CA_Wrestler

He was training in Japan for a little bit a few months ago with Yui Susaki and wrestlers at the college she graduated from. He also met up again with his ol' buddy, Otoguro and trained at another university.

This is why I wanted to see her actually challenge for the 68kg or 76kg spot rather than go win another 72kg title with really watered down international competition. We all know that the better wrestlers from other countries dropped to 68 or bumped up to 76 to try and secure an Olympic weight spot.

Had to go into a meeting, so I wasn't able to finish above. Kiyooka lost to Okuno in the 55kg World team playoffs recently(Kiyooka also got teched by Fujinami in the Meiji Cup finals so Kiyooka had to bump up to 55kg), so that's why she had to compete in Juniors. She'll only be able to compete in U23 as well this year. Moro lost to Kagami in the 76kg playoff match and is in the same boat as Kiyooka as far as U23 goes. You've got to give a lot of credit to India and their age group womens teams. As I've said plenty of previous times, their age group womens wrestling has tremendously improved, but that hasn't translated over to the senior level.

It was an enormous underperformance by Japan's team and our team still couldn't win... The main thing to remember is that Japan's team is comprised of wrestlers would normally not be there. They'd be filled with the much better competitors at most of the weights, but the better wrestlers chose to compete for the 2023 World Championships Olympic and non-Olympic weights for seniors instead. The only two who did compete in juniors that lost in Japan's national tournament were Moe Kiyooka and Ayano Moro. Kiyooka made on TINY mistake and got pinned in the semis. Was definitely the favorite to win gold for sure.

I caught the match starting about where Moro got to her leg for the td. Good explanation

But, no idea if anything happened prior.

She had a huge battle with Moro in the quarters Barely escaped that one with a win because she was completely gassed at the end of that match.

Couldn't post more last night, but I did watch most of the matches. 59kg- Risako was beating Nanjo 6-0 with a little over a minute remaining off of a few tds and turn. Nanjo finally got a td with around 40 sec left to make it 6-2. Challenge brick thrown in to see if Nanjo had also exposed Risako's back and after the challenge, it was 6-4. Very short time and Nanjo is trying everything to get a td and she finally gets Risako off balance right in the orange circle at the literal edge and throws Risako, but Risako fights it and Nanjo also stepped over. After a review, with .3 seconds left, you can see that Risako's back barely went past 90 and Nanjo wins. I can see both sisters coming back, but Risako has a little kid and I don't see Yukako beating Ozaki or Motoki even though the matches are close. 2 more of Japan's Olympic champions from 2 years ago fall to younger wrestlers. The only Tokyo Olympic champs that still have their spots are Susaki and Otoguro. 55kg Okuno vs Kataoka Both hand fighting for the first few minutes. Okuno scores 1, Kataoka was on the clock for passivity. More hand fighting, Okuno got poked in the eye, but Okuno leads 1-0 at the break. Okuno holding center, both hand fighting and looking for an opening and Kataoka on the clock, 2 min left. Kataoka can't find anything, 2-0 Okuno. Okuno gets put on the clock, 1 min left. 2-1 Okuno after the clock, 50 sec left. Okuno holding center, Kataoka trying to tie up and look for a trip, but Okuno defends well, 30 sec left. Some serious hand fighting going on and Kataoka goes for a trip again, ends up behind Okuno with Okuno still standing, Okuno grabs onto Kataoka's leg and it basically sitting on top of Kataoka while Kataoka has her own back on the mat. Okuno gains control in this position and scores 2 on the td, 4-1. Time expires and Okuno wins and is now the rep at 55kg. 72kg Morikawa vs Shindo. Both know each other, same university. Morikawa definitely giving up around 15 pounds/strength wrestling at 72kg. Hand fighting and tying up. Shindo ends up pushing Morikawa out, 1-0 with 4:38 left. Morikawa on the clock, but both tying up and score is now 2-0. They're right at the edge, Morikawa trying to push Shindo out. Shindo tries a throw and lands on her own back, Morikawa gets 2, score now 2-2. Morikawa trying to get in on the legs, but nothing at the break. Hand fighting, both in center, Morikawa shoots, but nothing with a little over a minute left. Both tie up in the center, Morikawa goes for a throw by and gets Shindo a little off balance. Shindo is at her knees and goes for the legs, Morikawa sprawls and goes behind for the td, 4-2. Less than a minute left, Morikawa looking for a turn. Restart and Shindo looking to get in, but can't. Morikawa wins and is the 72kg rep. 65kg Ozaki vs Yoshitake Hand fighting to start out, then Ozaki gets in really fast on a low single. 2-0 with 15 sec gone, Ozaki looking for a lace. Gets a quick turn and it's 4-0. Gets another turn and spins over the top with Yoshitake laying on the mat and has Yoshitake's legs, going for a standing pin, but Yoshitake turns onto her own belly, 6-0. About 30 sec gone by, Ozaki looking for another turn and gets it, 8-0. Ozaki still in great position looking for another turn and gets it, but also has Yoshitake flat and gets the tech/pin in 50 seconds. Big hug from Shoko when coming off the mat. Ozaki is now the rep at 65kg. 59kg- Nanjo vs Nagamoto. Masako Furuichi has been cornering Nanjo the entire tournament. Furuichi was also coached by Shoko. Both hand fighting for a little bit, then at 4:34, Nanjo hits a nice swing single and looks to turn but nothing, 2-0. Nanjo hits a high c and gets the td at 3:27. 4-0. After the break, Nanjo scores off of a throw by to single, 6-0. 2 min to go, Nanjo hits almost the same throw by, 8-0. 1:02 left, Nanjo gets in on a single and wins, 10-0. Nanjo is now the rep at 59kg. Final Japan World Team below: 50kg- Susaki 53kg- Fujinami 55kg- Okuno 57kg- Sakurai 59kg- Nanjo 62kg- Motoki 65kg- Ozaki 68kg- Ishii 72kg- Morikawa 76kg- Kagami

