When all is said and done in 2025, the round-of-the-year contenders will include the ninth frame of the enthralling bout in Tokyo between WBA bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi and Daigo Higa.

The Tsugaru Asahifuji Junior Club in Tsugaru currently comprises six wrestlers of elementary and junior high school age. Along with being the only female member, Yuni is the youngest in the club.

His stablemaster Isegahama, the former yokozuna Asahifuji, told him not to compete on the final day, saying, “You can’t use your strength, so don’t do it.” Takerufuji, too, thought it was ...