Tag: tokyo joshi pro

A short time ago, Tokyo Joshi Pro announced the entrants for this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup, their annual singles tournament. A field of 19 makes up this year’s tournament, with round 1 & 2 matches TBA. The field: Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Yuki Kamifuku, Mizuki, Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Aino, Pom Harajuku, Kaya Toribami, Wakana Uehara, Shino Suzuki, Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo, Ryo Mizunami, Zara Zakher.

Notably not in the field: Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Raku, HIMAWARI & Mahiro Kiryu. All but Itoh will be in the UK when the Semifinals & Finals take place so they will miss the tournament as a result. Itoh will be in the US again in August and will miss all events that month. Also not entered due to being rookies (presumably) are Kira Summer & Uta Takami.

The tournament begins 7/28 at Ryogoku KfC Hall in Tokyo then continues on 8/3 at Shinjuku Face, 8/10 at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka (Quarterfinals), 8/23 at Shinjuku Face (Semifinals) and concludes 8/25 at Korakuen Hall (Finals). It also has been announced that Arai, Mizunami & Zakher will participate in all events regardless of tournament results.

Tokyo Joshi Pro continued the CITY CIRCUIT Tour today with an event in Shizuoka that just concluded.

Today’s event was held at Act City Hamamatsu in Shizuoka and should be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Wednesday. There was no live broadcast.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced.

There were late changes to the card due to Yuki Aino being pulled off the event. The always-vague poor health/physical condition.

Match 1: Mahiro Kiryu beat Chika Nanase.

Match 2: Shoko Nakajima & Kira Summer beat Haru Kazashiro & Uta Takami. Nakajima pinned Takami.

Match 3: Mizuki beat Runa Okubo by submission.

Match 4: Nao Kakuta beat Shino Suzuki.

Match 5: Maki Itoh & Yuki Kamifuku beat Raku & Pom Harajuku. Itoh beat Harajuku with Itoh Deluxe.

Match 6: Miyu Yamashita, Moka Miyamoto & Toga beat Suzume, Arisu Endo & Kaya Toribami. Miyamoto beat Endo with Rashomon.

Main Event: Miu Watanabe & Wakana Uehara beat Rika Tatsumi & HIMAWARI. Watanabe pinned HIMAWARI after Teardrop.

The next event is Thursday at Loft9 Shibuya in Tokyo, which will be a fundraiser for the injured Hyper Misao to help cover her medical expenses. It will be streamed live on Twitcasting for 1500 Japanese yen (around $10 US) beginning at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET. Event format TBA.

Tokyo Joshi Pro has just announced Nao Kakuta’s final match in the promotion on 7/25 before she retires. The event, to be held at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, will see Kakita close her TJPW career against Mizuki. Fans can throw streamers during that match and the post-match retirement ceremony. No other matches announced yet.

Tokyo Joshi Pro runs their monthly major event today, this month’s dubbed ‘PRISM ’24”. 2 title matches headline the event today as international outsiders come back looking for some gold. First up, International Princess Champion Yuki Arai must overcome a considerable height & size handicap once again as she defends against foreigner L.A. Taylor. Then in the main event, Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe defends the title against the popular American wrestler Vertvixen, back for another shot at the gold. And with the return of Miyu Yamashita to Japan looming, along with the Tokyo Princess Cup, Watanabe’s days as champion may be numbered…although what may work in the champion’s favor is Yamashita is among 5 wrestlers who are out of the Tokyo Princess Cup because they will be in England during the Semifinals and Finals (also no Raku, HIMWARI & Mahiro Kiryu. No Maki Itoh as well as she’ll be back in the US). The undercard is highlighted by the return of former All Elite Wrestling Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida to TJPW, and another appearance by Hall Of Famer Aja Kong.
In other news, the promotion today also announced a fundraiser event for 6/27 at LOFT9 Shibuya in Tokyo, which will be an event to help raise funds for Hyper Misao, who is out of action due to injury. All proceeds from the event will go to her medical expenses. The event format is undecided but it will be livestreamed on Twitcasting for 1500 Japanese ten (around or just under $10 US).

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese and English. Former SKE48 member Marika Tani, who left the group a couple months ago but remains active elsewhere in the entertainment industry, will return as a special guest on Japanese commentary. Fans are allowed to throw streamers/paper tape today. There will be a post-event party next door to the venue, which plays into the event name (Prism Hall is next to Korakuen). That event will perhaps have some influence on the running time even though it’s subject to change, so anticipate this event running about 2 1/2 hours. Based on time limits for matches the longest it could possibly go it about 3 hours. Also, for the last hour or so I’ll be split-screening due to another live event starting.

