secured a shot at regaining her world title, which in turn would get her closer to her ultimate goal of gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Fujinami cruised to the women's 53kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday, clinching a spot on Japan's team to this year's World Championships in Belgrade where the first qualifying spots for Paris will be up for grabs.

Fujinami, the 2021 world champion who missed last year's worlds due to injury, rolled to a 10-0 technical fall in the final over fellow 19-year-old Moe KIYOOKA at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym in the second of Japan's two domestic qualifiers for Belgrade.

"Winning this tournament was my sole objective," Fujinami said. "At the moment that I won, the first thing that came into my head was that I want to win the world title. At the World Championships, I want to take the gold and take home the spot at the Olympics."

Fujinami's victory stretched her current winning streak to 122 matches dating back to her junior high school days in 2017 and followed her title run in December at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships, the first of the world team qualifiers.

For wrestlers in the Olympic weights, titles at both tournaments clinches a spot at the World Championships. In cases in which the winners are different, they will meet in a playoff scheduled for July 1.

Also securing his ticket to Belgrade was Rei HIGUCHI, the reigning world champion at freestyle 61kg who has moved back down to 57kg, the weight class in which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Missing out was Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU after losing in the final at Greco 77kg, while world bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI kept alive her hopes of a return trip to Belgrade by defeating Emperor's Cup champion Ayano MORO to force a playoff at women's 76kg.

Akari FUJINAMIAkari FUJINAMI blanked Moe KIYOOKA in the 53kg final at Meiji Cup in Tokyo. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

With the Olympic weight classes being run over two days, Fujinami's title run began Friday with a victory by fall in a long-awaited first-time clash with Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA). That all but ended Shidochi's dreams of an Olympic repeat, as Fujinami will certainly be the favorite in Belgrade for the gold, much less just a medal.

Against Kiyooka, a world U23 and U20 champion and Emperor's Cup winner last year at 55kg, Fujinami used her unstoppable single-leg to score three takedowns in the first period, then picked up a pair of stepouts before ending the match with a takedown at 4:10.

"We've sparred together often in the past," Fujinami said. "[She knows] the tackle I use and I know she's a wrestler who likes to go on the attack. I kept from being defensive and stayed aggressive."

Her incredible winning streak has particularly caught the eyes of the local press, mainly because she surpassed the 119-match string put together by three-time Olympic champion and national hero Saori YOSHIDA.

But to Fujinami, the streak only holds significance if the gold-medal match in Paris is eventually included, although she appreciates the attention it brings to the sport. "To me, the record means nothing," she said. "But through this, it will spread the word of wrestling, which is a good thing."

After missing the World Championships last year in Belgrade due to a foot injury, Fujinami made up for the lost time and piled up a series of titles starting with her win at the Emperor's Cup.

Her victory on Saturday gave her a fourth championship over a five-month span, following wins at the Zagreb Open in February, the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in March, and the Asian Championships in April.

Rei HIGUCHIRei HIGUCHI clinched his spot on the Japan team for World Championships after winning the gold medal at 57kg. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Higuchi, who missed out on the Tokyo Olympics -- mainly after infamously failing to make weight at the Asian qualifying tournament -- is intent on getting back to the Olympics and making amends for his runner-up finish in Rio.

But he said the Olympic berth at stake in Belgrade will not be the main incentive. Having won the 61kg gold last year in the Serbian capital, he wants to gain another world title there.

"I get more pumped up for matches overseas than in Japan," Higuchi said. "I feel I am better overseas and those matches bring out the best in me. I want to win the world title in Serbia, which I think is a place that suits me."

Higuchi was untroubled in scoring a 4-0 victory in the final over 2019 Asian bronze medalist Yudai FUJITA, but expressed concern over his lack of ability to pad his lead after scoring all of his points in the opening minute.

"There were situations where I could have gotten more points," said Higuchi, who scored with a takedown-gut wrench combination. "He was good enough where he could make it to the final, and I knew I had to be stronger to overcome him. But it turned out that I wasn't doing my wrestling and I'm not very satisfied."

Still, he fared better than Yabiku, who gave up a 2-point exposure in par terre and came up on the short side of a 3-2 decision in the Greco 77kg final against world U23 bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA.

