Kawai Ready to Lead Japan at Women's World Cup

Wednesday, November 13, 2019 - 15:51 By Ken Marantz

NARITA, Japan (November 13) --- With an Olympic gold and three world titles already under her belt, it seems hard to believe that Risako KAWAI is only approaching her 25th birthday. But when it comes to the team that Japan will send out when it hosts the Women’s World Cup, she can be considered one of the grand old ladies of the squad.

Kawai and younger sister Yukako are among four medalists from the senior World Championships named to a relatively young Japanese team, which includes all 10 medalists---including seven champions---from the recently concluded U23 World Championships in Budapest.

“We will be going for a fifth straight title,” Risako Kawai said at a recent press conference to announce the team in Tokyo. “I took on the challenge of captain of the team at the World Championships. My task at this World Cup will also be to lead us to victory.”

Kawai will turn 25 on Nov. 21---four days after she hopes to be celebrating Japan’s 17th title overall in the six-nation tournament to be held in Narita, the city east of Tokyo best known for its international airport.

“For me personally, this is my third World Cup that our country is hosting,” said Kawai, who will compete at the Olympic weight class of 57kg. “I will do everything I can to bring the Japan team a 17th title overall and achieve a fifth straight.”

Also named to the 20-woman squad (two in each weight class) were world silver medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA at 76kg and bronze medalists Yukako KAWAI at 62kg and Masako FURUICHI, who finished third at 72kg in Nur-Sultan but has dropped down to 68kg. At 32, only Minagawa is older than Risako Kawai.

The squad also features a pair of former world champions in Yui SUSAKI at 50kg and Haruna OKUNO at 53kg, both of whom lost in wrestle-offs for places on the team to Nur-Sultan but will surely bring added firepower to the hosts.

Haruna OKUNO, a 2019 U23 world champion, will wrestle at 53kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

All but three of the 20 wrestlers are either collegians or high schoolers. Eight are from powerhouse Shigakkan University, including Yukako Kawai, Okuno and twin sisters Naruha and Yasuha MATSUYUKI, who are entered at 68kg and 76kg, respectively.

Okuno was one of Japan’s seven women gold medalists at the U23 World Championships, where the country also hauled in two silvers and a bronze.

“At the U23, the women won titles in seven weight classes. It’s good momentum to bring to the World Cup,” national team technical director Shigeki Nishiguchi said. “This time, a number of wrestlers firmly expressed an interest in participating. I feel like they want to raise their level one or two steps at the World Cup.”

In taking a leadership role, Kawai said she was inspired by the performance of Japan’s captain at the recent Rugby World Cup, New Zealand-born Michael Leitch, whose efforts to get the team to gel resulted in a stunning run by the host country into the quarterfinals for the first time ever.

“The most important thing in a team event is to come together as one,” Kawai said. “Recently, I have been thinking about how to deal with the younger wrestlers. I heard that Leitch handed out gum to his teammates. Maybe I should try that,” she added with a laugh.

With Japan grouped together with Asian rival China and Ukraine, Kawai will likely face a rematch of the gold medal match from Nur-Sultan against RONG Ningning (CHN), whom she beat 9-6.

“At this year’s world championships, I met the Chinese wrestler in the final,” Kawai said. “Still, every country is going to send out a strong wrestler. For every match, I fight with the assumption I can win.”

Noticeably absent are Mayu MUKAIDA, who finished second at 53kg in Nur-Sultan, and Rio 2016 gold medalist Sara DOSHO, who finished fifth at 68kg. It was at the 2018 World Cup that Dosho suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and kept her out of that year's World Championships.

Japan officials said that Mukaida, also a Shigakkan student, was involved in student-teaching and could not adequately train for the World Cup. As for Dosho, she needs a victory at the All-Japan Championships in December to clinch her place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and, while her shoulder has healed, did not want to take any chances.

