The Future of Joshi - Introduction
One of my favorite aspects of professional wrestling is that it never ends. Just like traditional sports, it doesn't conclude after a certain player retires or a particularly defining moment happens. Legends hang it up, promotions go defunct, and popularity wanes, but wrestling will always march on. The history of wrestling is not a book; it's an ever expanding library filled with an infinite number of volumes.
For legends and established acts, it's easy to skim their history. For example, Kenny Omega was already a seven year veteran with over 300 matches under his belt by the time he faced Kota Ibushi in 2008. And yet, any discussion of Omega's career likely starts at that match. It makes sense why this happens: we have hindsight. We know that in the grand scheme of things, Kenny's time on the North American indies doesn't really matter much, nor does it compare in quality to anything that came after.
But what if you didn't know that? What if you sat down in that library, picked up a book, and read along as it was being written? You would have no idea where the story is going to end. Consequently, every single match is important. Every little development is crucial.
I've always loved following the careers of young wrestlers. As far back 2014, a 22 year old Sasha Banks made me fall in love with women's wrestling. When I started watching Stardom in 2022, I instantly became a fan of Hanan and watched her grow into a unit leader and white belt contender.
Over the past two years, three new wrestlers have given me that same feeling of excitement for the future. Three wrestlers that I feel have long, fruitful careers ahead of them. Three wrestlers that I want to document the careers of: Senka Akatsuki, Haru Kazashiro, and Sayaka Kurara.
The Shape of Things to Come
So what exactly is this series? Every month, I'll be going over what's happened in the careers of these young women. Their matches, the storylines they're in, any news regarding them, speculating on what the future holds for them, etc.
I've had this idea for a while, but two specific things really motivated me to create this series. The first was the general experience of trying to learn more about a Japanese wrestler. On the English internet, it's slim pickings for information. With the expansion in Joshi twitter it's become a little easier, but not by much. Especially if the wrestler you're looking into is obscure, debuted before 2018, or both. I want this blog to serve as a resource for the English speaking joshi community on the history of what I believe to be three future world champions.
The second being Nina's amazing article on how joshi storytelling is basically region-locked. Almost all of the joshi coverage on the english speaking internet is match results, show announcements, and the odd summary of a Japanese article. There isn't nearly enough coverage on the stories being told in Joshi, and that goes quadruple for the undercard.
To conclude this first post, I wanted to give a little summary of these women's short careers so far:
The Beast: Senka Akatsuki
The least experienced of the three, Senka debuted in October of 2024. She was introduced to wrestling by her mother showing her a bloody Mayumi Ozaki and Mimi Shimoda match. Being a fan of 90s ZenJo, she joined Marvelous and trained under Chigusa Nagayo. It was only natural that Chigusa would throw her to the wolves in her debut match. Despite being put through the ringer by Sareee, she showed what made her special.
Her look is phenomenal. Her gear is clearly an allusion to Chigusa's crush gals attire. She's also imposing as hell. She's taller than the average joshi wrestler and her build is far bulkier. She looked like she could easily overpower Sareee, and she almost does with her only signature move shown in the match: the infamous shoot pin.
After a grueling time limit draw against Ai Houzan to start 2025, Senka would achieve her first win in a rematch on the 12th of January. One week later, she would wrestle yet another time limit draw against fellow rookie Sora Ayame.
Jumping forward to March, it was announced that the first of many Marvelous vs Marigold matches would see Senka and Marvelous ace Takumi Iroha take on Nanae Takahashi and Marigold super rookie Seri Yamaoka. The press conference was... interesting.
While Senka didn't leave Korakuen hall with a belt, she did leave with a new rival. Marigold had been building Seri Yamaoka as a "super rookie." Senka saw that and said "you've got the wrong woman." Senka had Yamaoka outclassed for most of this match. As early as the first exchange, she underestimates Senka's technical ability and almost gets submitted. She's fighting for her life through Senka's pins. She eats multiple hard forearms and a nasty brainbuster. Yet in the end, Yamaoka pinned a trapped and exhausted Senka. This would only be the beginning.
