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

Saturday, June 17, 2023 - 14:37 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 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 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 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

Morikawa reigns at 68kg, all but shatters Kawai's Olympic quest

Friday, June 16, 2023 - 15:17 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 16) -- When the dust settled on the battle royale that is the women's 68kg division of Japanese wrestling, it was Miwa MORIKAWA who emerged unscathed, while Yukako KAWAI's dream of a second straight Olympic gold was left in tatters.

Morikawa defeated Kawai in the final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Friday, a victory in the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships that refortifies her own chances of ultimately making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Morikawa preceded her 3-0 win over the Tokyo Olympic champion at 62kg by knocking off world silver medalist Ami ISHII 8-5 in the semifinals, which avenged a loss to her last December in the final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships, the first of the world team qualifiers.

"A half-year ago I lost, and I came to get revenge at this tournament," said Morikawa, the reigning world 65kg champion who had moved up to the Olympic weight class. "I kept in mind that if I lost this time, there would be no Paris."

Winners at both the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup earn a place on Japan's team to the World Championships in September in Belgrade, where in the Olympic weight classes, a medal will also mean an automatic ticket to the Paris Olympics. If the winners are different, the two will face off in a playoff slated for July 1.

Morikawa's triumph puts her into a playoff with Ishii, who had beaten her 5-2 at the Emperor's Cup. "I am now back at the start line with Ishii. If I don't win again, it all means nothing," Morikawa said.

Among those booking tickets to Belgrade was world 59kg bronze medalist Sakura MOTOKI, who repeated her triumph at the Emperor's Cup in the equally stacked women's 62kg class by beating Yuzuka INAGAKI in the final.

Brothers Hayato and Takashi ISHIGURO will also be on the plane to Belgrade. Hayato won the freestyle 86kg crown by handing veteran Sohsuke TAKATANI his first loss to a Japanese wrestler in a decade, and elder sibling Takashi followed by triumphing at 97kg.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) Miwa MORIKAWA celebrates after beating Emperor's Cup champion Ami ISHII in the 68kg semifinal. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

The women's 68kg class got a little more crowded for the Meiji Cup when Kawai, the Tokyo Olympic champion at 62kg, made the surprising jump up to the next Olympic weight after falling to Motoki in the 62kg semifinals at the Emperor's Cup.

Kawai seemed to be managing the extra weight when she finished unbeaten in three matches in her round-robin Nordic group on Thursday -- including a 4-4 victory over Morikawa -- then advanced to the final earlier Friday with a 4-3 victory over the three-time world 72kg medalist Masako FURUICHI.

But the final played out differently, as Morikawa scored an activity point and a double-leg takedown in the first period, then held off Kawai's attacks for a 3-0 victory.

"I've faced her a few times and I had never beaten her," Morikawa said. "This time, I wanted revenge on everyone. I came in with a positive attitude."

Kawai occasionally broke down in tears as she reflected on her bold performance. "I lost, but I gave it my all," said Kawai, whose older sister and fellow Olympic champion Risako KINJO will begin her quest at 57kg on Saturday.

"It was my first time in this weight class. When I look back at how I had wanted to run away and quit, I think it's something that I made it this far."

Morikawa was motivated by her loss at the Emperor's Cup and the harsh love meted out by her coaches, who include four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.

"After the final, [Icho] said, 'You fought well.' She never normally says that," Morikawa said. "At the Emperor's Cup, I didn't move like I usually do and the coaches were especially brutal in their comments. I realized that to win here, if I don't use my strengths, it would be a waste. I thought I have to give everything and be at my best to win, and I was able to do it."

Kawai still has a slim chance to get to Paris, but it is predicated on whoever goes to Belgrade not coming home with a medal. The odds would seem against her, as Japan's women won medals in four of the six Olympic weight classes at the 2019 World Championships that served as the first qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI confirmed her spot at 62kg for the World Championships by winning the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Motoki has been dreaming of going to the Olympics since she started wrestling as a toddler, hoping to emulate her father Yasutoshi, who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics at Greco 63kg.

"From when I started wrestling when I was little, I have been aiming at the Olympics," the 22- year-old Motoki said. "Everything my coach taught me when I was in elementary school, what my high school coach said, and my coach at Ikuei University, it all culminated in today's result."

Motoki also has some unfinished business at the World Championships, as she still feels the sting of settling for a bronze medal last year in Belgrade, where she was dealt a 7-5 loss in the semifinals by Anastasia NICHITA (MDA).

"Last year, I lost at the World Championships, but I learned a lot from it, and I am determined not to make the same mistakes again," she said.

Motoki scored a takedown followed by a two-point roll in each period to cruise to an 8-2 victory in the final against Yuzuka INAGAKI, who had pulled off a stunning upset of world champion Nonoka OZAKI in the semifinals.