Kusaka had ousted Yabiku at the Emperor's Cup, where the latter was at far less than top shape after suffering a severe knee injury 10 days before the competition. He subsequently underwent surgery and, while still having some limited motion, felt prepared to get the title he needed to earn a fourth career trip to the World Championships.

"Up to yesterday, I was able to defend [in par terre], but today I was turned over," Yabiku said. "I lost to Kusaka the last time, and he has studied me. Standing, on the ground, it was like he was controlling me. At this rate, no matter how many matches we have, it will be the same result."

Yuka KAGAMIYuka KAGAMI won the 76kg final to earn a spot in the playoff against Ayano MORO, her opponent on Saturday, on July 1. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Like Yabiku, Kagami had been affected by an injury at the Emperor's Cup, where she was forced to default due to a torn shoulder as Moro captured the title.

Kagami also underwent surgery -- the scar runs parallel to the right strap at the front of her singlet -- and after a grueling rehab, only returned to the mat in April.

"In the months after the Emperor's Cup, so many people put in a great deal of effort to get me ready [for the Meiji Cup]," Kagami said. "Because of that, I could get the gold medal."

She hardly showed the effects as she defeated Moro 2-1 in the final, with all points scored on the activity clock. That followed up a 3-2 victory in their Nordic round-robin group on Friday and means the two will go at it again in the July 1 playoff.

"My movement was a bit tighter than yesterday, but that was because winning was everything," Kagami said. "But compared to before, I was more aggressive."

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO complained of strain in his right foot during his 65kg semifinal win against Kaiki YAMAGUCHI. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Otoguro, Susaki advance, with concerns

Olympic champions Takuto OTOGURO and Yui SUSAKI both advanced to the final of their respective weight classes, but their post-match actions led to varying degrees of concern.

Otoguro's case seems much more serious, as he had to be piggy-backed off the mat following a 3- 2 semifinal victory over Kaiki YAMAGUCHI at freestyle 65kg, during which he took a long timeout when a recent foot injury flared up.

Otoguro, whose only competition since winning the Tokyo gold in 2021 was a triumphant run at the Emperor's Cup, had looked sluggish in his opening match in the quarterfinals but managed to forge out a safe 2-0 victory over Kaiji OGINO.

Against the formidable Yamaguchi, a 2022 Asian bronze medalist and 2019 world U20 champion, Otoguro had to be on his toes, and the strain apparently proved too much for his tender foot.

After whizzering to a stepout and gaining an activity point for a 2-0 lead in the first period, Otoguro managed to fend off a high single-leg attempt. But soon afterward he dropped to the mat clutching his foot and stayed down for an extended time discussing the problem with the tournament medical staff and his coaches. At one point he even took off his shoe and sock and gingerly walked about testing the foot.

The match was eventually resumed, and Yamaguchi went ahead with a stepout and activity point of his own with a minute left. But Otoguro reached down for the drive that made him Japan's youngest-ever male world champion in 2018 and scored a stepout to secure the win and a place in Sunday's final against Asian bronze medalist Ryoma ANRAKU.

Otoguro was not made available to the media, but Kenji INOUE, the head coach of the Self-Defense Force Physical Training School team, issued a statement: "Early this year, he injured his right foot in a match at training camp. Regarding tomorrow's match, it will be decided based on how the treatment goes."

Susaki, aiming for a second straight world title that will propel her into the Paris Olympics, had no trouble on the mat, rolling to a 10-0 technical fall in the women's 50kg semifinals over Riko KASAI.

That sets up yet another clash in the final with Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO, who won the 2021 world title while Susaki was on a post-Olympic hiatus. The two met in the Emperor's Cup final, with Susaki winning 8-0 for her fifth win in five career meetings.

It was at the post-match press conference that something went amiss with Susaki. After answering a standard opening question about her performance -- "I still have one more match. I want to win that and keep on track to the Olympics," she answered -- she suddenly stopped, rubbed her stomach and walked over to sit on a nearby bench.

After a few moments, her handlers announced that she would not be answering any more questions. It was not immediately known what the problem was, but speculation is that it is related to a struggle to make weight. Still, it did not seem serious enough to keep her from appearing in Sunday's final.

The other pairing of note decided on Saturday was at women's 57kg, in which world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI stunned two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (formerly KAWAI) and earned a chance to avenge her semifinal loss at the Emperor's Cup to eventual titlist Sae NANJO, the world U23 champion.