Today’s lineup (in order):
Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro
Chika Nanase vs. Uta Takami
Nao Kakuta & SAKI vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku
Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer vs. Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
Hikaru Shida vs. Moka Miyamoto
Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki
International Princess Champion Yuki Arai vs. L.A. Taylor for the title
Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Vertvixen for the title

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. The stream is scheduled to go live 30 minutes prior to the event.

7 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has begun. We should go to the venue in 20-25 minutes.

7:18 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.

We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hosts are Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano, Sayoko Mita & Marika Tani. Tour English hosts are Mr. Haku & Gaia Hox.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. They’re using the normal reduced capacity setup with most of the opposite-hard camera bleacher seats closed off except in the middle. Too early to guess on the attendance but I usually estimate around 700 for these events. (After seeing some crowd shots during opening match entrances, I’m revising my estimate down to around 650) (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 707)

The matches should begin in 20-30 minutes.

Opening announcements begin at 7:25 PM PT/10:25 PM ET. The final announcement is a big one-WRESTLE PRINCESS 5, the annual fall blowout event that was their biggest annual event prior to GRAND PRINCESS. This year it will be held on 9/22 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 6 in Chiba.

Up Up Girls time.

The matches begin at 7:45 PM PT/10:45 PM ET. And as noted above, we have STREAMERS!

Match 1: Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro. 20 minute time limit
Result: Suzume & Arisu Endo beat Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro. Suzume pinned Kazashiro after Ring A Bell.

Match 2: Chika Nanase vs. Uta Takami. 15 minute time limit
Result: Chika Nanase beat Uta Takami by submission

Match 3: Nao Kakuta & SAKI (Independent/Freelancer) vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku. 20 minute time limit
Result: Nao Kakuta & SAKI beat Raku & Pom Harajuku. Kakuta pinned Harajuku after Shiden Kai.

Match 4: Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer vs. Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami. 20 minute time limit. Kira & Kamifuku have Kong’s face paint too!
Result: Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer beat Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami. Kamifuku pinned Toribami after Fameasser.

New match announcement for SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24 on 7/20 at Korakuen: SHoko Nakajima vs…Aja Kong!

Match 5: Hikaru Shida (All Elite Wrestling) vs. Moka Miyamoto. 20 minute time limit
Result: HIkaru Shida beat Moka Miyamoto

Match 6: Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki. 20 minute time limit
Result: Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino beat Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki. Tatsumi pinned Uehara after Twist Of Fate.

Match 7: International Princess Champion Yuki Arai vs. L.A. Taylor (Pro Wrestling EVE) for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: International Princess Champion Yuki Arai beat L.A. Taylor to retain the title. V3 for Arai. It wasn’t easy and she was mostly beaten down by the much bigger Taylor, but one counter sometimes, one opportunity, is all it takes and it came at the right time. And I go home happy.

Main Event: Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Vertvixen for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe beat Vertvixen to retain the title. V2 for Watanabe. Next up: No time to celebrate…Rika Tatsumi came out immediately. Accepted. At this point all signs would seem to point to SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24 but we’ll hopefully know more in the next day or so, but apparently Daydream is going to face off. Watanabe finished her victory promo to end the show. (UPDATE: Not yet official but the official results page on DDT’s website says it’s happening on 7/20 which is SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24)

UPDATE 2: It’s now official.

The next event is Saturday at Kobe Art Center in Kobe. There will be no live broadcast. In fact, no more live broadcasts are scheduled this month. At this time the next live broadcast will be the Nao Kakuta Produced event on 7/6.

Tokyo Joshi Pro held what is now becoming an annual hometown event for Yuki Kamifuku in her home city of Fujisawa City.

Today’s event was held at Fujisawa City Shonandai Cultural Center in Kanagawa and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 347.

There was a last-minute change to the event as Mahiro Kiryu was removed due to a lower back injury. She was to have teamed with Uta Takami to face Runa Okubo & Toga. Kakeru Sekiguchi was the replacement, making her first TJPW appearance.

Match 1: Nao Kakuta beat Haru Kazashiro.

Match 2: Kakeru Sekiguchi & Uta Takami beat Runa Okubo & Toga. Sekiguchi beat Okubo with SG Clutch.

Match 3: Suzume, Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase beat Raku, Pom Harajuku & Kira Summer. Endo beat Summer with a camel clutch.

Match 4: Alexis Lee & Kaya Toribami beat Shoko Nakajima & HIMAWARI. Lee pinned HIMAWARI after Noble Way.

Match 5: Miu Watanabe & Shino Suzuki beat Maki Itoh & Wakana Uehara. Watanabe pinned Uehara.

Main Event: Aja Kong & Yuki Kamifuku beat Rika Tatsumi & Moka Miyamoto. Kamifuku pinned Miyamoto after a diving Fameasser. Afterwards, Kong may have asked for a future match against Kamifuku.

