#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

Otoguro, Susaki avoid carnage to secure tickets to Belgrade

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 18) -- Japanese stars Takuto OTOGURO and Yui SUSAKI managed to avoid the carnage that all but knocked their fellow Tokyo Olympic champions out of the running for a repeat in Paris.

Otoguro overcame a severe right foot injury to take the freestyle 65kg title, and Susaki withstood a late flurry to triumph at women's 50kg at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Sunday, the final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym.

With their victories, both Otoguro and Susaki clinched places on Japan's team to this year's World Championships in Belgrade, where they will have their first chance to secure a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning a medal.

"I knew that leading up to the Olympics the matches would be tough, so I'm happy that I was able to win them one by one," said Otoguro, who defeated Ryoma ANRAKU 9-0 in a match that was far closer than the score indicates.

The Meiji Cup was the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for the Belgrade worlds, combined with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held last December. A victory at both in an Olympic weight class assures a ticket to Belgrade; if the champions are different, the two will face each other in a playoff on July 1.

Both Otoguro and Susaki repeated victories in the Emperor's Cup finals against the same opponents on Sunday.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)Takuto OTOGURO defeated Ryoma ANRAKU 9-0 in the 65kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Otoguro, who had been unable to walk off the mat under his own power after his semifinal win on Saturday, had considered defaulting to Anraku and letting the world team spot come down to a playoff but opted to go for it upon consultation with his coaches.

"Talking it over with my coaches, they said it would be a good experience to win amid such adversity, and instead of a playoff, we should get it done now," said Otoguro, who would not reveal details of the injury, only to say it was "serious."

Otoguro, seemingly hesitant to attack, scored the bulk of his points with defensive counter moves in the final minute of the match, in which he had been given a 2-0 lead with a pair of activity points.

Otoguro was himself on the clock when Anraku got in deep on a single leg, but Otoguro perfectly timed a counter-lift for 2, then went back the other way for 2 more. An unsuccessful challenge added a point, then Otoguro got a takedown in the final seconds off a desperation shot by Anraku.

"There wasn't anything particularly bad, but I'm not really satisfied," Otoguro said of his performance. "The good things were few."

Since winning the gold at Makuhari Messe in 2021, Otoguro's lone competition was at the Emperor's Cup, which he won with a 4-0 victory over Anraku.

A 2022 world U23 bronze medalist, Anraku won a bronze at this year's Asian Championships in Astana that Otoguro had planned to enter, but pulled out after suffering his foot injury at a training camp in January.

Otoguro's main focus over the next three months is to prepare for Belgrade, where he will aim to secure his ticket to Paris by regaining the title he won in 2018, which made him at 19 years 10 months Japan's youngest-ever male world champion.

The Japan Wrestling Federation has decreed that any wrestler winning a medal in an Olympic weight class in Belgrade will automatically fill the spot themselves at the Paris Olympics, without going through any further qualifying process.

"First of all, I have to get healthy, then at the World Championships gain the Olympic spot, then aim for the gold in Paris," said the 26-year-old Otoguro.

Yui SUSAKIYui SUSAKI managed to roll over Remina YOSHIMOTO from here to score the winning points in the 50kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Susaki secured her ticket back to Belgrade, where she won a third career world title last year, with a 4-3 victory over rival Remina YOSHIMOTO that wasn't decided until a challenge sorted out the points from a flurry in the final seconds.

"This was a tournament for contending for [places at] the World Championships and subsequently Paris, and I came into it determined to win," Susaki said. "The final did not go very well, but I was able to win and get to the World Championships, so it was good that I cleared that task."

Like Otoguro, Susaki had received an activity point in each period before being put on the activity clock, although the time ran out on her, leaving her with a 2-1 lead.

With 20 seconds left, Yoshimoto got in on a single leg, which Susaki defended by slipping the side and reaching over for the far leg, attempting a counter lift. Yoshimoto went with the lift and charged over the top, putting Susaki onto her back with :06 on the clock. But in the final one second, Susaki managed to finish off the roll.

The original call was 2 for Susaki; the challenge awarded 2 to each wrestler, still leaving Yoshimoto on the short end and giving Susaki her sixth win in six career meetings between the two.

"I knew she would do her homework on me," Susaki said of Yoshimoto, who won the 2021 world gold while Susaki was on a post-Olympic hiatus. "In the final, she got in on a tackle and my response was not enough and made things difficult for me.

"I have to practice to be able to take advantage of opportunities that come my way."

Like Otoguro, Susaki had a health issue on Saturday, when she suddenly cut short her post-match press conference after one question without disclosing the reason. "I'm sorry, I wasn't feeling well," she said, adding that it had no effect on her performance on Sunday.

The Japanese women in particular realize the importance of getting to this year's World Championships, as there is a high likelihood that those who go to Belgrade in the Olympic weights will win a medal, meaning there will be no future chances for others.

At the 2019 World Championships, Japan's women medaled in four of the six Olympic divisions, and Susaki knows personally the anxiety of leaving one's fate in other hands.

