Japanese MMA scene venue list

If you want go to a Japanese MMA event, it can be quite intimidating if you don’t know exactly where the venues are.

Here’s a list of the venues where Japanese MMA events are often held, along with a Google Maps link and a short description of the venue.

I strongly recommend you watch a local MMA event in a small venue like Shinjuku Face. That is the best way to see quality local fighters - and future stars - up close and personal. Ticket prices usually start at a relatively inexpensive 5000 yen, too. Many large international cities still can’t boast the kind of local MMA scene you can enjoy in Japan.

I will later write a guide to buying MMA tickets in Japan, so please watch out for that.(It Done.)

How to buy MMA ticket in Japan (Shooto and Pancrase)
How to buy MMA ticket in Japan (DEEP and Jewels)

Shinjuku Face
Shinjuku Face MAP
Official seat capacity: 600
Nearest station: Shinjuku

This is the most recommended venue to watch local MMA. Located in Shinjuku, access from central Tokyo is easy. Shooto usually hold quality local cards here, like past events “Shooting Disco” or “Shooto Gig Tokyo”. You can get pretty close to the ring. Even in the furthest away seats, I don’t think you’ll feel like you are too far away from the ring.



Kitazawa Town Hall
Kitazawa Town Hall MAP
Official seat capacity: 294
Nearest station Shimokitazawa

Shooto holds smaller local cards at this venue. This is the place to go if you want to see lower level fighters up close.



Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall MAP
Official seat capacity: 1873
Nearest station: Suidobashi

The Japanese fight industry grew up here. It has played host to many MMA, boxing and kickboxing events. I recommend Shooto and DEEP (especially when the 70kg and under champ participate shows) here. You should plan ahead when coming to watch DEEP, as it can end late at night when the trains are not running or running irregularly.

If you want to watch kickboxing here, I recommend Krush’s 60kg grand prix - it’s a great event.



Meets Port (Tokyo Dome City HALL)
Meets Port (Tokyo Dome City HALL) (English Page)
Meets Port (Tokyo Dome City HALL) MAP
Official seat capacity: 3000+
Nearest station: Suidobashi

Shooto often holds its flagship events here. The shows that are held here are usually of high quality, but the cheap tickets will leave you some distance from the action. The venue itself is relatively new meaning everything is nice and modern.



Differ Ariake
Differ Ariake MAP
Official seat capacity: 1273
Nearest station: Kokusai Tenjijyo or Ariake Tennis No Mori

This is where you can watch Pancrase and Cage Force. I recommend Pancrase’s up-to-70kg championship or flyweight matches in particular. Cage Force is one of the only Japanese events to be held in a cage daily.



Shinkiba 1st Ring
Shinkiba 1st Ring MAP
Official seat capacity: 350
Nearest station: Shinkiba

A small, local-level MMA venue.

Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena (English Page)
Saitama Super Arena MAP
Official seat capacity: Min: 5000, Max: 37,000
Nearest station: Saitama Shintoshin

The most famous MMA venue in Japan. PRIDE, DREAM and SRC hold major events here.



Yokohama Arena
Yokohama Arena (English Page)
Yokohama Arena MAP
Official seat capacity: 17000
Nearest station: Shinyokohama

A large venue for major MMA events in Kanagawa.



Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Yoyogi National Gymnasium MAP
Official seat capacity: 13291 (1st gymnasium)
Official seat capacity: 3202 (2nd gymnasium)
Nearest station: Harajyuku or Meijijingumae

Venue for major MMA events in Tokyo. Near Harajuku, famous for its teen fashion scene.



Azalea Taisho
Azalea Taisho MAP
Official seat capacity: 300
Nearest station: Kizugawa or Tsumori

Osaka's venue for local MMA.



Osaka Jo Hall
Osaka Jo Hall(English Page)
Osaka Jo Hall MAP
Official seat capacity: 16000
Nearest station: Osakajokoen

Major MMA venue in Osaka. DREAM hold events here.



Asunal Hall
Asunal Hall MAP
Official seat capacity: 430
Nearest station Kanayama Sogo

Nagoya's venue for local MMA.



