Emperors cup

[Truzzcat]

It is hard to find results so I am going off of what I have seen on twitter

Narikuni wins both the 72kg title in greco and 70kg in freestyle. He is the guy that beat Zain by tech in the 2022 world finals and Aoyagi a few months ago.

Suda (who jax beat 7-2 at worlds) knocked off Tenabe (senior asian champ at 65kg) late and will wrestle Kiyooka in the finals.

If anyone has anymore info it would be appreciated. 

[MPhillips]

[CA_Wrestler]

UWW's website has been keeping track:

https://uww.org/article/narikuni-achieves-first-greco-freestyle-double-52-years

 

They also have the 2 previous days results.

 

Narikuni is a BEAST.

 

[shiraz321]

Reigning 74kg world champ Takahashi is wrestling the reigning 70kg world champ Aoyagi in the 74kg final. I think Takahashi is both a lot bigger and a lot better but it will be interesting to see what happens. 

 

Ogawa won at 57kg in Ono's absense. He was a cadet world champ in 2023. Seems to be a guy on the rise. 

[shiraz321]

10 hours ago, shiraz321 said:

Reigning 74kg world champ Takahashi is wrestling the reigning 70kg world champ Aoyagi in the 74kg final. I think Takahashi is both a lot bigger and a lot better but it will be interesting to see what happens. 

 

Ogawa won at 57kg in Ono's absense. He was a cadet world champ in 2023. Seems to be a guy on the rise. 

And Aoyagi wins! Lol, seems I cursed the match. Takahashi was winning but got countered off a late takedown attempt and then gutted. I really don't think Aoyagi has the international ceiling that Takahashi does. 

 

The winners of the Emperor's cup

 

57: Ogawa - 2023 cadet world champ

61- Hasegawa - 2021 world bronze

65 - Kiyooka - olympic champ & world silver

70 - Narikuni - world champ 2022

74 - Aoyagi - 2025 70kg world champ

79 - Ghahredaghi

86 - Takatani

92 - Ishiguro

97 - Yoshida - world bronze & u23 world champ

125 - Yamamoto

 

They can have a really good team. Their coaches need to hope that Takahashi gets the spot back at 74 in the final stage of the trial and that Ono or Higuchi can get the spot at 61. Hasegawa is pretty good but not on their level. 

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by shiraz321

[Truzzcat]

1 hour ago, shiraz321 said:

And Aoyagi wins! Lol, seems I cursed the match. Takahashi was winning but got countered off a late takedown attempt and then gutted. I really don't think Aoyagi has the international ceiling that Takahashi does. 

 

The winners of the Emperor's cup

 

57: Ogawa - 2023 cadet world champ

61- Hasegawa - 2021 world bronze

65 - Kiyooka - olympic champ & world silver

70 - Narikuni - world champ 2022

74 - Aoyagi - 2025 70kg world champ

79 - Ghahredaghi

86 - Takatani

92 - Ishiguro

97 - Yoshida - world bronze & u23 world champ

125 - Yamamoto

 

They can have a really good team. Their coaches need to hope that Takahashi gets the spot back at 74 in the final stage of the trial and that Ono or Higuchi can get the spot at 61. Hasegawa is pretty good but not on their level. 

 

Interested to see if Suda goes 65kg again for Meji or back down to 61. He did not look small but he seemed to struggle getting through kiyookas head hands. I think he would give Rei and Ono a good match at 61. If Ono/Rei make the team at 61 and Kota gets back on at 74 they will be maybe the best in the world 61-74.