A trip to America for WrestleMania weekend saw Senka take on Aja Kong in an good sprint. It's an average modern day Aja match up until the end. Aja goes for the cover, but Senka keeps fighting out. She won't stay down, and the crowd is ravenous. It's one of those moments you can only get in American indie wrestling. Like Joe vs Kobashi in 2005, a crowd of around 100 sounds like an arena of 10k.
Back in Japan, she finally got her win over Sora Ayame at the Unagi Sayaka produce show, making her record 1-0-1. Recently, Akatsuki and Ayame (unofficially dubbed the new Crush Gals) have been tagging together more frequently. They unsuccessfully challenged Takumi Iroha and Sareee for the AAAW Tag Team championships, and faced the team of Seri Yamaoka and Victoria Yuzuki in her latest match. Of course, Seri and Senka cared more about killing each other than winning the actual match.
Senka won a battle royal to enter Marigold's Dream Star Grand Prix, however she has had to withdraw from the tournament due to poor health. Many wrestlers wished her the best, including Seri, who of course used it as a way to talk even more shit. "Akatsuki, you okay?? Take care!! Rest slowly and steadily!! In the meantime, I'll pull ahead and wait for you." Friends forever.
The Technician: Haru Kazashiro
Debuting at just 14 years old, Haru found herself in the position all young fans dream of. Haru became a wrestling fan from an early age, her parents being fans themselves. Her first exposure to TJPW came in 2017 after seeing Maki Itoh in the Amazon Prime TV show "ROJO PRO WRESTLING." She applied to become a wrestler shortly before graduating junior high school.
In massive 2023 TJPW rookie class, Haru didn't exactly stand out. In fact, she was overshadowed in literally every single way. She lacked the charisma of HIMAWARI, the athleticism of Wakana, and the comedic chops of Shino. Unfortunately, she was very easy to ignore.
Her main rival during this time was Runa Okubo, fellow high schooler and rookie. The two teamed and faced each other frequently in tags and even fought in the opening match of Wrestle Princess IV. At the end of the year, she found herself knocked out of the inaugural Next Generation tournament to HIMAWARI in the first round. Most figured she would stay in this position on the card until she graduated high school. That couldn't have been more wrong.
Haru's 2024 started off strong with her first singles win against Shino Suzuki at the Max Heart Tournament Finals. This momentum rolled over into Grand Princess where she was the MVP in the 2023/2024 rookies 6-woman tag. She won with her new finisher, the fisherman's suplex.
That Summer, she would finally be matched against her idol. After a passionate loss to Itoh, Haru would break down crying in the ring. Itoh then told her to take that emotion and crush her in the future. She would take that fire into the Tokyo Princess Cup, bringing everything she had against outsider Ryo Mizunami in a fantastic match. Her normally hesitant and calculated style is thrown out the window, charging at Aniki with everything she had. Despite debuting her new springboard dropkick, it was another loss for the cyclone.
The latter half of 2024 was one of mixed feelings. Haru and Runa had their rematch at Wrestle Princess V, but it felt off even before the bell rang. In the days leading up to the match, she posted vague tweets about how you never know when you're going to share a ring with someone for the last time. Later that month, Runa announced an indefinite hiatus from wrestling. Haru's rival and best friend was gone.
After a tune up match against Chika Nanase, Haru sought to be redeemed in the Next Gen tournament. She made quick work of Uta Takami before being matched up against the previous year's winner, Wakana Uehara. This match subtly reflects one of Haru's biggest developments: she's cool. She looks like she finally got out of her own head and she's able to focus. After a grueling match where Haru out grapples and eventually matches Wakana in strength, it's onto Toga.
The final against Toga shows even more growth, albeit in a way that may seem nonsensical at first. Haru realizes early on that this is a bad matchup for her. The threat of Toga's strikes are too high to work a more traditional grappling offense. She's more slippery here than in the previous tournament matches. She's working smart. And yet she allows herself to be caught in a forearm exchange with a top 3 bomb thrower in the company. It's in this match that I think Haru finally develops a sense of pride. She could run away. She could try and counter this into some kind of submission. But she willingly takes these elbows because she finally believes she's the better wrestler.
