#JapanWrestling

Ozaki keeps Olympic dream alive, glides into 68kg playoff

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 24) -- After a devastating setback last summer that left her doubting herself, Nonoka OZAKI took action by going back to school. On Sunday, she passed a vital test that moved her a step closer to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ozaki, looking far from the wrestler whose Olympic dreams seemed squashed for good a half-year ago, masterfully glided to a 7-0 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA in the women's 68kg final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in Tokyo.

The victory that capped the tournament at Yoyogi No. 2 Gym earned Ozaki a place in a playoff with Ami ISHII for the berth in Paris that Ishii had secured for Japan at this year's World Championships in Belgrade. The showdown has been set for January 27 at the National Training Center in Tokyo.

"There was only one match left, and I fought with the sole thought that winning this and then winning the playoff would get me to Paris," Ozaki said of the final.

The 20-year-old Ozaki relied on her speed and renewed confidence to win out in a weight class two above her usual 62kg. She had missed out on that division to Sakura MOTOKI, who clinched the Paris berth for Japan in Belgrade by winning a silver medal that automatically secured the spot for herself.

Japan female wrestlers won medals in five of the six Olympic weight classes in Belgrade, leaving only 68kg up for grabs because Ishii finished fifth. The lure of a ticket to Paris drew a slew of past and current world champions from weight classes above and below to the All-Japan to challenge Ishii, who would have snatched the berth outright with a victory.

Ozaki, the 62kg world champion in 2022, also went to Belgrade in the 65kg spot and won her second senior world title. Morikawa, the 2022 world champion at 65kg, likewise moved up to 72kg and took home a bronze.

Before the All-Japan, Ozaki said she added enough weight and strength so that it did not affect her speed. That helped her ensure that Ishii would not be leaving Yoyogi No. 2 Gym with both the title and Olympic berth by defeating her in the first round on Saturday. She and Morikawa then continued through the gauntlet to get to the final.

"It was a tense tournament," Ozaki. "I practiced very hard, practices that would be second to none, and I believed in myself, and my objective was to put all of that out on the mat here. I'm glad it worked out."

In the final, Ozaki led 1-0 after receiving an activity point when the complexion of the match turned with a lightning-fast series of points by Ozaki.

Morikawa shot for a high crotch and Ozaki reacted instantly by applying a pancake, then reversed field and grabbed the near knee to send Morikawa reeling backward for a takedown. Keeping the leg locked, Ozaki stood up and reverse rolled Morikawa over, then added a second exposure for a 7-0 lead.

In the second period, Ozaki never let the slower but more powerful Morikawa get close to her legs, fending off all attacks while continuing to keep just enough pressure on.

"I used my speed which is my strong point and withstood the power of the opponent, then used it against her to set up a tackle," Ozaki said. "I think I did well using the opponent's strengths, including when we tied up."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI turns Miwa MORIKAWA over during a six-point spree in the first period of the women's 68kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

When time ran out, Ozaki neither screamed in joy nor punched the air. Her only gesture of celebration was a quick nod toward a section of the stands with a small group donned in bright yellow t-shirts with her name on them.

The contingent, which included her mother, was mainly students and parents from Nirasaki Technical High School in Yamanashi Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Up to a few months ago, Ozaki had no connection with the school, but it would play a huge role in her revival.

Ozaki represents a rare case among elite wrestlers in Japan in that she attends Keio University, one of Japan's top academic universities with no wrestling tradition to speak of. Instead of earning easy entry through sports, she went the route of the common student and passed the grueling entrance exam. A product of the Japan Olympic Academy that also produced world champions Yui SUSAKI and Yuka KAGAMI, she mainly uses that as her training base.

Wrestling at 62kg at the Asian Games in October, she defeated world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), only to be dealt a tough 6-6 loss to Hyun-Gong MUN (PRK) in the final. Something had to change, and fast.