For those that don't know, Shoko Yoshimura was the high school wresting academy coach for Yui Susaki, Mayu Shidochi, Nonoka Ozaki, Takuto Otoguro, Sae Nanjo and many others. She was hired as a National Team coach for Japan to coach the cadet/junior teams. If you've watched Yui Susaki at all of the world championships and Tokyo Olympics, you would have seen Shoko in her corner. Shoko is a former 5x senior world champion, 1x silver and 3x bronze. I think she's Japan's best coach and has been for a long time now.

As Morikawa goes off the mat, she high 5s Nonoka Ozaki. Kaori Icho over in Morikawa's corner. Yukako kawai vs Ozaki now. Hand fighting, Ozaki gets in on a nice ankle pick, 2-0. Great to see Shoko Yoshimura in her corner again. Ozaki being the aggressor on offense so far, almost hit a nice misdirection single. 1:20 left. restart, tie up in center. Ozaki leads 2-0 at the break. Risako watching off on the side. 2nd period, Ozaki holding center. Kawai shoots, but Ozaki avoids. Ozaki quick single and go behind, 4-0. Trying to lock up a lace, Kawai defending. Restart. 1:38 left. 1 min left, Kawai shoots, but nothing. Tie up in center. Kawai looking for an opening, but Ozaki's positioning too good. Time expires and Ozaki wins, 4-0. Ozaki will face Mahiro Yoshitake next.

Niikura vs Morikawa Niikura almost scores right away off of a Morikawa shot but Morikawa gets out. Morikawa finally gets a 1, then goes behind for 2 with less than 4 min left. Morikawa leads 3-0 at the break. Morikawa shoots, Niikura whizzers, they go oob. Morikawa gets in on Niikura and oushes her oob, 4-0. Morikawa shoots, Niikura sprawls and has double overs, but nothing there. Restart. Fighting near the edge, Niikura puses Morikawa out, 4-1. 8 sec left. Time expires. Morikawa wins, 4-1 and will face Shindo.

Nanjo vs Natami. Nanjo looking 2 on 1 right away. All hand fighting and positioning. 4 min left. Nanjo on the clock and Natami gets 1. Natami leads at the break, 1-0. Hand fighting, Natami hit with passivity. 2 min left. Nanjo hits a really nice single from space and gets the td to a gut. Nanjo leads 5-1. Natami goes for a single, but Nanjo counters, gets a td, 7-1. Natami gets in on a single, but when trying to go around, nanjo steps over to get the td and make it 9-1. 15 sec left. natami shoots off the shistle, but Nanjo is ready and goes behind to make it 11-1. Nanjo vs Risako next.

Okuno tries a shrug, but Kiyooka counters and gets behind, 2-0. Very active match. Lot of hand fighting. Kiyooka leads 2-0 at the break. Okuno in on a single ,Kiyooka whizzers, but Okuno with the td at the edge. 2-2, 2 min left. Both hand fighting for a while. 20 sec left Okuno shoots and get in deep, Kiyooka tries to go behind with a switch while Okuno tries to go out the back and time ends with Okuno winning on criteria. Okuno faces Kataoka.

