#WrestleSofia

Japan to Dispatch Takahashi to Last-Chance Olympic Qualifier

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - 05:54 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

TOKYO, Japan (April 13) --- The Japan Wrestling Federation plans to dispatch former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) to the final world Olympic qualifying tournament at freestyle style 57kg in place of Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), who missed the chance qualify Japan for the Tokyo Olympics when he failed to make weight at the recently completed Asian qualifier.

JWF general manager Shigeki NISHIGUCHI was quoted as saying on the federation website on Tuesday that Takahashi said he is prepared to take on the challenge at the last-chance qualifier, to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 6-9.

"Higuchi has to reduce much weight, and there is not much time until [the qualifying tournament, so we are considering sending Yuki Takahashi, who has achieved good results such as winning the title at the 2017 World Championships," Nishiguchi said.

Securing a berth for Japan in Sofia, however, will not automatically guarantee the place for Takahashi. According to federation rules, he will have participate in a playoff, to be held on the final day of the All-Japan Invitational Championships to be held in Tokyo on May 27-30.

Higuchi's failure to make weight was the start of a rough day for Japan, as it failed to earn any berths in the four freestyle weight classes in which it competed.

Nishiguchi said that national team technical director Kenji INOUE contacted Takahashi to confirm that he was available, and the 2020 national champion replied, "I am fully prepared."

Higuchi had moved up a weight class after winning the silver medal at 57kg at the Rio 2016 Olympics, then made an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at 65kg.

He then dropped back down to the lightest weight class, and won the 2019 national title to earn the ticket to the Asian qualifier in Almaty. Making weight was always a struggle, and the Japan federation was left in shock when he just barely missed making weight at the weigh-in.

Obituary

Japanese legend and Olympic champ Obara passes away aged 44

Saturday, July 19, 2025 - 11:00 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

TOKYO (July 19) — Legendary Japanese wrestler Hitomi OBARA, the 2012 London Olympic gold medalist at women's 48kg and an eight-time world champion, passed away on Friday, the Japanese media reported on Saturday. She was 44.

The Japan Self-Defense Force Physical Training School, where Obara was a women's coach, said it was withholding the cause of death "out of consideration for the privacy and emotions of the bereaved family," according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Obara, the mother of two elementary school-aged children, was a director in the Japan Wrestling Federation, and had just been appointed in June as a coach of the women's national team for the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics along with fellow former Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.

Obara, who won six of her world titles at 51kg under her maiden name of SAKAMOTO, became a model case for the ups and downs of high-level sports and the ability to overcome grave disappointment. Her victory at the London Olympics, at age 31, came after being denied spots on Japan's team at both of the two previous Olympics by fellow legend Saori YOSHIDA.

Born in 1981 in the wrestling hotbed of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, Obara went on to attend Chukyo University (now Shigakkan), which she helped turn into a national powerhouse along with Yoshida and fellow Hachinohe native Icho.

"It's hard, it's hard, I can't keep from crying," former Shigakkan and national team coach Kazuhito SAKAE was quoted as telling the Japanese media. "She was a wrestling prodigy. At the least, she was a hard worker with a strong sense of responsibility. She was wrestling's heaven-sent child. I still can't believe it." 

Obara won back-to-back world 51kg titles in 1999 and 2000. A serious knee injury would keep her from returning to the world championships until 2005, from which she won four in a row.

In between, she attempted to make the Japanese's squad to the 2004 Athens Olympics, but that dream ended with a loss by fall to Yoshida in the 55kg final at the All-Japan Championships in December 2002. She would only compete once in 2003 before returning in earnest in 2004 and beginning her streak of world titles the following year.

But more disappointment came her way in the qualifying process for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Again it was Yoshida who squashed her dreams, beating her 2-0 (2-0, 4-0) in the 2006 All-Japan final. After the match, Obara sat for hours sobbing in a corner of the warm-up room, a towel draped over her head.

Obara managed to rebound from the defeat to win a playoff for the 51kg spot at the 2007 World Championships, where she won gold No. 5. After adding No. 6 a year later with a run to the gold that included a victory over future Olympic champ Helen MAROULIS (USA), she decided to retire.

But despite all of her success, the lack of a Olympic gold -- or even an appearance, for that matter -- still left a sting that would not abate. That, and the decision of her younger sister Makiko to retire, led her to attempt the difficult path of cutting down to 48kg to make it to London.

Makiko was a world bronze medalist at 48kg in 2005 and 2008, but decided to end her career after placing eighth in 2009. Hitomi had never wanted to displace her sister from the national team, but now the door to 48kg was open.

Her biggest battle may have been with the scale. On the mat, she was as unbeatable as ever, storming to world golds in 2010 and 2011 -- now as Obara after getting married in 2010.

There was one slip-up along the way -- a semifinal loss to So Sim HYANG (PRK) at the 2010 Asian Games that ended her 70-match winning streak in international matches. But she regained her confidence with a decisive win at the All-Japan, and it was with a full head of steam that she headed to the London Olympics, which she had announced would be her swan song.

In London, Obara knocked off defending Olympic champion Carol HUYNH (CAN) in the semifinals before coming from behind in the final to defeat Mariya STADNIK (AZE) 2-1 (0-4, 1-0, 2-0) -- a replay of the gold-medal match at the 2011 worlds.

"If you keep doing what you love and never give up, you can achieve your dream," Obara told students at the junior high school she attended during a visit in January last year.

Upon retiring, Obara joined the staff at the Self-Defense Force Physical Training School, where she was also an officer. Among the members she coached were Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO, Himeka TOKUHARA and Masako FURUICHI, who all made Japan's team to this year's World Championships.

In 2022, Obara was inducted into UWW's Hall of Fame along with Yoshida and Icho.