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2026.06.30

Akari Fujinami: My Journey So Far

In April 2026, Akari Fujinami — a wrestler with an unprecedented winning streak of over 150 consecutive victories — joined Restar. Having stood at the top of the world in the 53kg weight class, she has now taken on a new challenge that no one has attempted before: competing in a higher weight class. Here, we look back on her journey from her very first steps in wrestling at the age of four to where she stands today, along with her passion for the sport.

Where My Wrestling Story Begins

I started wrestling when I was four years old. Since it was before I could even remember, I honestly have no memory of how or why I began. I've heard that at my very first match, I burst into tears and couldn't even step onto the mat.

My parents never intended for me to take it seriously. But my brother was training hard, and naturally our family conversations always revolved around wrestling. I think the frustration of being left out of those conversations is what motivated me to keep going.

When the Desire to Win First Sparked

The turning point came when I met a girl one year older than me. No matter how many times I challenged her, I kept getting beaten. That's when, for the first time, I felt a genuine desire to win. What had been a casual hobby transformed into a pursuit of victory. Everything changed — the amount I trained, and the way I approached it.

I kept my focus entirely on that one athlete, and before I knew it, my own skills had grown. In my second year of middle school, I finally beat her for the first time. The joy I felt in that moment was on par with winning at an international competition. That victory is where my current winning streak began.

Growth over Records

My winning streak is not something I set out to build — it's a result that followed naturally. I'm not wrestling to protect a record. It's the outcome of focusing on becoming stronger day by day, always better than yesterday.

After a major competition ended, I went through a period without any goals. I spent time hanging out with friends and doing things I enjoyed, but at some point I realized my heart felt empty. That's when I understood that I feel most alive when I'm chasing something. Now that I have new goals to work toward, every day feels fulfilling.

Taking the Road No One Has Taken — Moving Up from 53kg to 57kg

The women's wrestlers who have dominated at the top of the world have all built their records by moving down in weight class. No one has ever won consecutive world titles after moving up. I understood how difficult that would be, and I chose this path anyway.

The thought of going after a title in a new weight class felt far more exciting than defending the one I already had. A four-kilogram difference is a significant barrier in a contact sport, and there are certainly challenges. But I'm enjoying every bit of it.

Because I Love It

Even when injuries kept me from competing, I always told myself: "This injury has meaning. I can grow through this time." Right now, I'm focusing on tactics for each opponent and testing myself in daily training.

While cleaning at my family home, I found something that held a piece of my younger self, and tears came to my eyes. Back then, I was wrestling simply because I loved it. No matter how many reasons have been added since, I never want to lose that feeling. I will keep chasing landscapes I have never seen before.