It was then that a friend of her mother whose children attend Nirasaki Technical suggested that Ozaki come train with its national powerhouse wrestling team, which is coached by Toshiro FUMITA, the father of Kenichiro FUMITA, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at Greco 60kg.

Every weekend, Ozaki trained with the team, sparring with the boys, as she went to work on improving her defense and just regaining her confidence. The difference was palpable when comparing the aggressive Ozaki at the Emperor's Cup with the unsure Ozaki in the July playoff.

"It was exactly a year ago that I lost at the Emperor's Cup," Ozaki said. "I lost the chance at 62kg and it made me think about many things. I wasn't going to retire, and my desire to get to the Olympics never changed.

"Then the chance came up [at 68kg], and I was going to grab it. The person I was last year would not have been able to take it one step at a time and keep winning. It makes me think I have made progress as a person, and I can achieve the dream that I have had since I was small."

Speaking about her time at Nirasaki caused Ozaki to break down into tears. "They took care of me, and created a perfect environment to prepare," she said.

"They are the reason I could win here. The kids came here to support me, they made t-shirts, I have nothing but gratitude for them. I can't lose the next match."

Looking ahead to the playoff, Ozaki will be aiming to beat Ishii for a fifth time in five career meetings, having previously beaten her three times during their junior days. But one thing the past year has taught her is to never let down her guard.

"She has nothing to lose, and we both want to go to Paris," Ozaki said. "It will come down to getting ready over the next month and who wants it more."

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA chalks up one of his six stepouts in the freestyle 97kg final against Hibiki ITO. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Teen Yoshida earns ticket to Olympic qualifier

The final three tickets to the Asian Olympic qualifier in Bishkek in April were awarded, and teenager Arash YOSHIDA powered his way to one in his first-ever outing at freestyle 97kg, while two rising stars at Nippon Sports Science University grabbed the other two.

The 19-year-old Yoshida, the Asian champion at 92kg who finished fifth at the World Championships, gave away nothing in terms of strength at the higher weight class, crushing Hibiki ITO by a 10-0 technical fall in the final.

In fact, Yoshida was the one turning on the turbocharge as he scored six stepouts along with a pair of takedowns off counters for his first senior national title.

"I knew the opponent was strong on tackles, but I kept up my guard and used what worked best for me in the match," said the Nihon University star. "I know I didn't go on the attack very much, so I want to increase my attacks."

Yoshida, whose Iranian father was his coach at the Chiba Prefecture kids club where he started the sport, won all three of his matches by fall or technical fall.

One opponent he, fortunately, did not have to face was older brother Keivan, who was in the other bracket but lost his first-round match to defending champion Takashi ISHIGURO, who then fell to Ito in the semifinals.

"We were in the same weight class and I was thinking, 'Don't make us meet, don't make us meet,'" Yoshida said. "In the end, we didn't have to. Although he didn't make the final, he was there to help me warm up and all of the family gave me support."

At freestyle 65kg, NSSU's Kotaro KIYOOKA made sure his stunning win over Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO in Saturday's semifinals was not in vain, rolling to an 11-0 technical fall over fellow collegian Masanosuke ONO in the final.

With the victory, Kiyooka became the second member of his family to win a title at the tournament, after younger sister Moe successfully defended her 55kg crown on Friday.

Kyotaro SOGABE preceded his teammate to the top of the podium by rallying to beat NSSU alumnus and training partner Katsuaki ENDO 8-5 in the Greco 67kg final for his second straight title.

Sogabe was trailing 5-4 when he was put on top for the third par terre of the match with about a minute to go. He failed to score points with a throw, but the two landed in a position that allowed Sogabe to execute a pair of rolls to go ahead.

Sogabe, the Asian silver medalist this year and 2022 world U23 bronze medalist, had beaten Endo in a playoff to get to the World Championships. But his bid to clinch an Olympic spot in Belgrade came up just short when he suffered a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) during which he won the crowd to his side.