Ozaki, who returned to the mat to take home a bronze medal, said that she will likely try to earn a ticket to the World Championships in a non-Olympic weight class.

According to Japan Wrestling Federation rules, any wrestler who finishes in the top two of an Olympic weight class but does not qualify in that division for Belgrade can opt to challenge for a place in a non-Olympic weight. Those playoffs will be held on July 17.

Hayato ISHIGURO handed Sohsuke TAKATANI his first domestic loss in a decade to win at 86kg. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

The Ishiguro brothers can be content with not having to concern themselves with the playoffs after both put on masterful performances to clinch their world places outright.

Hayato Ishiguro, coming off a bronze-medal finish at the Asian Championships in April, scored a takedown and a stepout in the first period, and that was enough to top Takatani 3-0 in the 86kg final.

The 34-year-old Takatani had won his 12th straight Emperor's Cup over four weight classes in December at 92kg but dropped to 86kg in an attempt to make a fourth career Olympics. The 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg, Takatani had not lost to a Japanese opponent since the National Games in October 2013.

"I had faced him several times but I had never beaten him," Ishiguro said. "I had beaten foreign wrestlers who had beaten him and that boosted my confidence, but I still never beat him. Finally, I have topped him, and that makes me feel a mix of relief and joy."

Ishiguro then watched as older sibling Takashi, an Asian bronze medalist in 2021, follow up with a 4-1 victory in the 97kg final over Taira SONODA. Like Hayato, Takashi scored all of his points in the first period, combining a takedown and gut wrench after giving up an activity point.

"I was focused on myself [during the tournament] and didn't see much of his matches, but my final was first so I was able to see his match," Hayato said. "When he won the title, I was happy because it means we can both compete at the World Championships."

In another final, 2022 Asian bronze medalist Katsuaki ENDO avenged a loss in the Emperor's Cup final to Kyotaro SOGABE, this year's Asian silver medalist, by scoring a two-point exposure in his second attempt at par terre for a 3-3 victory on last-point criteria in the Greco-Roman 67kg gold medal bout. The two will go at it again in the July 1 playoff.

Fujinami, Higuchi win away from worlds

The Olympic weight classes are being run over two days, and two of Japan's top medal hopes for Belgrade, but with eyes firmly on Paris, advanced to their respective finals.

Former world champion Akari FUJINAMI followed up her historic victory over Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA) in the quarterfinals by advancing to the women's 53kg final on Saturday with a victory by fall over Karen SASAKI.

Her two victories stretched Fujinami's current winning streak to 121 matches in a row dating back to her junior high school days in 2017. While she says she has little interest in it, the Japanese media is quick to note she has surpassed the 119-match winning streak put together by three-time Olympic champion and fellow Mie Prefecture native Saori YOSHIDA from December 2001 to January 2008.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) Moe KIYOOKA overcame two-time world champion Haruna OKUNO in the 53kg semifinal. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami's opponent in the final will be fellow 19-year-old Moe KIYOOKA, who gained one of the biggest scalps of her career by knocking off two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO 4-2 in the other semifinal.

Kiyooka, who is one month and two days Fujinami's senior, has recently established herself as Japan's top wrestler at 55kg, winning both the world U20 and U23 golds and the Emperor's Cup in 2022. Her dropping down to 53kg for the Meiji Cup only added to an already stacked weight class.

Fujinami had moved halfway to Belgrade by beating Okuno in the final of the Emperor's Cup, where Okuno defeated Shidochi. Fujinami all but closed the door to Paris for Shidochi with her victory by fall on Friday in the first-ever meeting between the titans.

Looking ahead to the final, Fujinami commented, "If I don't win tomorrow, it means nothing," Fujinami said. "Winning in Paris is my ultimate goal."

Also moving closer to completing the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double was Rei HIGUCHI, who is in his second Olympic cycle of trying to make up for his disappointing silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Higuchi, the 2022 world champion at freestyle 61kg, has returned to the Olympic weight class of 57kg and -- despite an everlasting struggle to make weight -- advanced to Saturday's final, where he will face Yudai FUJITA.

Higuchi chalked up a 10-5 semifinal victory over Toshihiro HASEGAWA, a 2021 world bronze medalist at 61kg who was the defending Meiji Cup champion.

"I really struggled with losing weight, and that's why I gave up five points in the semifinals," Higuchi said. "I'll focus on the task at hand in the final. I am thinking only of winning."

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU kept his hopes alive of making it to Belgrade by advancing to the Greco 77kg final with a 5-1 victory over Minto MAEDA. He will face world U23 bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA.

Yabiku came up short at the Emperor's Cup after suffering a right knee injury 10 days before the competition. He has since had surgery, but his range of motion remains limited and he said he has to adjust his techniques.