The drop of both Furuichi and Naruha Matsuyuki from 72kg to 68kg appears to indicate they will challenge Dosho for the Tokyo 2020 spot that she earned in that weight class with her fifth place in Nur-Sultan. Had Dosho won a medal, she would have clinched the berth outright; instead, she has to wait for the All-Japan tournament.

High schooler Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) will make her World Cup debut, where she'll wrestle at 59kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

The high schoolers on the squad are a pair of current world junior champions, Yuzuka INAGAKI at 59kg and Yuka KAGAMI at 72kg, both of whom medaled at higher weights in Budapest.

Inagaki was the top seed at 59kg at the senior World Championships, but finished out of the medals after losing in the quarterfinals to Pooja DHANDA (IND)---although she bounced back by taking the 62kg gold at the U23 tournament. Kagami finished second at 76kg in Budapest.

One other noticeable absence from the team is Yuki IRIE, who defeated two-time world champion Susaki in the national team playoffs for the 50kg spot in Nur-Sultan. She not only finished there without a medal, but without an Olympic berth for Japan after suffering a heartbreaking 13-12 loss to SUN Yanan (CHN) in the quarterfinals.

A wrist injury has kept Irie from appearing at a second straight World Cup, Japan officials said. She was a member of the Japan team that won the title last year in the Japanese city of Takasaki. Japan took the trophy with a 6-4 victory in the final over China---a triumph sparked by Irie's victory by fall over Sun in the opening match.

Japan's other medalist in Nur-Sultan, Irie's younger sister Nanami, who took the silver medal at 55kg, will also not be competing.

Two-time world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) returns to Japan's senior-level lineup for the first time since the 2018 World Championships. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

With the door to the Olympics reopened for Susaki, the Waseda University student will certainly look to use the World Cup as preparation for another possible showdown with Irie at the All-Japan Championships, where she can earn the right to enter the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in March.

Susaki is joined on the Japan team at 50kg by Kika KAGATA, who added the U23 world title to the junior crown she previously held, while Ibuki TAMURA fills the other 53kg slot with Okuno.

The other world U23 gold medalists on the squad are Sae NANJO (57kg), Yumeka TANABE (59kg) and Misuzu ENOMOTO (65kg), while silver medalist Saki IGARASHI (55kg) and bronze medalist Mei SHINDO (72kg) are also on the roster.

Igarashi, Nanjo and 2018 world junior champion Miwa MORIKAWA (62kg) were all members of last year's championship team.

The others on the team are Akie HANAI (55kg) and Naomi RUIKE (65kg).

While the World Cup is not as high profile as its individual cousins, it can produce memorable moments. Just ask Saori YOSHIDA. The three-time Olympic and 10-time world champion suffered only three losses in her career to non-Japanese opponents---and two of them came at a World Cup.

The first was to Marcie VAN DUSEN (USA) in early 2008 in Taiyuan, China, which became her first loss in any competition dating back to December 2001. The second also came at pre-Olympic World Cup, when she was beaten by Valeria ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) in 2012 in the final in Tokyo.

Even though Japan defeated Russia for the title, the image of Yoshida crying on the podium as the team received its gold medals remains vivid.

In addition to Japan, China and the United States are the only countries to have walked off with the World Cup trophy. China has captured the title six times, including five in a row between 2007 and 2011, while the U.S. won its lone title in 2003.

Japan's Team
50kg - Yui SUSAKI, Kika KAGATA
53kg - Haruna OKUNO, Ibuki TAMURA
55kg - Saki IGARASHI, Akie HANAI
57kg - Risako KAWAI, Sae NANJO
59kg - Yuzuka INAGAKI, Yumeka TANABE
62kg - Yukako KAWAI, Miwa MORIKAWA
65kg - Misuzu ENOMOTO, Naomi RUIKE
68kg - Masako FURUICHI, Naruha MATSUYUKI
72kg - Mei SHINDO, Yuka KAGAMI
76kg - Hiroe MINAGAWA, Yasuha MATSUYUKI

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games

Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 15:49 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 24) -- Not even an untimely knee injury, much less any opponent on the mat, was going to deter Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI from her next major objective.