In Bishkek, both Kiyooka and Sogabe will aim to win Olympic berths in weight classes in which only Iran has already secured one from Asia.

Risako KAWAI (JPN)Risako KAWAI lifts up Sena NAGAMOTO for a 4-point counter in the women's 59kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Kinjo claims fifth national crown

Having come to terms with the fact that she no longer has a chance to win a third straight Olympic gold, Risako KINJO is content with continuing her career while balancing it with being the mother of a toddler.

Kinjo, formerly KAWAI, won her second straight title at women's 59kg and the fifth overall of her career with a 9-2 victory in the final over Sena NAGAMOTO.

With the win, Kinjo earned a ticket to next year's Asian Championships, which will be held in Bishkek the week before the Olympic qualifier.

"As I raise my child, I realize I can't do my wrestling as usual," said the 29-year-old Kinjo, who gave birth to her daughter in August 2022 and then lost out to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI in the race for the Olympic berth at 57kg.

"To face opponents who can focus on wrestling seven days a week is difficult."

The non-Olympic weights were run in a single day, which meant Kinjo had to win four matches en route to the gold. That task was made more difficult by the fact that only two divisions were remaining on the final day, meaning very little time between bouts.

"It was hard to have four matches in one day, but I was glad I wrestled hard and got through it," she said.

Her toughest match came in the semifinals when Kinjo had to draw on all of her power and pride as a two-time Olympic champion to avoid an upset by 2022 world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA.

Tokuhara was leading 2-1 in the second period when she scored a 4-point throw from a standing front headlock. Looking like vintage Kinjo, she came back with a takedown with :40 left that had a one-point fleeing penalty tacked on to cut the lead to 6-4.

That put her on top in par terre, but Tokuhara wriggled out of a roll attempt. With :20 remaining, Kinjo hit a slick inside leg trip to slam Tokuhara to her back for 4 points and the win.

"Up to the Tokyo Olympics, my mindset was that I wanted to win every match and win big," Kinjo said. "Now I don't have that luxury. I have to focus for all six minutes on the opponent. I don't even remember the four matches. I'll have to look at the videos to see what happened."

In Bishkek, Kinjo will be aiming for her fifth career Asian title dating back to 2014. But there's another reason she will aim to strike gold.

"I want to wear a uniform with 'Kinjo' on it and compete overseas once more," she said. "Also, I don't want my child to think that I became weaker because I gave birth to her. I want to have a good result after giving birth. That's become my motivation."

In other finals, two-time former world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO re-established herself as arguably the second-best 50kg wrestler in the world, defeating world U23 champion Umi ITO 11-2 for her third career national title.

Yoshimoto has had the bad luck of competing during the reign of Tokyo Olympic and three-time world champion Susaki, who has lost to only one wrestler (albeit three times) in her entire career. Yoshimoto's only losses both at home and abroad since 2020 have come to Susaki, and her world and national titles were won when Susaki was not entered.

As for the Asian Championships, Susaki and the eight others who have clinched spots at the Paris Olympics will have the priority on deciding whether or not to go to Bishkek, despite not entering the All-Japan. If Susaki defers, Yoshimoto will get a chance at a third continental crown.

At women's 57kg, 2021 world bronze medalist Sae NANJO won her second straight title and fifth overall with a 4-0 victory in the final over Himeka TANABE.

Nanjo scored a pair of activity points while being continually held to a stalemate on her single-leg attempts by Tanabe, then finally scored a clinching takedown in the second period.

Tanabe, a four-time bronze medalist, was appearing in the final for the first time but came up short of joining younger brother Kaisei as a national champion. Kaisei had won the freestyle 61kg title to complete a father-son tandem with their father Chikara, a bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Leon KAKEGAWALeon KAKEGAWA, 2nd from right,  stands on the Greco 82kg podium after winning a bronze medal, making him the first to medal in both styles since 1973. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

College freshman achieves unique double

With a sudden influx of wrestlers entering both the freestyle and Greco competitions, the "Shohei Otani" award for best two-way player goes to Waseda freshman Leon KAKEGAWA, who became the first wrestler to win a medal in both styles at the All-Japan in a half-century.