The next event is PRISM ’24 on 6/9 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Already set for that event are International Pricess Champion Yuki Arai vs. LA Taylor for the title, Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Vertvixen for the title and the return of AEW star Hikaru Shida to the promotion. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin on 6/8 at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET.

Many fans and even some wrestlers recently, including occasional visitor Max The Impaler (and myself too), have been wondering about Hikari Noa. She has been absent from Tokyo Joshi Pro since missing events in December due to the ever-vague poor physical condition. Now we have an update on her status, but it’s not good for us-Noa has left the promotion. They say she “graduated” and the promotion’s announcement made it sound like a personal decision to leave after discussing future plans there is/will be no comment from Noa but TJPW said she apologized to fans for not being able to live up to their wishes & expectations. A separate announcement from the Up Up Girls website says Noa made the decision to leave Wednesday (May 15).

Noa’s profile page has already been removed from DDT’s website but she was both an International Princess Champion and Princess Tag Team Champion (the latter with the soon-retiring Nao Kakuta, who has posted fond memories of them on Twitter) and also was in the first true hardcore matches in TJPW. No was also a member of the Up Up Girls group with (at the time) Miu Watanabe, Raku and-when she first joined-Shino Suzuki. She has been wrestling for 7 years but it’s not known if that will continue.

We join on wishing Noa the best in her future endeavors

Tokyo Joshi Pro announced the full 5/12 card today, and some unplanned absences with it-one is not injury-related as Nao Kakuta is off due to a scheduling conflict (stage performance) but one is as rookie Kira Summer will be out of action for the first time in her career. The always-vague poor physical condition coming out of yesterday, but serious enough to require a second examination. Out indefinitely. No changes will be needed for 5/12.

More as it becomes available.

In unrelated TJPW news, I also join her many fans and the roster in wishing Yuki Arai a happy 26th birthday!

Tokyo Joshi Pro holds their annual Golden Week blowout event, YES! WONDERLAND” 2024, today. Usually events like this would have all 3 titles defended but there are only 2 title matches today on the 8-match lineup as the International Princess Championship will not be fought for. Instead, to commemorate the 3rd Anniversary of Yuki Arai’s debut (which was in actuality a day or two ago) she will be in a special tag match. The 2 title matches are headlining the event of course-first up, Princess Tag Team Champions Suzume & Arisu Endo will defend their titles against the team of Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI. In the main event, Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe defends against Shoko Nakajima, who will try to become the 3rd 3-time champion in history and end Watanabe’s reign in her first defense. Also on the undercard will be an appearance by Ganbare Women flag-bearer Yuna Manase.

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese and English. Fans will be able to throw streamers/paper tape today as well. The 8 match lineup combined with an off-site post-event party means, based on time limits, the total running time today should be just under 3 hours.

Today’s lineup (in order):
Toga vs. Shino Suzuki
Mahiro Kiryu, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer vs. Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Uta Takami
Yuna Manase vs. Runa Okubo
Maki Itoh vs. Haru Kazashiro
Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku
Yuki Arai & Yuki Kamifuku vs. Mizuki & Nao Kakuta
Princess Tag Team Champions Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI for the titles
Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Shoko Nakajima for the title

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. The live stream is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET.

7 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has begun. We should go to the venue shortly before the event begins.

7:17 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.

We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hosts are Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano & Sayoko Mita. The English commentary is Mr. Haku & Gaia something.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. Too early to make a prediction as the crowd is still filing in but with the normal setup they have (only using the middle bleacher section on the opposite-hard camera side), and considering it’s a holiday in Japan despite a Monday morning matinee, I’ll make my usual guess of around 750. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 756)

The matches should begin in 20-25 minutes.

Sayuri Namba’s opening announcements begin at 7:24 PM PT, notable response from the crowd as she’s ditched her usual black/white dress for a more Final Fantasy-inspired all-black Tifa Lockheart-style look. During this Arisu Endo was brought out, at which time a hometown return event in her hometown of Aizuwakamatsu was announced for 9/14. Yuki Kamifuku ios also out, now having won the VPW (Vietnam) Women’s Championship in addition to her Queen Of Asia (Singapore) Championship match. And on 5/18 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring she will defend both titles against Alexis Lee.

Up Up Girls follows and…wait, only 2? 3? Shino Suzuki is running late! Then…5 more?!? New recruits it seems-and now there are 9! Catching up to the 48s! The new girls will have a special event on 7/7 in Tokyo, based on the kanji I believe it could be at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage. (Update: The Up Up Girls official social media account announced it’s a collaboration between a second unit of the group and TJPW and it will be at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage)

The matches begin at 7:50 PM PT/10:50 PM ET.