Sakurai showed no fear in scoring the go-ahead takedown with 1:45 left, then poured it on for an 11-1 technical fall over Kinjo, who had returned to the Olympic weight after winning at the Emperor's Cup at 59kg.

With Kinjo's loss, three of Japan's four women's gold medalists in Tokyo have seen their chances of an Olympic repeat all but end as the depth of Japanese women's wrestling comes to the fore. Kinjo joined Shidochi and younger sister Yukako, the 62kg gold medalist who was aiming to make Paris at 68kg, as those whose fates are now in the hands of others.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

57kg (13 entries)
GOLD - Rei HIGUCHI df. Yudai FUJITA, 4-0

BRONZE - Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Tatsuya TSUKAMOTO, 2-1
BRONZE - Yuto NISHIUCHI df. Shotaro TATSUMURA, 8-0

65kg (9 entries)
Semifinal - Takuto OTOGURO df. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI, 3-2
Semifinal - Ryoma ANRAKU df. Makoto HOSOKAWA, 11-9

70kg (8 entries)
GOLD - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Keiji WATANABE, 5-0

BRONZE - Kanata YAMAGUCHI df. Yuma TOMIYAMA, 3-3
BRONZE - Toki OGAWA df. Daishin YAMAJI, 6-1

Semifinal - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI, 8-4
Semifinal - Keiji WATANABE df. Daishin YAMAJI, 4-2

74kg (14 entries)
GOLD - Daichi TAKATANI df. Yuto MIWA by TF, 10-0, 3:45

BRONZE - Masaki SATO df. Kansui OZEKI by TF, 10-0, 1:37
BRONZE - Kirin KINOSHITA df. Kojiro SHIGA, 5-3

79kg (9 entries)
GOLD - Kosuke YAMAKURA df. Shu YAMADA by TF, 10-0, 1:13

BRONZE - Kenshin YAMAJI df. Koki OTA by TF, 11-0, 3:43
BRONZE - Hirotaka ABE df. Kento ITAKURA, 11-9

Semifinal - Kosuke YAMAKURA df. Koki OTA, 7-0
Semifinal - Shu YAMADA df. Kento ITAKURA, 3-2

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
Semifinal -- Maito KAWANA df. Yu SHIOTANI, 4-1
Semifinal -- Kaito INABA df. Koto GOMI by TF, 11-0, 2:22

77kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Nao KUSAKA df. Shohei YABIKU, 3-2

BRONZE - Minto MAEDA df. Shu YAMADA by TF, 8-0, :45
BRONZE - Taishi TOMOYOSE df. Tatsuya FUJII, 2-1

82kg (8 entries)
GOLD - Yuya OKAJIMA df. Yuya MAETA, 4-3

BRONZE - Hayato TAMAOKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 5-3
BRONZE - Reon KAKEGAWA df. Shotaro OIZUMI by TF, 8-0, 2:14

Semifinal - Yuya MAETA df. Hayato TAMAOKA, 5-1
Semifinal - Yuya OKAJIMA df. Reon KAKEGAWA by TF, 9-0, 2:03

97kg (8 entries)
GOLD - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 3-3

BRONZE - Kyo KITAWAKI df. Daisho KATO, 8-7
BRONZE - Masayuki AMANO df. Yudai YONETA by TF, 9-0, 1:55

Women

50kg (13 entries)
Semifinal - Yui SUSAKI df. Riko KASAI by TF, 10-0, 1:56
Semifinal - Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Miu OBATA by TF, 10-0, 1:54

53kg (12 entries)
GOLD - Akari FUJINAMI df. Moe KIYOOKA by TF, 10-0, 4:10

BRONZE - Mayu SHIDOCHI df. Karen SASAKI by TF, 11-1, 4:52
BRONZE - Haruna OKUNO df. Mako ONO by TF, 10-0, 3:31

57kg (13 entries)
Semifinal - Sae NANJO df. Umi IMAI by TF, 10-0, 1:21
Semifinal - Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Risako KINJO by TF, 11-1, 5:05

76kg (7 entries)
GOLD - Yuka KAGAMI df. Ayano MORO, 2-1

BRONZE - Nokoda YAMAMOTO df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI, 6-1

Semifinal - Yuka KAGAMI df. Nokoda YAMAMOTO, 8-2
Semifinal - Ayano MORO df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI by TF, 11-0, 5:28

#JapanWrestling

Fumita returns to book ticket to Belgrade; Sakurai, Ishii make it

By Ken Marantz

TACHIKAWA, Japan  (July 1) -- Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA managed to defy the doctor and recover enough to make it onto the mat for the world team playoff. Having come this far, neither Maito KAWANA nor a nasty gash over his eye was going to stop him.

