Akari Fujinami's Historic 155-Match Winning Streak Ends at Asian Games

The most dominant run in modern wrestling is officially over. After nine years, multiple world titles, and 155 consecutive victories across all levels of competition, Japanese Olympic champion Akari Fujinami finally tasted defeat on Saturday at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.[1][3][5]

The 22-year-old phenom suffered her first international loss in the women's 57kg semifinals, falling to North Korea's Il Sim Son. The stunning defeat silenced the partisan crowd at the arena, halting a historic streak that began when Fujinami was still competing in junior high school.[3][4]

Son, a world silver medalist, executed a flawless game plan against the previously untouchable champion. She secured an early takedown and executed two rolls to build a 6-0 advantage by the break, refusing to let Fujinami establish her usual relentless rhythm.[1][4]

"My opponent was really strong, and I was just weak," Fujinami said after the match. "I'm still not strong enough. I will definitely get stronger."[1][3]

Moving Up in Weight

The Asian Games marked Fujinami's first major senior tournament since moving up to the 57kg weight class. She had previously captured the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal and two world titles at 53kg, a division where she rarely surrendered a single point.[4][5]

The heavier weight class presented immediate physical challenges against established stars. The streak nearly ended in her opening match when Fujinami fell behind early, though she managed to escape the predicament and went on a scoring spree to win 16-5.[1]

In the second period of the semifinal, Son defended a rare duck-under attempt from Fujinami and countered with two barrel rolls. The North Korean wrestler extended her lead to 10-0 before securing the pin at the 3:52 mark.[1][3][4]

The loss was a jarring moment for a wrestler who had not lost an official bout since 2017. Over the intervening 153 matches, she had only come close to losing twice—most notably surviving a 7-0 deficit against Ecuador's Lucia Yepez Guzman at the 2023 World Championships.[1][5]

Rebuilding for Los Angeles

Rather than retreating after the historic upset, Fujinami returned to the mat later that day to secure the 57kg bronze medal. She used the post-match press conference to outline her path forward, framing the defeat as a necessary catalyst for her career.[1][4]

"I feel deeply frustrated," Fujinami admitted after claiming the bronze. "It was an indescribable emotion that I had never experienced before. I will never forget that feeling, and I don't want to."[1]

The Japanese star immediately set her sights on the future, confirming her commitment to mastering the new weight class. She promised her supporters that the setback in Nagoya would serve as the foundation for her next Olympic cycle.[1][4]

"I have made up my mind that at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, together with everyone who supported me, I will definitely win a gold medal," Fujinami stated, embracing the challenge of a rebuild.[1]

A Shaken Tournament

Fujinami's defeat was part of a chaotic day for reigning Olympic champions in Nagoya. Just hours earlier, Paris 2024 men's 74kg gold medalist Razambek Jamalov of Uzbekistan suffered a 7-6 upset loss to Iran's Yones Emami in the opening round.[1][3]

Son advanced to the 57kg final following her historic victory, cementing her status as a premier threat in the division. The North Korean wrestler had previously claimed silver at the 2025 World Championships.[4][5]

Despite the shock of the semifinal, the Japanese team found success elsewhere on the mat. At 57kg, Aman of India stormed into the final to face North Korea's Chongsong Han, while Iran's Amirali Azarpira advanced to the 97kg gold-medal bout.[1]

"I don't know if the day will ever come when I can say I'm glad I lost, but I will definitely make this loss meaningful and become stronger," Fujinami concluded.[1]