Match 1: Toga vs. Shino Suzuki. 15 minute time limit
Result: Shino Suzuki beat Toga

Match 2: Mahiro Kiryu, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer vs. Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Uta Takami. 20 minute time limit
Result: Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Uta Takami beat Mahiro Kiryu, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer. Toribami beat Nanase with a reverse armbar.

Match 3: Yuna Manase (Ganbare Pro) vs. Runa Okubo. 15 minute time limit
Result: Yuna Manase beat Runa Okubo

Match 4: Maki Itoh vs. Haru Kazashiro. 15 minute time limit
Result: Maki Itoh beat Haru Kazashiro by submission. Afterwards, Itoh with microphone. In Japanese, possibly putting Kazashiro the slightest bit over.

Match 5: Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku. 20 minute time limit
Result: Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino beat Raku & Pom Harajuku by ref stoppage (technical submission). Aino beat Harajuku.

Match 6: Yuki Arai & Yuki Kamifuku vs. Mizuki & Nao Kakuta. 20 minute time limit
Result: Yuki Arai & Yuki Kamifuku beat Mizuki & Nao Kakuta. Arai pinned Kakuta after Finally. Happy Happy!

Match 7: Princess Tag Team Champions Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI for the titles. 30 minute time limit
Result: Princess Tag Team Champions Suzume & Arisu Endo beat Wakana Uehara & HIMWARI to retain the titles. Endo pinned HIMAWARI after a neckbreaker drop. V1 for the champs.

Main Event: Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Shoko Nakajima for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe beat Shoko Nakajima to retain the title. V1 for Watanabe. Short post-match promo from Watanabe followed to close the show. No potential next challenger emerged.

The next event is Saturday at Osaka Azalea Taisho in Osaka. There will be no live broadcast.

Tokyo Joshi Pro continues their Spring house show tour today with the final event before YES! WONDERLAND, their annual Golden Week blowout event. As such, this will represent the final builds for the 2 title matches on 5/6 (not 3 because Yuki Arai won’t defend the International Princess Championship. That may be held back for July). Interestingly there is just one single match today as trios matches feature the champions opposite their challengers one last time, an opportunity for one side to build more momentum.

While this probably didn’t affect the card at all, Kaya Toribami will miss this event due to an overseas tour.

Today’s event will be held at Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. There will be no commentary. It’s still a house show and no match should have more than a 20 minute time limit, so with 6 matches I anticipate this event will run just under 2 hours.

Today’s lineup (match order TBA):
Rika Tatsumi vs. Nao Kakuta & Chika Nanase in a 3-way
Kira Summer vs. Mahiro Kiryu
Maki Itoh & Uta Takami vs. Yuki Kamifuku & Toga
Mizuki & Shino Suzuki vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku
Suzume, Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI & Runa Okubo
Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto vs. Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 8:30 PM PT/11:30 PM ET. The live stream is scheduled to begin at 8:15 PM PT/11:15 PM ET.

8:28 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.

We are LIVE from Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is no commentary.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. They turned the lights down right away for the opening announcements but based on advance sales it has me thinking around 200 initially. A legit sellout at the venue is 294. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 223)

The matches should begin in about 10 minutes.

The matches begin at 8:45 PT/11:45 PM ET. The hard camera is higher-up than normal and at an angle today.

Match 1: Kira Summer vs. Mahiro Kiryu. 15 minute time limit
Result: Mahiro Kiryu beat Kira Summer by submission

Match 2: Rika Tatsumi vs. Nao Kakuta & Chika Nanase in a 3-way. 20 minute time limit
Result: Rika Tatsumi beat Nao Kakuta & Chika Nanase in a 3-way by beating Nanase.

Match 3: Maki Itoh & Uta Takami vs. Yuki Kamifuku & Toga. 20 minute time limit
Result: Maki Itoh & Uta Takami beat Yuki Kamifuku & Toga. Itoh beat Toga with Itoh Punish.

Match 4: Mizuki & Shino Suzuki vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku. 20 minute time limit
Result: Raku & Pom Harajuku beat Mizuki & Shino Suzuki. Raku pinned Suzuki after Doctor Yellow.

Match 5: Suzume, Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI & Runa Okubo (her left eye has what looks like a massive bandage/wrap on her left cheek just under her eye, hopefully not anything serious). 20 minute time limit
Result: Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI & Runa Okubo beat Suzume, Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro. HIMAWARI pinned Kazashiro.

Main Event: Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto vs. Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino. 20 minute time limit
Result: Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino beat Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto. Nakajima pinned Miyamoto after a diving senton.

The next event is YES! WONDERLAND ’24, the annual Golden Week blowout event, on 5/6 at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin on 5/5 at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET.