Tokyo — In a dramatic turn at the Nippon Budokan, 22-year-old Watanabe Saki captured her maiden Empress Cup women’s judo title, defeating reigning champion Tanaka Akari in the final of the 41st All-Japan Women’s Judo Championships on Sunday. The victory denied Tanaka a historic back-to-back crown and marked Watanabe’s emergence as Japan’s new standard-bearer in the sport’s most prestigious domestic tournament.
The Empress Cup, officially known as the All-Japan Women’s Judo Championship, is the oldest and most revered individual competition in Japanese women’s judo, dating back to 1982. Held annually at the iconic Nippon Budokan in central Tokyo, the tournament brings together the nation’s elite judoka across seven weight classes, with the openweight division often serving as the ultimate test of skill, strength, and mental fortitude.
Watanabe, competing in the 78kg division, entered the tournament as a rising contender but not the outright favorite. Tanaka, a two-time World Championships medalist and the defending Empress Cup openweight champion, had been widely expected to extend her dominance. However, the final unfolded in stark contrast to expectations, with Watanabe displaying exceptional composure and tactical precision to secure a decisive ippon victory via osaekomi-waza (hold-down technique) in the closing minutes of the match.
“This stage was everything I dreamed of,” Watanabe said in her post-match interview, her voice trembling with emotion. “To win here, at the Budokan, in front of this crowd — it’s indescribable. I’ve watched this tournament since I was a child, and to stand where my idols once stood… it’s everything.” Her words echoed the deep cultural significance of the Empress Cup, which carries not only athletic prestige but likewise symbolic weight as a benchmark of excellence in Japanese judo.
Tanaka, meanwhile, offered a rare glimpse of vulnerability after the loss. “I felt the pressure from the first grip,” she admitted. “My body wouldn’t move the way I wanted. I’ve trained for this moment, but when it came, I couldn’t execute.” The candid reflection highlighted the immense psychological burden carried by reigning champions in Japan’s hyper-competitive judo landscape, where expectations to repeat victories are immense.
The match itself was a study in contrasting approaches. Tanaka, known for her explosive seoi-nage (shoulder throw) and aggressive grip fighting, appeared hesitant early, possibly affected by the weight of defending her title. Watanabe, by contrast, maintained a low, balanced posture, patiently waiting for openings before launching a series of well-timed attacks that eventually broke down Tanaka’s defense.
According to verified bout data from the All-Japan Judo Federation (AJJF), Watanabe scored the decisive hold-down with 1:47 remaining in the five-minute match, immobilizing Tanaka for the required 20 seconds to earn ippon. The win marked Watanabe’s first major senior national title, following a bronze medal at the 2023 Grand Slam Tokyo and a fifth-place finish at the World Championships earlier that year.
Tanaka’s loss ended her reign as Empress Cup openweight champion after a single defense. She had won the 2023 edition in a closely contested final against rival Hamada Shori, securing the title with a waza-ari advantage. Her 2024 campaign had shown signs of strain, including an early exit at the Paris Grand Slam in February and a third-place finish at the All-Japan Selected Weight Class Championships in April.
The Empress Cup holds unique importance in Japan’s judo calendar. Unlike international events governed by the International Judo Federation (IJF), this tournament operates under a traditional single-elimination format without repechage, meaning one loss ends a competitor’s run. Victory requires not only technical mastery but also the ability to perform under intense, winner-takes-all pressure — a dynamic that often produces unexpected outcomes.
Historically, the tournament has served as a launchpad for global success. Legends such as Ryoko Tani, a seven-time Empress Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Kanae Yamabe, a World Championships gold medalist, both used the Empress Cup as a stepping stone to international acclaim. Watanabe’s win now places her in that lineage, though she remains focused on incremental progress.
“This is just the beginning,” Watanabe said when asked about her future goals. “There are still so many athletes I look up to — Tanaka-san, Hamada-san, even the veterans from the Tani era. I want to keep learning, keep fighting, and one day represent Japan at the Olympics with this same fire.” Her remarks underscored the enduring influence of Japan’s judo legacy on its current generation.
The Nippon Budokan, located in Chiyoda Ward near the Imperial Palace, provided a fitting backdrop for the occasion. Built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the venue remains synonymous with judo in Japan, hosting major national events and serving as the spiritual home of the sport. On Sunday, the arena was nearly at capacity, with a crowd estimated by the AJJF at over 8,000 spectators — a testament to the enduring popularity of women’s judo in Japan.
For global judo followers, the Empress Cup offers a rare window into Japan’s deep talent pool, where domestic competition often rivals the intensity of World Championships or Olympic bouts. While international rankings are determined by IJF tour points, the Empress Cup remains a critical measure of form and mental readiness within Japan’s selection ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Watanabe will now turn her attention to the 2024 Grand Slam circuit, with stops in Astana and Tbilisi scheduled for later this year. Tanaka, meanwhile, is expected to reassess her training and competition schedule, with sources close to the athlete indicating she may skip select European events to focus on recovery and preparation for the 2025 World Championships in Budapest.
The All-Japan Judo Federation has not yet announced the date for the 42nd Empress Cup, but it is traditionally held in early December. Athletes and coaches alike will use the offseason to analyze this year’s results, particularly the shifting dynamics in the openweight division, where Watanabe’s victory has introduced a new layer of unpredictability.
As the judo world turns its gaze toward the next Olympic cycle, the Empress Cup continues to serve as both a mirror and a motor — reflecting the current state of Japan’s women’s judo while driving its evolution. For Watanabe, the victory was not just a personal milestone, but a reminder that even the most entrenched hierarchies can be reshaped by belief, preparation, and the courage to perform when it matters most.
Whether she can build on this moment remains to be seen. But for now, Watanabe Saki is the Empress Cup champion — and in Japan, that title carries a resonance that extends far beyond the tatami.
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