And so...remember when I said Fujinami might move up to 57kg?

[CA_Wrestler]

Well, now she will.   Sakurai vs Fujinami and their last match at 59kg this year wasn't particularly close with Fujinami winning.   Sakurai never threatened at all because Fujinami is just way too fast for her-just like she's too fast for everybody at 53kg.  Kiyooka vs Fujinami has just been utter ownage and Kiyooka is just completely outclassed by Fujinami.  It's just not even close.

Like I was also speculating earlier this year if Fujinami bumped up to 57kg, Susaki might bump up to 53kg since she's been at 48/50kg since she was 16 and now 25.  Remina Yoshimoto(Olso 50kg WC) will slide into the 50kg spot if that does happen.  Yoshimoto just beat Umi Ito yesterday in another very close Emperor's Cup finals match, 3-2.  Susaki vs Moe Kiyooka(or possibly past 53/55kg WC Haruna Okuno) is going to be very, very good.  Yoshimoto is better than Kiyooka, but this will be fun to keep an eye on.  Mainly because Kiyooka and Sakurai are teammates, normal training partners, Olympic training partners and Moe Kiyooka's brother won the 65kg gold in Paris.  Moe Kiyooka is the hungry dog here and just won the 53kg tournament.

Haruna Okuno won the 55kg tourney(will eventually drop to 53kg, but probably not next year) with a come from behind win in the finals against high schooler Sowaka Uchida(1x U20 WC, 2x U17 WC).  Okuno was up by 1 toward the end of the match. Uchida scored 1, Uchida had criteria and Okuno's corner challenged and lost.  3-2 Uchida with VERY short time left.  Okuno kept the pressure on and got a feet to back for a 6-3 win right before the buzzer.

PAST MEETINGS:

2024- Moe Kiyooka beat Haruna Okuno in the 55kg playoff finals, 3-2 and Kiyooka won the 2024 55kg Senior World title(teched Zhang of China in the finals).

2023- 55kg playoff tournament, Okuno beat Kiyooka 2-2 on criteria in the first round and Okuno won the 2023 55kg Senior World title(beat Jacarra in the finals, 4-2).

 

But as far as making the National team goes, you have to win both tournaments (Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup) to make the team.  Susaki and Fujinami will most likely enter the Meiji Cup, try to win that tournament and force a playoff with Kiyooka at 53kg and Sara Natami at 57kg.  Fujinami will dominate Natami pretty easily.  Susaki and Kiyooka could be a very close match because although Kiyooka is really fast, Susaki is way faster and technically, much better.

[CA_Wrestler]

I forgot to mention that in the Meiji Cup next May or June, Fujinami(if she's really bumping up this fast) AND Sakurai are going to be entering at 57kg.  If either one wins that tournament, they'll have a playoff against Natami for the 2025 57kg spot.  There is no way Natami is coming close to beating Fujinami or Sakurai unless there's some fluke or injury.  

Edited December 23, 2024 by CA_Wrestler

[lu1979]

Thank you CAW - your insights to the Japanese Women's FS scene are always interesting.  The JW's depth is really amazing in the lower weights.