A victory on Saturday would put Yabiku into a playoff with Emperor's Cup champion and two-time Asian bronze medalist Kodai SAKURABA, who was dealt a 5-1 loss in the quarterfinals by Maeda.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

57kg (13 entries)
Semifinal -- Rei HIGUCHI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 10-5
Semifinal -- Yudai FUJITA df. Yuto NISHIUCHI, 2-1

74kg (14 entries)
Semifinal -- Daichi TAKATANI df. Masaki SATO, 10-5
Semifinal -- Jintaro KINOSHITA df. Yuto MIWA, 2-1

86kg (12 entries)
GOLD -- Hayato ISHIGURO df. Sohsuke TAKATANI, 3-0

BRONZE -- Tatsuya SHIRAI df. Mao OKUI, 7-1
BRONZE -- Fumiya IGARASHI df. Yudai TAKAHASHI, 9-7

97kg (9 entries)
GOLD -- Takashi ISHIGURO df. Taira SONODA, 4-1

BRONZE -- Keivan YOSHIDA df. Hiroto NINOMIYA, 7-5
BRONZE -- Nariya MARUYAMA df. Hibiki ITO by Def.

125kg (4 entries)
GOLD -- Taiki YAMAMOTO (3-0)
SILVER-- Yuji FUKUI (2-1)
BRONZE -- Takuto YASUDA (1-2)

Key match: Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Yuji FUKUI, 2-1 in 3rd round

Greco-Roman

63kg (9 entries)
GOLD -- Ryuto IKEDA df. Chiezo MARUYAMA, 1-1

BRONZE -- Yamato HAGIWARA df. Komei SAWADA, 1-1
BRONZE -- Ryuta KOSHIBA df. Godai MITANI, 8-1

Semifinal -- Chiezo MARUYAMA df. Yamato HAGIWARA by TF, 10-2, 3:42
Semifinal -- Ryuto IKEDA df. Godai MITANI, 5-1

67kg (13 entries)
GOLD -- Katsuaki ENDO df. Kyotaro SOGABE, 3-3

BRONZE -- Ryoma HOJO df. Kensuke SHIMIZU by Def.
BRONZE -- Taishi NARIKUNI df. Yuji UEGAKI, 8-2

77kg (11 entries)
Semifinal -- Shohei YABIKU df. Minto MAEDA, 5-1
Semifinal -- Nao KUSAKA df. Tatsuya FUJII, 7-1

87kg (6 entries)
GOLD -- So SAKABE df. Masato SUMI, 1-1

BRONZE -- Kanta SHIOKAWA df. Daisei ISOE by Fall, 1:26 (4-0)

Semifinal -- Masato SUMI df. Daisei ISOE by TF, 8-0, 1:47
Semifinal -- So SAKABE df . Kanta SHIOKAWA, 5-1

97kg (8 entries)
Semifinal -- Yuta NARA df. Kyo KITAWAKI, TF, 8-0, 1;55
Semifinal -- Yuri NAKAZATO df. Masayuki AMANO, 5-0

130kg (6 entries)
GOLD -- Sota OKUMURA df. Shion OBATA, 1-1

BRONZE -- Koei YAMADA df. Naoto YAMAGUCHI, 2-0

Semifinal -- Sota OKUMURA df. Koei YAMADA by TF, 9-0, 1:59
Semifinal -- Shion OBATA df. Naoto YAMAGUCHI, 4-0

Women

53kg (12 entries)
Semifinal -- Akari FUJINAMI df. Karen SASAKI by Fall, 1:55 (6-1)
Semifinal -- Moe KIYOOKA df. Haruna OKUNO, 4-2

59kg (10 entries)
GOLD -- Sena NAGAMOTO df. Himeka TOKUHARA, 6-3

BRONZE -- Yui SAKANO df. Kanami YAMAUCHI by TF, 9-0, 4:32
BRONZE -- Miyu NAKANISHI df. Sakura YAMAJI, 8-0

Semifinal -- Sena NAGAMOTO df. Yui SAKANO, 6-2
Semifinal -- Himeka TOKUHARA df. Miyu NAKANISHI, 3-0

62kg (13 entries)
GOLD -- Sakura MOTOKI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 8-2

BRONZE -- Naomi RUIKE df. Ayana GEMPEI, 5-0
BRONZE -- Nonoka OZAKI df. Suzu SASAKI, TF, 10-0, 4:13

68kg (7 entries)
GOLD -- Miwa MORIKAWA df. Yukako KAWAI, 3-0

BRONZE -- Ami ISHII df. Masako FURUICHI, 5-3

Semifinal -- Miwa MORIKAWA df. Ami ISHII, 8-5
Semifinal -- Yukako KAWAI df. Masako FURUICHI, 4-3

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

Comments

Morikawa reigns at 68kg, all but shatters Kawai's Olympic quest