Kakegawa won a bronze medal at Greco 82kg, a day after he finished as the silver medalist at freestyle 92kg.

Kakegawa said he exclusively practices Greco, but entered the freestyle after qualifying by winning a gold at the freshman college championships.

"As a freshman, I thought it would be good to get as much experience as I can, and even though it's not my main style, I decided to enter," he said.

Asked about the large gap in weights between the two styles, he acknowledged that he was closer to 86kg in freestyle. "But this being an Olympic [qualifying] year, the top competitors all gathered for this tournament," he said.

"I'm not yet at that level. As a non-Olympic weight class, 92kg is kind of overlooked and I thought it would increase my chances for medal."

The last time a wrestler medaled in both styles was in 1973 when Mitsuo YOSHIDA won golds in the 100kg class. He went on to become a professional wrestler with the ring name Choshuriki.

In fact, no wrestler since the 1980s had entered both styles until last year, when 2022 world 70kg freestyle champion Taishi NARIKUNI did it, only to pull out of both due to an injury. Still, that seemed to inspire others to try and a handful did so this year.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Masanosuke ONO by TF, 11-0, 2:02

BRONZE: Tomohiro HASEGAWA df. Takuto OTOGURO by Def.
BRONZE: Takumi AKIYAMA df. Ryoma ANRAKU, 8-4

97kg (14 entries)
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA df. Hibiki ITO by TF, 10-0, 4:52

BRONZE: Takashi ISHIGURO df. Asahi IMAMURA by Fall, :59 (6-0)
BRONZE: Genki HOKI df. Taira SONODA by Def.

Greco-Roman

67kg (20 entries)

GOLD: Kyotaro SOGABE df. Katsuaki ENDO, 8-5

BRONZE: Haruto YABE df. Zaion OBA by TF, 9-0, 3:18
BRONZE: Yuji UEGAKI df. Tomoaki FUTAMATA, 6-0

82kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Hayato TAMAOKA df. Taizo YOSHIDA, 6-4

BRONZE: Leon KAKEGAWA df. Renta YAMAGUCHI, 7-3
BRONZE: Muto SAWADA df. Shohei YABIKU by Def.

Semifinal: Taizo YOSHIDA df. Leon KAKEGAWA by TF, 12-4, 2:30
Semifinal: Hayato TAMAOKA df .Shohei YABIKU, 5-3.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Umi ITO, 11-2

BRONZE: Miruko SAKANE df. Miwa MAGARA, 6-2
BRONZE: Riko KASAI df. Minoriho YONEHARA , 6-2

57kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Sae NANJO df. Yumaka TANABE, 4-0

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Ibuki TAMURA by Fall, 4:26 (10-0)
BRONZE: Kanon YAMASHITA df. Ichika ARAI by TF, 12-0, 3:29

59kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Risako KINJO df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 9-2

BRONZE: Miyu NAKANISHI df. Junna OKADA, 4-1
BRONZE: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Atena KODAMA, 6-2

Semifinal: Sena NAGAMOTO df. Miyu NAKANISHI, 3-1
Semifinal: Risako KINJO df. Atena KODAMA, 8-6

68kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Miwa MORIKAWA, 7-0

BRONZE: Masako FURUICHI df. Rin MIYAJI by Def.
BRONZE: Miyu YOSHIKAWA df. Mei SHINDO, 3-1

#JapanWrestling

Ex-Olympic medalist Ota continues mission of opening wrestling mat to those with Down syndrome

By Ikuo Higuchi

(Editor's Note: The following is an edited version of a two-part series that appeared on the Japan Wrestling Federation website on Jan. 18 with excerpts from previous stories. It has been translated and published by permission.)

"Through wrestling, society can be changed. Those with Down syndrome can be given courage by wrestling."

On the second floor of a non-descript building near Tokyo Dome in the heart of the city, the club members gathered in a small martial arts gym with a wall-to-wall mat to resume activities that, for some, date back to the start of the club in 2005.

Unavoidably suspended during the pandemic, the Waku-waku Wrestling Club -- specifically for those with Down syndrome -- was restarted in mid-January to central Tokyo, continuing the mission of its founder of enabling people with Down syndrome to become sharper physically and emotionally, and give them hope in life.

The club ("waku-waku" is an onomatopoeic expression of the feeling of excitement) is the lifework of Takuya OTA, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bronze medalist at freestyle 74kg.  "It has become a part of my life," says the 53-year-old  Ota,  who, following a long stint as coach at Waseda University, is currently the head coach at Chuo University. "I get my power to go on from these kids."

The flame of Ota's interest in helping those with Down syndrome was ignited after being deeply moved by the book "Tatta Hitotsu no Takaramono (The One and Only Treasure)," a mother's account of raising a son with the disorder published in 2004. The book by Hiromi Kato was made into a TV drama, titled "The One and Only," which won the Asian Television Award for drama in 2005.

When Ota started the project, he was already working full-time coaching world-class competitors at Waseda, Japan's longest-running team. He had also launched the Waseda Club for kids, fueled by his determination to spread the word about the wonders of wrestling to as many people as possible.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, Down syndrome is a "genetic disorder" caused by abnormal cell division during gestation, with the resulting extra genetic material causing "the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome."

It affects 1 in 1,000 newborns and varies in severity. The website notes: "Better understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions can greatly increase the quality of life for children and adults with this disorder and help them live fulfilling lives."

After reading Kato's book, Ota began to think to himself, "How would it be if I had them try wrestling?" For those who are often neglected or ignored by society and suffer from uninformed biases, could not wrestling be a means to help give them more worth to their lives?

In July 2005, he started the first wrestling club specifically for this purpose, taking under his wing an inaugural group of six kids.

That's not to say there were no initial concerns. Children with Down syndrome are not on the same physical level as their healthy peers, and there were some whose spines might not hold up to the rigors of wrestling. Was wrestling something they could do? But there was no way to know until they tried, and Ota wanted to give them the chance.

And given the chance, they showed that they were able to move around just like the others. Not so much at first, but as they got used to it, they gained strength and confidence. They began to understand the rules and learned the techniques as Ota put priority on safety and stopped any potentially dangerous action.

Ota
Just like any wrestling practice anywhere in Japan, Coach Takuya Ota addresses the wrestlers before the start as the Waku-Waku Wrestling Club resumed in January for the first time since the start of the pandemic. (Photo: Japanese Wrestling Federation)

Getting big names involved

Perhaps no observers were more surprised, and overjoyed, by the success of the project than the parents. They could see their children who had mostly been kept out of sports getting exercise, having fun and, most importantly, building their self-esteem.

In 2017, reigning world champion and future Olympic gold medalist Yui SUSAKI was in her freshman year at Waseda when she offered her time to the Waku-waku Wrestling Club.

"I became aware Waku-waku Wrestling from the federation website and other sources," Susaki said. "I thought that after entering college, I wanted to be involved, so I participated joined the practices once a month as a coach. Everyone in Waku-waku has a pure love for wrestling, and each time it stimulated me as well," she added with a glisten in her eyes.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Future Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI and Beijing Olympic silver medalist Kenichi YUMOTO pose with two proud participants at the 2017 Waku-waku Waseda Cup. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Also coming on board to help out was Kenichi YUMOTO, the 60kg freestyle silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with deep connections to Ota -- they are both natives of Wakayama Prefecture and alumni of Nippon Sports Science University. Yumoto made his presence felt at practices, patiently teaching techniques.