After a beautiful bridging fisherman's suplex, Haru is officially the top of her class. The stipulation of the Next Gen winner getting a shot at a title of their choosing is immediately followed up on with Haru choosing Toga to be her tag partner against 121000000 at TJPW's 11th anniversary show. The match went... about as you would expect. It's two veterans playing with their food. Truthfully, I don't think Haru expected to win this match. I think this was her trying to follow up on her promise from earlier in the year. While Haru didn't crush Itoh, she left with a begrudging respect.
Ever since that title challenge, Haru's been quiet. She hasn't been calling attention to herself. But for those paying attention, it's been mesmerizing. for six months straight, Haru has been getting her wrestling down to a science. Everything is smooth. Everything is fast. No wasted movements.
Recently, Haru advanced past the qualifying round of the Tokyo Princess Cup, last beating Ivy Steel. In her last match in July, she teamed with Yuki Aino to defeat Veniyu and the team of Arisu and Jada. It'll be very interesting to see what TPC 12 holds for the Cyclone of Spring.
The Idol: Sayaka Kurara
Live Long and Prosper?
Sayaka Kurara's wrestling journey begins on a whim. An acquaintance mentions to her how wrestling is fun to watch, and that Stardom is having a show soon. Kurara decides "what the hell, why not," and goes to the the 5 Star Grand Prix 2022 finals. By the time she's back on her train home, Kurara is already applying for the Stardom dojo.
Debuting against Saya Kamitani in December 2023, Kurara showed that she is the ultimate underdog from day one. She will put every ounce of her soul into every move and bump. Not to mention that in an industry full of spears, her's manages to stand out. After wandering the purgatory of unitlessness, Kurara asked to join Tam Nakano in Cosmic Angels. She wanted to be under the wing of the woman that made her want to become a wrestler. Yunamon insisted that she only be a trainee for now, eventually becoming a full-fledged member in April of 2024.
Kurara would make it to the second round of the Cinderella Tournament after Natsuko Tora elimnated herself, giving Sayaka her first win. The middle of 2024 seemed to be pretty uneventful. She challenged Rina for the Future of Stardom Championship, and teamed with fellow rookie Cosmic Angel Aya Sakura to challenge for Wing Gori's New Blood tag titles. Both were unsuccessful. Everything would change for Kurara when a certain phoenix rose from the ashes.
Kurara felt betrayed. She felt hurt that the woman that so graciously welcomed her with open arms into this company has set out to destroy it. In what seemed like a run of the mill six-woman tag, Kurara would do the unthinkable. A rookie pinned the frontrunner for the next red belt champion in one of the loudest Korakuen pops of the year. Kamitani wasn't going to take this laying down (well... again). At Nagoya Golden Fight 2024, Kamitani destroyed Kurara in a singles match without much of a fight, and also left her with some parting words.
Main event Kurara was not something I had on my 2025 bingo card. As part of Tam's feud with Kamitani, Kurara is used as a pawn by Saya. Through a series of matches, Kurara retains her alliance to Cosmic Angels, all while angering Saya even more. Kuara enters the Cinderella Tournament 2025, ultimately going all the way. Unlike every other winner, though, Sayaka saves her wish for a later date.
We would have to wait two months for Kurara to use her wish: a match against Kamitani for the red belt. The two fought at Korakuen hall in 20 minute epic that had completely different meanings for both of them. Kurara was trying to exact vengance for Tam. Saya was trying to crush the last of those pesky Angels.
Kurara somehow gives more than everything. She's always giving 100%, but she taps into something magical here. No matter how much abuse she takes, she's right back up. Unfortunately, so is Saya. No matter how many spears, tomeki cutters, and violet shootings she takes, the Phenex Queen won't stay down. With one final star crusher, Kurara's dreams die in Korakuen hall.
Ever since May, things have been on the downturn for Kurara. She unsuccessfully challenged Hina for the Future of Stardom championship, and has yet to win a match in the 5 Star Grand Prix. What is Sayaka Kurara's place in this new era of Stardom?
Holy shit I've done it again, I somehow managed to turn what was supposed to be a light introduction post into a needlessly thorough wall of text. August's TFOJ post should be a lot shorter than this, mainly covering the TPC, 5Star, and hopefully Senka's return. I'm also planning on posting a feature this month on joshi video games, so be on the lookout for that.