Fumita defeated Kawana 3-1 to secure the Greco-Roman 60kg spot on Japan's team to this year's World Championships as the seven final places in Olympic weight classes were decided on Saturday in Tachikawa in western Tokyo.

"Among competitions in which I wasn't in perfect condition, I came into this tournament in the lowest I have been, and could not move as I wanted," said Fumita, who was forced to withdraw from the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships two weeks ago due to a torn right hamstring.

The Meiji Cup was the second of Japan's two domestic qualifiers for the World Championships, along with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held last December. Winners of both automatically earned places on the team to Belgrade; in cases where the champions were different, a playoff would decide matters.

Also earning tickets to Belgrade were women's world 57kg champion Tsugumi SAKURAI and Ikuei University teammate and world 68kg silver medalist Ami ISHII -- both with dramatic victories -- while world 76kg bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI took a gamble and made it pay off to earn a return trip to the worlds.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN)Kenichiro FUMITA works to turn Maito KAWANA in the Greco 60kg playoff. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo YABUKI)

With his victory, Fumita will get a chance to regain the world title he won in 2017 and 2019 and improve on his bronze-medal finish from 2022. But more importantly, it gives him a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where making amends for his Tokyo silver holds top priority.

The Japan Federation has decreed that any wrestler in an Olympic weight class who wins a medal at the World Championships will automatically fill the spot in Paris themselves.

"The biggest reason [for my win] is that I want to get back to the Olympics and win a gold medal," Fumita said.

Fumita had won the Emperor's Cup by beating Kawana in the final but was forced to miss the Meiji Cup when he tore a hamstring in practice in early May. Kawana won the title in his absence to earn the place in the playoff.

Fumita said that the doctor who diagnosed his injury said it would take 12 weeks to heal. That ruled him out of the Meiji Cup, but he was determined to make it back in time for the playoff.

"At the Meiji Cup, I saw my Nittaidai teammates do so well," said Fumita, using the familiar name for his alma mater, Nippon Sports Science University, where he and other alums still train. "It was tough to watch. But I watched the Meiji Cup with a positive outlook. That really gave me motivation."

Fumita spent three weeks completely away from the mat after the injury and did what he could to prepare, including adding swimming to his training regimen. It worked somewhat, but he acknowledged he wasn't at his best.

"Up to now, I've never cramped during a match," he said. "But it happened now. Usually before a match, I jump in the air twice. But when I jumped today, I already started to feel I was cramping up. I was really surprised. In this condition, I wrestled at my limit."

In the match, Fumita was put into par terre first and, while not even attempting a big throw, managed to lever Kawana over for a 2-point roll. Early in the second period, a clash of heads left him with a bloody gash over his left eye that required his head to be wrapped. When put on the bottom, he resisted and held on for the victory.

"Still, I was able to fight to the end," Fumita said. "I took [the points] that I could get, and defended well to keep from giving up points. I think that was from what I learned while I was injured."

Among the small crowd at Dome Tachikawa Tachihi was the 27-year-old Fumita's wife and baby daughter Hazuki, who was born in January. "I only want my daughter to see me winning," he said with a smile.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI, red, has now beaten Sae NANJO in four of five career matches at women's 57kg, all victories in the final seconds. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo YABUKI)

Sakurai deals Nanjo yet another last-second loss

For the fourth time in five meetings between the two, Sakurai left it until the final seconds in handing world U23 champion Sae NANJO a heartbreaking defeat.

Sakurai scored a 2-point exposure off a front headlock in the last second -- and which was only awarded after a challenge -- to edge Nanjo 2-2 on last-point criteria and earn a shot a defending her 57kg world title.

"The match was tough and I couldn't control the flow," Sakurai said. "At the end, I was fighting on sheer will and was able to get the points and win."