Nihon Gaishi Hall
Nihon Gaishi Hall (English Page)
Nihon Gaishi Hall MAP
Official seat capacity: 10000
Nearest station: Kasaradera

Nagoya's venue for major MMA events. DREAM holds Nagoya events here.



Zepp Sapporo
Zepp Sapporo MAP
Official seat quantity 822
Nearest station Nakajimakoen or Yamahana9jo

Sapporo's venue for local MMA.

SKILL MMA's Japanese MMA venue exterior photo series

Big thanks to Matt Benyon (from The Grappling Dummy) for English editing.

Japanese MMA Scene Gym List

Fighters are made in the gym. The gym is an integral part of MMA.

I have made a list of Japanese MMA gyms with their official websites. There are loads of gyms, so I can’t introduce them all. I’ll try to give the links to their website, what prefecture they are in, and what railway station is nearest (in that order). I’ll also note the head of the gym, although sometimes when that information is not available, I’ll make a guess - I could be wrong.

Important:
Some gyms really lack the ability to welcome foreigners due to the language barrier. It’s better to go somewhere you know you will be welcomed, so please try to contact them beforehand - (or learn Japanese! Ed)

This information is not guaranteed and may be out of date - sorry!

I hope some foreigners may realize there is a gym near them, and start to train MMA.

Hopefully this will make foreigners living in Japan realise they have an MMA gym and maybe some famous Japanese fighters or teachers nearby, and start training.

Gutsman Shooto Dojo (Tokyo,Meidaimae)
Gym's head Naoki Sakurada

AACC (Tokyo,Omori and Tokyo,Harajuku and Chiba, Gyotoku)
(Link to English pdf Page)
Gym's head Hiroyuki Abe
Famous Fighter Takafumi Otsuka,Megumi Fujii

I specially recommend this gym for international audience,because of I know this gym's English speaking student and this gym is quite foreign friendly.There is many foreign student in gym.Gym's head Hiroyuki Abe is friendly and helpful for international students.

Uno Dojo (Tokyo,Omori)
Gym's head Caol Uno

Tokyo Yellow Mans (Tokyo,Higashi Jujyo)
Gym's head Noboru Asahi
Famous fighter Yoshiyuki Yoshida



Tokyo Yellow Manz Cute (Tokyo,Umejima)
Gym's head Yuki Yasunaga

Academia AZ (Tokyo,Suidobashi)
Gym's head Toshiyuki Sato

Master Japan (Tokyo,Suidobashi)
Gym's head Kuniyoshi Hironaka



Kohgikan (Tokyo,Ocyanomizu)
Gym's head Satoru Sayama

Alliance-Square (Tokyo,Aoyamaitchome)
Gym's head Tsuyoshi Kosaka



Kugayama Rascal (Tokyo,Kugayama)
Gym's head Takanori Gomi



Gokita Gym (Tokyo,Machida)
Gym's head Masaru Gokita



Cave Gym (Tokyo,Tokyo Skytree)
Gym's head Taisuke Okuno



Tribe Tokyo MMA (Tokyo,Nerima)
(Link to English Page)
Gym's head Ryo Chonan



Lotus Setagaya (Tokyo,Chitosekarasuyama)
Gym's head Kohei Yasumi

Wrestle Win (Tokyo,Sengawa)
Gym's head Katsuhiko Nagata



Honey Trap (Tokyo,Iidabashi)
Gym's head Koichiro Matsumoto



P's Lab Tokyo,P's Lab Yokohama (Tokyo,Harajuku and Kanagawa,Kannai and Kanagawa,Tsujido and Tokyo,Kichijyoji and Tokyo Oizumigakuen, Chiba, Gyotoku)