Okuno vs Kiyooka up on deck. Kiyooka edged out Okuno a few weeks ago.

Very close match right now at 59kg between Natami and Inagaki. 2-1, Inagaki leads off of a td with 2 min left. Natami gets a td with a little over 1 min left. Reset in center. Inagaki shoots, Natami dodges and steps over for the td and exposure. Inagaki goes for a single on short time, but Natami good hips and Natami gets a 4, making it 11-2. Natami will face Nanjo next. Winner of that match will face Kawai. Winner of that match will face Nagamoto.

2023 World Team non-Olympic weights playoffs. On Japanese National TV! Competitors: 55kg- Rino Kataoka(Meiji Cup winner), Moe Kiyooka(2nd at the Meiji Cup to Akari Fujinami, 53kg) and Haruna Okuno(3rd Meiji Cup, 53kg). 59kg is going to be crazy. Nagamoto(Meiji Cup winner) Risako, Sae Nanjo(Lost the 57kg playoff match to Tsugumi Sakurai almost at the buzzer), Sara Natami and Inagaki(dropped down to 59 from 62(placed 2nd at Meiji Cup, 62kg). The funny thing is.....ALL of these competitors were from the same wrestling club until the Kawai sisters left. So, needless to say, they all know each other VERY well. 65kg- Mahiro Yoshitake(Meiji Cup winner), Yukako Kawai(dropped from 68kg, placed 3rd at the Meiji Cup, 68kg) and bumping up is Nonoka Ozaki(3rd at the Meiji Cup, 62kg) 72kg- Mei Shindo(Meiji Cup winner), Sumire Niikura and bumping up from 68kg, Miwa Morikawa. Morikawa lost an extremely close playoff match to Ami Ishii a few weeks ago for the 68kg spot.

Nanjo holding center, both hand fighting. Nanjo goes for double unders, but switches to a double and gets a td at the edge. Nanjo up 2-0. Sakurai going for the 2 on 1. Nothing there, restart with 3:40. Sakurai goes for a single with short time and Nanjo defends and then shoots for a single of her own, almost gets the td on the edge but time runs out. 2nd period. Nanjo shooting a lot, Sakurai great reflexes. Sakurai going for 2 on 1. 1 min left. 30 sec. Both hand fighting like crazy, Sakurai trying to get in. Sakurai gets double overs and tries to turn Nanjo with 1 sec left and time runs out. Can't tell if Nanjo got turned because of the camera angle. Sakurai's corner challenges to see if Nanjo went past 90. They slowed it down and looked at 2 or 3 different views. it looks like Sakurai barely turned Nanjo past 90 with I think 0.3 or 0.1 seconds left. Was hard to see how much time was left. Sakurai wins 2-2 on criteria at 57kg.

Sakurai vs Nanjo now.

Kaori Icho in Morikawa's corner. Ishii snap to single, scramble to td. Up 2-0 less than a minute in. Ishii trying to stay very low, Morikawa holding center. Lot of level change fakes by Morikawa. With 7 sec left in the first, Morikawa shoot, but her head bangs into Ishii's mouth. Ishii leads 2-0 going into the break. Morikawa shoots and gets in, but can't finish. Moriakawa has double unders. Restart in the center with 1:52 left. 1 for Morikawa. 1 min left. Morikawa had double unders, restart 30 sec left. Morikawa attacking and attacking, but Ishii defending. Morikawa briefly got in, but Ishii stuffed it. Time expires and Ishii wins, 2-1.

Ishii vs Morikawa at 68kg now

From what I saw earlier a few days ago, Risako isn't going to challenge for 59kg.

Moro up 2-0 going into the 2nd period. Kagami finally gets in on a shot and finishes to tie it, 2-2 with about 45 seconds left and fends off Moro's td attempts until the buzzer. Kagami wins, 2-2 on criteria. Kagami was last years' world bronze at 76kg in Belgrade. Moro wrestled very tough and it's hard to shoot on her since she's so short. She's only 18, so we'll see how her career progresses.

World team playoffs going on right now. You know...on NATIONAL TV.

And I need to use my regular keyboard....this one has keys that don't always work so my observations on the final day look like I was partially drunk.

Yoshimoto wrestled very, very conservatively compared to their last match, but yeah, you're right. That's why I always say that for most of the womens weights in Japan (minus 68, 72 and 76) that the national tournaments have tougher competition than the world championships.