In the Meiji Cup final, Sakurai was awarded a takedown with less than a second left on the clock, which was upheld on a challenge, to defeat Nanjo 5-2 and avenge a loss in the Emperor's Cup semifinals.

On Saturday, Nanjo came out strong and scored a shrug-by single-leg takedown in the first period. It looked like that would be enough as she continually fended off Sakurai's attacks well into the second period.

But Sakurai managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat yet again. Gaining a front headlock with seven seconds left, her first attempt at a roll went nowhere. But she tried again with all of her might, and it just got Nanjo's shoulders to break the 90-degree plane, although the referees did not see it that way.

Sakurai's look of despondency suddenly turned to joy when the mat chairman announced that she had indeed earned the points.

"Honestly speaking, I wasn't sure if I turned her or not," said Sakurai. "I had to go for it and just tried the move. Seeing the video, it looked like I got her over."

At the Emperor's Cup, Nanjo had finally gotten the best of Sakurai by taking a five-point lead and holding on for a 5-4 win in the semifinals. That was after Sakurai had scored last-second victories in their two previous meetings, at the 2021 Emperor’s Cup and at last year's Meiji Cup.

"I've been in this situation before and I was able to win, so I wasn't anxious," Sakurai said. "I've faced this opponent a number of times and I've gotten single-leg takedowns, but she was on the lookout for that. There was a moment in there I thought I was going to lose, but my desire to go to the Paris Olympics made me fight to the end."

On the path to Belgrade, Sakurai also defeated Tokyo Olympic champion Risako KINJO in the semifinals of the Meiji Cup.

"Japan has incredible depth and to win out gives me confidence," Sakurai said. "I want to be the one who takes the Olympic gold next and I'll do what I have to do to get there."

Ami ISHII (JPN)Ami ISHII looks for an opening the women's 68kg playoff against Miwa MORIKAWA. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo YABUKI)

Ishii assured she will join teammate Sakurai on the plane to Belgrade by holding on for a nail-biting 2-1 win over world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA, avenging a loss to her in the Meiji Cup semis.

Ishii scored a double-leg takedown in the first period and, after giving up an activity point in the second, fended off Morikawa's attacks for the victory.

"I worked to fix what went wrong at the Meiji Cup, but I also worked on strengthening my usual techniques," Ishii said.

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)Yuka KAGAMI keeps hold of Ayano MORO's leg during a key point in their women's 76kg bout. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo YABUKI)

At 76kg, Kagami followed up on her Meiji Cup victory over world U20 champion Ayano MORO by scoring a takedown with 50 seconds left to win 2-2 in a bout that hinged on a risky challenge by the Kagami side.

The 18-year-old Moro had opened the match with a single-leg takedown, then scrambled out of several scoring chances by Kagami. In the second period, Kagami got in deep on a single, but Moro worked around to the back into a grapevine-like situation and was given a 2-point takedown.

Kagami, however, had never lost her grip on Moro's leg, and Toyo University coach Shogo MAEDA decided to challenge the call, even though a rejection would put her into a deeper five-point hole.

The referees' call was overturned, and Moro's two-point lead restored, opening the door for Kagami to win with just one score.

"I myself thought she didn't get it," said Kagami, who had shoulder surgery in January after defaulting at the Emperor's Cup. "If I challenged it, it could make it 5-0 and make it tougher for me. I thought for a moment about rejecting it, but I looked at my coach and he said it was alright. I left it up to my coach."

Maeda acknowledged that the challenge was risky, but concluded it was worth it because in essence being down five points is not much different than being down by four.

"The opponent was being very cautious of tackles," Maeda said. "If [we didn't challenge and] it became four points, it would have been difficult. But if we got it, it would just be a difference of one takedown. To have a chance, we needed it to be 2-0. I understood the risk."

The three other playoffs were in Greco-Roman, with 2022 world U23 bronze medalists Kyotaro SOGABE (67kg) and Nao KUSAKA (77kg) prevailing, along with 2018 Asian silver medalist Masato SUMI (87kg).

The playoffs in the non-Olympic weight classes will be held on July 17.

All wrestlers who finished in the top two in an Olympic weight at either the Emperor's Cup or Meiji Cup are eligible to make a challenge in a non-Olympic weight. Among notable wrestlers who are eligible, but as yet undecided, are Kinjo and Morikawa.