Susaki ended up at the Tokyo Olympics only because Yuki IRIE shockingly failed to medal at 50kg in Nur-Sultan, and Susaki took full advantage of the second chance. She doesn't plan to let her chance slip away in Belgrade.

"I didn't get to the Tokyo Olympics solely on my own power," Susaki said. "For Paris, I want to control my own fate and get there and win the gold."

Waiting in the wings for another chance -- however slim -- will be Tokyo Olympic gold medalists Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA), Risako KINJO (formerly KAWAI) and Yukako KAWAI.

All three suffered losses over the four-day tournament to eliminate them from contention for places on the world team, meaning their only hopes for Paris lie in the representative in Belgrade failing to make the podium.

And even after that, they would have to earn a place on Japan's team for the Asian or world Olympic qualifiers in 2024, most likely with victories at this year's Emperor's Cup, no small task in itself.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI scores a takedown against Sae NANJO in the 57kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Sakurai upends Nanjo

For the third time in four matches between the two, world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI pulled off a last-second victory over world U23 champion Sae NANJO, giving her the women's 57kg title and setting up another clash in the July 1 playoff.

"The result was a victory, but I was nervous and I wasn't able to put into practice what I've done in training," said Sakurai, who ousted Kinjo in the semifinals on Saturday. "If I go on like this, two weeks from now, I will lose again. First, I have to reflect on today's match."

Sakurai was awarded a takedown with less than a second left on the clock, and the call was upheld on a challenge for a 5-2 victory over the Emperor's Cup champion.

Sakurai had opened the match with a go-behind takedown, to which Nanjo responded with a single-leg takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria going into the second period.

With a half-minute left, Sakurai got in on a single leg, and fought to get behind as Nanjo kept a firm clamp on Sakurai's right arm as the seconds ticked off. With the clock at 0.48, the referee was finally convinced and gave Sakurai the 2, and the challenge confirmed the points.

"I was running out of steam," Sakurai said. "There was a time when I was injured and couldn't train. But I knew that if I didn't do something, I would lose. I knew if I lost here, I wouldn't go to the Olympics. It would be a loss that I would always regret."

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 had avenged last-second losses to Sakurai at both the 2021 Emperor’s Cup and last year's Meiji Cup.

Maito KAWANAMaito KAWANA scored thrilling 5-4 win to win the Grec-Roman 60kg gold medal at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

In the other Olympic weight class up for grabs, Asian bronze medalist Maito KAWANA won a 5-4 thriller in the Greco 60kg final over Kaito INABA, earning him a place in a playoff against Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA.

Kawana, who was trailing 4-4 on criteria, forced a stepout with :36 left to secure the victory and set up a rematch of his 6-0 loss to Fumita in the Emperor's Cup final.

Fumita, the 2017 and 2019 world champion, withdrew from the tournament due to a torn hamstring suffered in practice. He wrote on Twitter that he would do his utmost to recover in time for the playoff.

At freestyle 61kg, Rin SAKAMOTO of Tokyo's Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School defeated collegian Hayato FUJITA 6-2 in the final, making him just the second high schooler in the history of the Meiji Cup to win a freestyle title since the tournament was started in 1997.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

61kg (14 entries)
GOLD - Rin SAKAMOTO df. Hayato FUJITA, 6-2

BRONZE - Kaito MORITA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 7-2
BRONZE - Kosei IDE df. Fuga SASAKI, 5-2

Semifinal - Rin SAKAMOTO df. Kaito MORITA, 9-4
Semifinal - Hayato FUJITA df. Fuga SASAKI by TF, 14-4, 3:19

65kg (9 entries)
GOLD - Takuto OTOGURO df. Ryoma ANRAKU, 9-0

BRONZE - Kaiki YAMAGUCHI df. Kaiji OGINO, 6-0
BRONZE - Kaito MORIKAWA df. Makoto HOSOKAWA, 10-2

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Maito KAWANA df. Kaito INABA, 5-4

BRONZE - Yu SHIOTANI df. Ayata SUZUKI by Def.
BRONZE - Kosei TAKESHITA df. Koto GOMI by TF, 9-0, 2:12

72kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Shingo HARADA df. Yuga KASUGAI by TF, 10-0, 2:00

BRONZE - Hajime KIKUTA df. Seiya TERADA by TF, 11-0, :55
BRONZE - Tomohiro INOUE df. Takahiro YAMAMOTO, 5-1

Semifinal - Yuga KASUGAI df. Hajime KIKUTA, 10-6
Semifinal - Shingo HARADA df. Tomohiro INOUE, 5-3

Women

50kg (13 entries)
GOLD - Yui SUSAKI df. Remina YOSHIMOTO, 4-3

BRONZE - Umi ITO df. Riko KASAI by TF, 10-0, 4:53
BRONZE - Miyu NAKAMURA df. Miu OBATA, 8-3

57kg (13 entries)
GOLD - Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Sae NANJO, 5-2

BRONZE - Umi IMAI df. Hana KIKUTA by TF, 11-0, 3:57
BRONZE - Sara NATAMI df. Risako KINJO by Def.