Fujinami showed little effects of a knee injury suffered three weeks ago in capturing the women's 57kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Sunday, stretching her amazing winning streak to 153 matches dating back to 2017 and her junior high school days.

With her 8-0 victory in the final over Sena NAGAMOTO on the final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, Fujinami earned a ticket back home, so to speak -- a spot on Japan's team to this year's Asian Games, which will be near her Mie Prefecture hometown in neighboring Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

"The Asian Games will be in my home area of Nagoya, so I have strong feelings about it," Fujinami said. "I know the competition is going to be tough, but that only makes me look forward to it even more. I will go into it imagining the people from back home seeing me crowned as champion."

The Meiji Cup was serving as the second of two qualifiers, along with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held in December, for not only the Asian Games, but also for the World Championships to follow three weeks later in late October.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) defeated Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) in the 57kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami would not commit making the trip to Astana for the World Championships, where she could win a third world gold and first since moving up to 57kg after winning the 53kg gold at the Paris Olympics.

Another factor weighing on the Japanese wrestlers is that the World Championships is just two months before this year's Emperor's Cup, which will have increased importance as the starting point in the qualifying process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I will consult with my coach. There is also the Emperor's Cup, and we will discuss it seriously and make a decision," said Fujinami, who has made no secret of her ultimate goal of an Olympic repeat and whose demeanor showed her leaning toward giving the worlds a pass.

Two days earlier, Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI passed on a chance to compete in a playoff for the world team spot at Freestyle 61kg because he is solely focused on a return to the Olympics at 57kg. For him, a shot at another world title has no bearing on his plans.

Meanwhile on Sunday, two-time former world champion Nonoka OZAKI fended off world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI in a blockbuster women's 62kg final, then expressed her excitement over earning a ticket to both big events, as did fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI, who cruised to victory at women's 50kg.

Two Paris gold medalists -- Kotaro KIYOOKA at Freestyle 65kg and Nao KUSAKA at Greco-Roman 77kg -- also emerged victorious, with the former saying he will be going to both global competitions, but the latter stating definitively he will skip the World Championships.

Fujinami, who is still making the adjustment to the higher weight, won the world U23 gold at 57kg last October before capturing the Emperor's Cup title, although that included the biggest threat to her winning streak when she had to fight off her back in a 4-2 win in the final over Himeka TOKUHARA.

Her next big test was to have come at last month's Asian Championships in Bishkek, but she was forced to pull out due to an ankle injury. No sooner had that healed when she suffered a left knee injury in preparation for the Meiji Cup.

But, with the Asian Games in mind, as well as having new obligations and an increased fan base after gaining a corporate sponsorship upon her graduation from Nippon Sports Science University, she was determined to press on.

“I injured my knee three weeks ago," Fujinami said. "My ankle had finally healed and was I training for the Meiji Cup when I got injured, and at that time I could barely even walk. At that moment, I thought, ‘Why again, why now?’

"But for the first time, I pictured the faces of the people supporting me. If it were my old self, I probably would have just given up, but when those faces came to mind and I thought about what to do, the people around me helped. I came to realize that I am able to do wrestling thanks to various people.”

In Sunday's final, Fujinami relied solely on her unstoppable single-leg attack against Nagamoto, the Asian silver medalist at 59kg. She twice used it to gain a 2-point exposure when Nagamoto tried for counter lifts, and twice finished it off for proper takedowns.

Asked if she was concerned about her lack of ground points, Fujinami inferred she was working on it by saying, "Please look forward to [seeing me at] the Asian Games."

An expanded reportoire would seem essential in what Fujinami herself acknowledges is one of the stronger women's weight class.

"In the world, the level of the 57kg weight class is very high, and also in Asia," she said. "I expect very good wrestlers to be entered at the Asian Games, and I want to start preparing for that right away."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) managed a close 2-1 victory over Sakura ONISHI (JPN) at 62kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ozaki, who has had her fill of missing out on national team spots for major competitions, assured she won't miss the two coming up this year with a well-executed 2-1 victory over rising star Onishi in their highly anticipated 62kg final.

Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown in the first period, then limited Onishi to a stepout after she got in deep on a single leg of her own in the second.

"While I was thinking what I should do on the mat, I kept my heart strong until the end," Ozaki said.

The victory came a day after Ozaki defeated Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI in the semifinals, a repeat of her win in the Emperor's Cup final. That had avenged a loss to Motoki in last year's Meiji Cup final and subsequent playoff that kept Ozaki out of the 2025 World Championships.

"When it comes to Japanese opponents, we all pretty much know each other well, and it makes it more difficult to fight," Ozaki said. "We are all preparing for the Olympic qualifying.

"Separately from opponents from around the world, dealing with Japanese opponents, I have already experienced the Olympic qualifiers, so I understand very well how emotionally tough it can be, and I think various things can go out of sync."

Ozaki, the world champion at 62kg in 2022 and at 65kg in 2023, also has some unfinished business at the Asian Games, which Japan will be hosting for the first time in 30 years.

"First of all, I finished second at the last Asian Games [in 2023]," she said. "As for making the World Championships, last year I lost out in a playoff and didn't go. Now I have the chance to become a three-time world champion."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) secured a fall over Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in the 50kg final on Sunday. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Susaki, the Tokyo Olympic champion who had to settle for a bronze in Paris, let out an uncharacteristic roar after completing the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double with a victory by fall over Rinka OGAWA in the 50kg final.

"I definitely wanted to win and make it to my first Asian Games and to my first World Championships in three years, and the moment I won, I was truly ecstatic," Susaki said.

Susaki opened with a pair of takedowns, but her chicken wing after the second one slipped off, allowing Ogawa to get behind to make it 4-1 at the break. Early in the second period, Ogawa slipped in an underhook, but Susaki deftly clamped down and blocked the opposite inner thigh to slam Ogawa to the mat. She completed the fall in 3:33.

"When she got the underhook, I thought she had the advantage, but I didn't panic, knowing I had a move for that situation," Susaki said. "I had confidence and was able to use a throw technique.

"It was just instinct. In my first match yesterday, I also used a throw for a fall. I think that I've become better at making the most of lone chances. I've included it in my practice, so I can use it any situation."

Susaki's domination bodes well in her quest to regain the Olympic gold in Los Angeles.

"At this tournament, the 50kg field had everyone who will be competing to go to the Los Angeles Olympics, so to win here is a big step forward," she said. "I was able to use a winning pattern that I practiced and won the title, so it was a very good tournament."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) won the 65kg gold medal at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Kiyooka, not to be outdone by his younger sister Moe, defeated longtime practice partner and fellow NSSU alum Kaisei TANABE 3-0 in a repeat of last year's 65kg final.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown, then added a stepout in the second period to beat Tanabe, with whom he participated -- and even faced -- during a stint in the German Bundesliga.

"It's been almost exactly a year since [Tanabe and I] met in this same final, and there are things we were both aware of about each other," Kiyooka said. "Last year he was injured and couldn't give his all. I went back and reviewed our matches, and I came up with a strategy. Looking back on what I actually did, I felt the main thing was that I was able to stay calm."

Last year, Kiyooka defeated a hampered Tanabe in a playoff for the world team spot after beating him in the final, in which Tanabe was injured. Kiyooka then lost in the final in Zagreb to Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), whom he had beaten for the gold in Paris.

"Getting to the World Championships, it gives me a chance for revenge and to win my first world title, making it an important event," Kiyooka said.

"As for the Asian Games, it gives my family, those in my company and people who otherwise would not have the chance to see me compete overseas to see me up close. And just like at the Olympics, I hope to give them the best result possible."