Brightness Monma Dojo (Tokyo,Nishiarai)
Gym's head Hidetaka Monma

Trinity Gym (Tokyo,Meidaimae)
Gym's head Takenori Sato

Rising Sun (Kanagawa, Tsurumi)
Gym's head Takeshi "Lion" Inue

K'z Factory (Kanagawa,Higashirinkan)
Gym's head Kazuhiro Kusayanagi



Fact MMA (Kanagawa,Chogo)
Gym's head Tatsuhiko Nishizaka

Burn MMA (Kanagawa,Sagamihara)
Gym's head Daiji Takahashi

Akimoto Dojo Jungle Junction (Kanagawa,Hashimoto)
Gym's head Jin Akimoto

MMA Crown (Kanagawa,Kamimizo)
Gym's head Yusuke Kasuya

Neo Judo Academy Omigawa Dojo (Kanagawa,Aobadai)
Gym's head Michihiro Omigawa



roots (Kanagawa,Odawara)
Gym's head Rumina Sato



Reversal Gym Yokohama Groundslam (Kanagawa, Yokohama)
Gym's head Syuichiro Katsumura
Famous fighter Shinichi "BJ" Kojima



Hakkei Gym (Kanagawa,Kanazawahakkei)
Gym's head Yoshihiko Watanabe



Shinwa Sports Academy (Kanagawa,Kenritsudaigaku)
Gym's head Hiroyuki Yamashiro

Sakaguchi Dojo (Kanagawa, Nakamachidai)
Gym's head Yukio Sakaguchi



X-one Gym Shonan,X-One Gym Totsuka (Kanagawa, Fujisawa and Kanagawa,Totsuka)
Gym's head Tomoaki Hayama

Reversal Gym Musashi Kosugi Tokoro Plus (Kanagawa, Musashi Kosugi)
Gym's head Hideo Tokoro



Sonic Squad (Kanagawa, Konandai)
Gym's head Eiji Murayama



Dobuita (Kanagawa, Yokosukachuo)
Gym's head Hiroki Nagaoka

Rodeo Style (Kanagawa, Keikyu Taura)
(Link to English Page)
Gym's head Yasutaka Kato



STF,STF Tokorozawa,STF Urawa (Saitama,Tsruse and Urawa)
Gym's head Naoyuki Abe



Freedom@OZ (Saitama,Warabi)
Freedom@OZ Youtube Channel
Gym's head Seiji Ozuka



Dragon's Den (Saitama, Kawagoe)
Gym's head Makoto Sawada

Purebred (Saitama,Kita-ageo)
Prebred Youtube channel
Gym's head Hisao Ikeda

Oota Dojo (Saitama,Omiya)
Gym's head Junichi Ota

Reversal Kawaguchi REDIPS (Saitama,Kawaguchi)
Gym's head Tatsuya Onose



K-Place Saitama MMA Gym (Saitama, Fujimino)
Gym's head Yoshiaki Koike

Purebred Tottori (Tottori,Yonago)
Gym's head Takumi Ota

G-FREE (Wakayama,Wakayama)
Gym's head Toshiharu Katakuri

Tsudanuma Dojo (Chiba,Tsudanuma)
Gym's head Yasuo Suzuki
Famous fighter Akitoshi Tamura

Katori Dojo (Chiba,Omigawa)
Gym's head Kazuo Misaki

Mach Dojo (Tokyo, Sugamo and Ibaragi, Sanuki )
Gym's head Hayato "Mach" Sakurai



Krazy Bee (Tokyo,Magome)
Krazy Bee Youtube Channel
Gym's head Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto



Nexusense (Tokyo, Tachikawa)
(Link to English Page)
Gym's head Naoya Uematsu



Reversal Gym Tachikawa Alpha (Tokyo, Tachikawa)
Gym's head Masanori Kanehara



U.W.F. Snakepit Japan (Tokyo Koenji)
Gym's head Yuko Miyato

GRABAKA (Tokyo,Ochiai)
(Link to English Page)
GRABAKA Youtube Channel
Gym's head Sanae Kikuta



Reversal Gym Shinjuku Me, We (Tokyo, Minamishinjuku)
Gym's head Takeshi Yamazaki



Natural 9 (Tokyo,Gotanda)
Natural 9 Youtube channel
Gym's head Wataru Miki

Combat Workout Diamonds (Tokyo,Kichijoji)
Gym's head Takayoshi Aida

Takada Dojo (Tokyo,Musashikoyama)
Gym's head Nobuhiko Takada

K.I.B.A. Martial Arts Club (Tokyo,Harigaya)
Gym's head "Rambo" Matsukaze

T.T.M Urushi Dojo (Tokyo Kamata)
Gym's head Yasuhiro Urushitani



Brave (Tokyo,Kitasenjyu and Saitama,Misato)
Gym's head Kazuyuki Miyata



Uzukido Honpo (Tokyo,Kitasenjyu)
Gym's head Daisuke Nakamura



Reversal Gym Tokyo Standout (Tokyo,Yoyogiuehara and Tokyo,Shimokitazawa)
Reversal Gym Tokyo Standout Youtube Channel
Gym's head Masato Kataoka

U-File Camp (Tokyo,Nishichofu and Tokyo,Akabane and Tokyo,Omori and Kanagawa,Mukogaokayuen)
Gym's head Kiyoshi Tamura

Renseijyuku (Kanagawa, Tsurukawa)
Gym's head Yasuaki Kaji

Musashimurayama Dojo (Tokyo,Kamikitadai)
Gym's head Satoshi Miura

Hybrid Wrestling Yamada Dojo (Tochigi,Nishinasuno)
Gym's head Manabu Yamada

U-Spirit Japan (Tokyo,Machida)
Gym's head Ryuki Ueyama

Power Of Dream (Hokkaido,Sapporo)
Gym's head Kenichi Yamamoto

T-Blood (Ibaragi,Arakawaoki)
T-Blood Youtube Channel
Gym's head Kenji Seki
Famous fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri,Mitsuhiro Ishida



R-Blood (Ibaragi,Higashimito)
Gym's head Ryuta Sakurai

K.O. Gym (Shizuoka,Hamamatsu)
Gym's head Kenji Ogusu

Twist (Shizuoka,Shizuoka)
Gym's head Takefumi Hanai

SUBMIT Shizuoka (Shizuoka,Numazu)

Bonsai Juijitsu (Shizuoka,Hamamatsu and Shizuoka,Iwata)
Gym's head Mauricio Souza

Toikatsu Dojo Nagano (Nagano,Inashi and Nagano Matsumoto and Nagano Hata)
Gym's head Katsuya Toida

Core Spirit Studio (Nagano,Nagano)
Gym's head Daigo Niizato

Cobrakai (Osaka,Noda)
Gym's head Yoshitomi "Dokonjonosuke" Mishima



Pancrase Inagakigumi (Osaka,Daikokucho)
Gym's head Katsuomi Inagaki

Chokushinkai (Osaka,Deto and Osaka,Neyagawashi and Osaka, Kitatatsumi)
Gym's head Junji Ikoma



Angura (Osaka,Gozenji)
Gym's head Hiroto? Nishikawa
Famous fighter Yuka Tsuji

Style (Osaka,Sekime)
Gym's head Seichi Ikemoto

Miburo (Kyoto,Kiyomizu-Gojo)
Gym's head Yu Ueta

King Gym (Hyogo, Takatori)
Gym's head Masaki Konishi

Gonz Gym (Hyogo,Kobe)
Gym's head Hironobu Tsuda

Trinity Suns (Hyogo,(no train station))
Gym's head Masanori Suda

Abusolute Okayama (Okayama,Okayama)
Gym's head Izuru Takeuchi

Second Out (Okayama,Tsuyama)
Gym's head Yoichi Yamamoto

BURST (Hiroshima,Higashifukuyama)
Gym's head Shinji Sasaki

TK Esperanza (Hiroshima,Fukue)
Gym's head Tsuyoshi Okada

Shooto Jam Water (Tottori,Tottori)
Gym's head Mitsuhiro Saji

The Soldierno (Shimane,Izumokagakukanparktownmae)
Gym's head Koji Matsui

Mori Dojo (Yamaguchi,Toyama)
Gym's head Akihiko Mori

Hope Gym (Ehime, Uwajima (Far from station))
Gym's headNaohiro Mizuno

Team Blaze Kagawa , Team Blaze Wakimachi (Kagawa,Kurikuma and Tokushima ,Anabuki)
Team Blaze Youtube channel
Gym's head Kimikazu Fujimoto

Ichiryogusoku (Kochi,Gomen)
Gym's head Tatsuyuki Kawakami

Toushin (Okinawa,Furujima)
Gym's head ???? Kineya

Wild Seaser (Okinawa,Onoyama-koen and Okinawa, Miebashi)
Gym's head Shikou Tomaru

Reversal Gym Okinawa Cross X Line (Okinawa, Syuri)
Gym's head Mitsuhisa Sunabe

ALIVE (Aichi,Kurumamichi)
Gym's head Yoichi Suzuki
Famous fighter Hatsu Hioki

Grappling Shooto Boxers (Aichi,Nonami)
Gym's head Atsuhiro Tsuboi

NEX (Aichi,Komaki)
Gym's head Hiroshi Umemura

Kuma Gym (Aichi,Tsurumai)
Gym's head Ikuhisa Minowa

Barbosa Japan (Aichi,Narawa)
(Link to English Page)
Barbosa Japan Youtube channel
Gym's head Tomomi "Taisho" Iwama

Splash (Aichi,Higashiokazaki)
Gym's head Akira Kibe

MB3Z (Aichi,Kogane)
Gym's head Naoki Matsushita

Nascer Do Sol (Gifu, Hozumi)
Gym's head Hiroyuki Nomura

Philoktetes Niigata (Niigata,Kameda)
Gym's head Jin Kazeta

Club Barbarian (Toyama,Minamitoyama), CB IMPACT (Ishikawa,Kanazawa)
Gym's head Yoshinori Fukumoto
Famous fighter Miku Matsumoto

Mimura Dojo (Fukui,Echizentogo)
Gym's head Hiroyuki Mizuno

T-Pleasure (Aomori,Goshogawara)
Gym's head Nariyasu Fujita

Shooting Gym Yokohama (Kanagawa,Yokohama)
(Link to English Page)
Gym's head Kenji Kawaguchi
Famous fighter Mamoru Yamaguchi Takeshi "Lion" Inoue



Shooting Gym Tokyo (Tokyo,Togoshi-Ginza)
Gym's head Kazuhiro Sakamoto

Shooting Gym Kobe (Hyogo,Motomachi)
Gym's head Jun Kitagawa

Shooto Gym BLOWS (Osaka Nihonbashi)
Shooto Gym Blows Youtube Channel
Gym's head Takashi Nakakura



Paraestra Tokyo (Tokyo, Ekoda)
(Link to English Page)   
Gym's head Yuki Nakai
Famous fighter Shinya Aoki



Paraestra Osaka (Osaka,Teradacho)
Gym's head Takumi Nakayama

Paraestra Izumi (Osaka,Izumi-Chuo)
Paraestra Izumi Youtube channel 
Gym's head Hiroaki Yoshioka

Paraestra Kawasaki (Kanagawa, Takatsu)
Gym's head Takuya Kitade

Paraestra Ikebukuro (Tokyo,Ikebukuro)
Gym's head Yuki Nakai

Paraestra Hakata (Fukuoka,Hakata)
Gym's head Kenshi Tomari

Paraestra Kasai (Tokyo,Nishikasai and Chiba,Urayasu)
Gym's head Takayuki Hirose

Paraestra Hachiouji (Tokyo,Hachioji)
(Link to English Page)  
Gym's head Ayumu "Gozo" Shioda
Famous fighter Masanori Kanehara



Paraestra Chiba,Paraestra Kashiwa and Paraestra Matsudo (Chiba,Honchiba and Chiba,Kashiwa and Chiba,Mabashi)
Gym's head Hiroshi Tsuruya



Paraestra Muroran (Hokkaido,Bokoi)
Gym's head Masatoshi Kudo

Bellatleo (Hokkaido Goryokaku)
Gym's head Tsutomu Fujimoto

Paraestra Asahikawa (Hokkaido, Shinasahikawa)
Gym's head Yoichi Yamamoto

Paraestra Hachinohe,Paraestra Misawa,Paraestra Towada,Hybrid Wrestling Hachinohe (Aomori,Ichikawa and Aomori,Misawa and Aomori,Towada)
Gym's head Takehito Nishizuka

Paraestra Sendai,Paraestra Fukushima,Paraestra Kooriyama,Paraestra Nanyo,Paraestra Namie,Paraestra Aizu (Fukushima,Minamifukushima and Fukushima,Kooriyama and Fukushima, Nanyoshiyakusyo and Fukushima Namie and Fukushima,Minamiwakamatsu)
Gym's head Takeshi Sato

Paraestra Joetsu (Niigata,Takada)
Gym's head Yohei Nashimoto

X-Point Paraestra Koga (Ibaragi,Koga)
Gym's head Satoshi Kotani

Paraestra Koiwa (Tokyo,Koiwa)
Gym's head Takashi Ouchi

Paraestra Kichijyoji,Paraestra Shibuya (Tokyo,Kichijyoji and Tokyo Shibuya)
Gym's head Satoshi Kotani

Paraestra Machida (Tokyo,Machida)
Gym's head Yuki Nakai

Paraestra Gifu,Paraestra Gujo (Gifu,Takadabashi and Gifu,Gujyohachiman)
Gym's head Sogen Shimizu

Paraestra Osaka (Osaka,Teradacho)
Gym's head Takumi Nakayama

Paraestra Kakogawa (Hyogo,Hioka)
Gym's head Masaya Inoue

Paraestra Hiroshima (Hiroshima,Cyorakuji)
Gym's head Tatsuro Kamei

Paraestra Ehime (Ehime,Ichitsubo)
Gym's head Kanahiro Hayashi

Paraestra Kitakyushu (Fukuoka,Jyono)
Gym's head Tomikazu Goto

Paraestra Okinawa (Okinawa,Onoyama-koen)
Gym's Head Ryota Matsune

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tokyo Headquarter (Tokyo, Monzen Nakamachi)
Gym's Head Wajyutsu Keisyukai Players Association

Wajyutsu Keisyukai GODS (Tokyo, Senzokuike)
Gym's Head Taiyo Nakahara



Wajyutsu Keisyukai Akza (Saitama, Niiza)
Gym's Head Hirokazu Nishimura

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Yokohama (Kanagawa, Shitte)
Wajyutsu Keisyukai Yokohama Dojo Youtube channel
Gym's Head Yuji Hisamatsu



Wajyutsu Keisyukai Hearts (Tokyo,Shinjuku)
(Link to English Page) 
Gym's Head Kenji Osawa



Wajyutsu Keisyukai K-Taro Dojo (Tokyo,Oimachi)
Gym's Head K-taro Nakamura

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Takadanobaba Dojo (Tokyo,Takadanobaba)
Gym's Head Katsuya Toida

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Toikatsu Dojo (Tokyo,Nakano)
Gym's Head Katsuya Toida

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Team Vamos (Nara, Tenri)
Gym's Head Yushi Shiori

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Iwate (Iwate,Murasakino)
Gym's Head Takuya Fujimura

Duro Gym (Chiba,Inage-Kaigan)
Gym's Head Toshihiro Suda (ex Box Japanese Ranker)

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Suruga Dojo (Shizuoka,Numazu)
Wajyutsu Keisyukai Suruga Dojo Youtube channel
Gym's Head Kenichi Serizawa

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Fujisan Dojo (Shizuoka,Fuji)
Wajyutsu Keisyukai Fujisan Dojo Youtube Channel
Gym's Head Kenichi Serizawa

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Iggy Hand's Gym (Shizuoka,Mishima)
Gym's Head Daisuke Endo

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Four Rhombus (Yamanashi,Kasugaicyo)
Gym's Head Kenichi Serizawa

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Hyogo Shibu (Hyogo,Itami)
Gym's Head Tatsunori Tanaka

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Wakasugi Dojo (Fukuoka,Hakozaki)
Gym's Head Naritsugu Wakasugi

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Tlive (Kameari,Tokyo)
Gym's Head Satoshi Nishino

 

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Knuckles (Yamaguchi,Hikari)
Gym's Head Yuta Yasunaga

Wajyutsu Keisyukai Seigo Dojo (Kumamoto,Kumamoto)
Gym's Head Seigo Inoue

SKILL MMA's Japanese gym exterior photo series

Big thanks to Matt Benyon (from The Grappling Dummy) for English editing.

Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out

At 2010 who can be break out MMA fighter in Japanese scene?I choice fighter who worth to watch out for your 2010 Japanese MMA scene joy.I don't think all of them will have great 2010 but find your favorite fighter before everyone and enjoy those succeed is always hardcore fans joy.

I pick many fighter already have establish position in Japanese MMA scene.But you can expect more evolve from those fighter.I think I pick many Sengoku feather weight tourny participant,but that is best MMA tourny in last year's Japanese scene.So I think I can justified that.

Michihiro Omigawa (Yoshida Dojo)

One of most improve fighter in 2009.Especially in boxing (offense and defense)and chaining submission.If he improve his skill like last year,he can claim top of division.



Hatsu Hioki (ALIVE)

He didn't win Sengoku tourny what home country people hope for.But he shows his true skill sometime overlook by some people cause of some lose.His grappling clinic against Sengoku champ Masanori Kanehara show his real potential.

Marlon Sandro (Nova Uniao)

KO artist with ridiculous power and good balance.Put sleep some fighter not many known but talented like Yuji Hoshino.Need watch out if you like Jose Aldo who is same gym's development.

Masanori Kanehara (Paraestora Hachiouji)

No one think he will take major tourny when it started, but his rapid improve and fortunate reaches it.Show improve at strike, wrestle and submission.



Katsunori Kikuno (Alliance)

One of karate practitioner who got real MMA skill.He enter major and face Andre Dida who is many think too high caliber fighter to face at that time point.He beat him with crescent kick.Lose to Eddi Alvarez but still worth checking for improve.He will return DEEP before goin Dream again.Probably meet against Parky.

Wong Sik "Parky" Park (CMA Korea)

Beat up two Japanese (Yuichi Ikari, Atsuhiro Tsuboi) and high reputation make him major debut to meet Kuniyoshi Hironaka.He fought better than everybody thought but lose by injury.He suppose to meet DEEP champ Kikuno at this year.

Chan Sung Jung (Korean Top Team)

Already known for knock out FanJin Son for major organization eliminator make him
notice for hardcores.But knock off Shintaro Ishiwatari who is known for relentless striker make him real interest for fans.His hard fought against current Sengoku champ Masanori Kanehara define himself as a major quality fighter.

Mitsuhisa Sunabe (freelance)

He fought as a mediocre feather weight for MMA career but finally he find his best weight at flyweight.If he fight Shooto's flyweight at this year,that make big motivation for hardcore to go event.

Jussier Formiga (Nova Uniao)

Not notice by many people,But Jussier Formiga taking of no1 flyweight label from Japan is one of memorable thing at 2009.He will face Kojima again for this year to make this weight getting more establish.

Maximo "Maxi" Blanco (Yoshida Dojo)

Show his huge raw athlecism make him as interest to see future potential.He show improve at strike department.Responsible by Katsuhisa Tashiro make him beat Katsuya Inoue who is Pancrase Light weight champion.



Yusuke Honma (Paraestra Sapporo)

One of highest archive at grapple department.Debut this year's Shooto.Honma is Mundial finalist.

Tashiro Akai (Nova Uniao Japan)

Recently fight decent opponent but never touch major.Feather weight fighter become bantam weight and take Seiya Kawahara Who is last years local watchers attention.Gunning Inoue who is Pancrase bantam weight champion.

That's my choice of fighter to watch out at 2010 Japanese MMA scene.I personally think MMA team Alliance (run by Tsuyoshi "TK" Kohsaka) can make title run at Japanese locals.Because of Katsunori Kikuno who belongs to gym give back his experience to gym mate. But I can't make that much confidence.

I ask Jordan Breen for your Japanese MMA fighter (as rookie) to watch out.Comment for fighter added by me.

Koji Matsumoto (Master Japan)

Train under Kuniyoshi Hironaka,Matsumoto have good leg submission and won Shooto rookie tourny.

Junji "Sarumaru" Ito (Shooting Gym Yokohama)

Shooto's striker factory,Shooting Gym Yokohama's newest development add whole design of MMA game.

Thank you to Jordan Breen for pick ups.