The club continued unabated until the coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2020, leaving no sport unaffected. Ota's contract had just ended at Waseda and he made the move to Chuo University, which is located in the western Tokyo suburb of Hachioji. That left the club without the wrestling room at Waseda, and combined with the pandemic, caused a halt to the operations.

The recent easing of pandemic restrictions in Japan allowed the club to restart, and Ota was fortunate to make arrangements for use of the martial arts gym near Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo Ward.  It was a special moment for everyone involved.

"People with Down syndrome are fundamentally averse to combative sports," he said. "But when they continue doing it, I find that their fighting spirit come out. I hear from parents, 'He's no longer timid' or 'He's become able to do things on his own.' I feel that the parents also sense that by wrestling, they have unlimited potential for personal growth."

While there were only five participants on that first day of restarting the club, the room was filled with a positive energy, from the smiles on their faces as they practiced moves to the way they proudly raised their hands when asked for sparring partners.

Among those taking the mat was 24-year-old Aruban Kubota, who was one of the original members of the club in 2005 as an elementary school first-grader. Kubota, whose first name is derived from his father's native country of Albania, is currently employed in a public welfare center.

"At first, he would always sit off to the side at practice," recalls his mother, Rimiko. "But before we knew it, he starting joining the group and would decide things by himself. He started acting on his own."

Rimiko says the wait for the club to restart seemed interminable. "I am so grateful to Coach Ota," she says.

In July 2009 , Ota, looking to give the members a chance to put their new-found skills to the same test as all wrestlers, organized the "1st Waseda Cup." Other clubs for Down syndrome kids had cropped up, mostly at the urging of Ota through his wrestling connections, and the tournament drew 29 entries from three clubs.

The tournament, which would later be renamed the "Waku-waku Waseda Cup" and gain sponsorship from a company employing former Waseda wrestlers, has drawn entries from children to adults in their 20s. The level continues to improve and, unlike in the early years when it was difficult for the participants to control their emotions, matches are no longer halted and can proceed smoothly.

"At first, our main objective was to just get them to be able to go out onto the mat by themselves," Ota said in an interview after the 2016 tournament. "Now, they understand the rules and can have what we would consider a regular match."

All participants receive a medal, but the highlight of the award ceremony is the selection of  the MVP and Fighting Spirit Award which come with a trophy. As Ota holds the microphone before making the announcement, the winners (who are eligible for MVP) watch him as if in prayer while the whole venue takes on a atmosphere of smiles.

Ota2A club member does a double-leg takedown drill as the others watch. (Photo: Japanese Wrestling Federation)

Aiming for the Special Olympics

As could be seen by the enthusiasm at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, sports is not the exclusive dominion of the able-bodied. People with Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities are also making strides toward participating in sports.

In October 2020, an athletics competition solely for those with Down syndrome was held in Miyazaki in southern Japan, and earlier this year, a division for Down syndrome entrants was set up for the first time at a swimming meet in Chiba, east of Tokyo.

On an international scale, Virtus, an organization established for the development of elite sport worldwide for athletes with intellectual impairments, had judo on the program at the 1st Oceania/Asian Games held in November last year in Australia. Japan athletes took part, widening the scope of opportunities for those with Down syndrome.

Ota is also looking beyond Japan's shores. Ota's next goal is to get wrestling into the Special Olympics, which has a history of over 50 years and differs from the Paralympics in that it is specifically for those with intellectual disabilities. Currently, there are over 20 sports in the Special Olympics, including judo.

Ota has visited the headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was told that for wrestling to be included, it was necessary for the sport to expand in Japan and for more countries around the world to start programs. As it is still evolving and not well-known in Japan, it marks a high hurdle to be cleared.

But he is undaunted. "Even if you have a disability, as long as there is a sport providing a stage to shine, one can have a big presence in society," Ota said.

--Translation and editing by Ken Marantz