On Saturday, Kiyooka's sister Moe won the women's 53kg title to clinch her national team place. She has already one-upped her in the world gold department, having won the 55kg title in 2024.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) managed a 6-3 victory in the gold medal bout at 77kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

At Greco-Roman 77kg, Kusaka took issue with a mysterious penalty called against him and a phantom stepout that produced no point, but otherwise was untroubled in notching a 6-3 victory in the final over Isami HORIKITA, a repeat of the Emperor's Cup final.

Kusaka was leading 3-0 when his challenge of an apparent stepout that was not awarded a point was unsuccessful. He then added an indisputable stepout to lead 4-1 at the break. In the second period, he sandwiched two more stepouts around a 2-point penalty that he was at a loss to explain.

"I really don't know," he said, while imploring that he was not being critical of the referees. "The referee kept telling me, 'Head up, head up.' It's the first time I've ever been penalized in that situation."

What Kusaka made crystal clear was his decision to bypass the World Championships in favor of the Asian Games, saying he lacked motivation for the former. Like Kiyooka, he won a silver medal at last year's worlds in Zagreb.

"I don't have loads of motivation and like to channel it all into one thing," Kusaka said. "Winning the Asian Games title, that's my objective for this year."

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) pinned Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the 74kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

In a battle between reigning world champions, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI defeated Kota TAKAHASHI in the Freestyle 74kg final to earn a return trip to the World Championships.

Aoyagi, the world 70kg champion last year, was leading 7-0 when Takahashi launched a comeback late in the second period. He pulled to within 7-4, helped by a penalty point against Aoyagi for kicking and a fleeing point during a stepout.

But a desperation throw in the final seconds was stopped dead by Aoyagi, and Takahashi stayed motionless on the mat, allowing a fall to be called just before the buzzer.

At Greco-Roman 60kg, 2023 Asian Games silver medalist Ayata SUZUKI defeated reigning Meiji Cup champion Kaito INABA 3-3 in the final, then edged Emperor's Cup champion Koto GOMI 7-6 in the playoff for the national team.

Suzuki trailed 6-2 in the playoff when he hit a 4-point arm throw to go ahead on criteria, then added a stepout for good measure.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Rikuto NAGAI df. Kento YUMIYA, 13-4

BRONZE: Isami TAKATA df. Yuta KIKUCHI, 8-2
BRONZE: Daito KATSUME df. Rin SAKAMOTO by Inj. Def.

World team playoff: Yamato OGAWA df. Nagai, 9-8

65kg
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Kaisei TANABE, 3-0

BRONZE: Kaiji OGINO df. Kaito MORIKAWA by Inj. Def., :02 (0-0)
BRONZE: Takara SUDA df. Shuya MIURA, 2-1

74kg
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kota TAKAHASHI by Fall, 5:59, 11-4

BRONZE: Ryoya YAMASHITA df. Yujin TAKIZAWA, 2-0
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA df. Shingo ANDO, 6-1

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Ayata SUZUKI df. Kaito INABA, 3-3

BRONZE: Daijiro SONE df. Koto GOMI by Def.
BRONZE: Maito KAWANA df. Yu SHIOTANI, 8-1

World team playoff: Suzuki df. Gomi, 7-6

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 6-3

BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA df. Naoki KADODE, 3-2
BRONZE: Issei HONNA df. Ariya YOSHIDA, 12-9

87kg
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA df. So SAKABE, 5-4

BRONZE: Rondo KODAMA df. Takahiro INAMOTO by TS, 8-0, 2:24
BRONZE: Daisei ISOE df. Genki YAHAGI, 4-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI df. Rinka OGAWA by Fall, 3:33 (8-1)

BRONZE: Umi ITO df. Minoriho YONEHARA by TS, 13-2, 5:59
BRONZE: Haruna MORIKAWA df. Miyu NAKAMURA, 7-0

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 8-0

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Rin KINOSHITA by Fall, 1:30 (2-0)
BRONZE: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NOGUCHI, 9-4

62kg
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Sakura ONISHI, 2-1

BRONZE: Sakura MOTOKI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 10-2

Kawai Ready to Lead Japan at Women's World Cup

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Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games