Japanese fighters you actually like...

[Lone Wolf]

...or that actually mean something to K1. Usually, japanese fighters are not really the most apreciated...they are mostly B-class and boring.

But there are some of them that actually manage to make you say: "Hey, I remember this guy..."

Here are my pics:

Fujimoto - for obvious reasons. The guy manages to be likable and his recent win over Botha and feud with Carter managed to get him some attention.

Hiromi Amada - the guy is one of the few japanese fighters that actually has a "style" of his own...he seems like a nice guy too.

Takeru - I love this guy eversince his fight with McDonald...he`s got such a boy-next-door look...such an innocent face...make him remarkable. He`s also stood and traded with LeBanner (if I remember correctly, Bernardo and McDonald)

If I had to make a Japan Gp that actually meant smth I`d do it like this:

Hiromi Amada vs Takeru
Fujimoto vs Noboru Uchida
Tomihira vs Hiraku Hori
Nakasako vs Kakuda (just for the heck of it)

[Tommy_Arashikage]

...or that actually mean something to K1. Usually, japanese fighters are not really the most apreciated...they are mostly B-class and boring.

But there are some of them that actually manage to make you say: "Hey, I remember this guy..."

Here are my pics:

Fujimoto - for obvious reasons. The guy manages to be likable and his recent win over Botha and feud with Carter managed to get him some attention.

Hiromi Amada - the guy is one of the few japanese fighters that actually has a "style" of his own...he seems like a nice guy too.

Takeru - I love this guy eversince his fight with McDonald...he`s got such a boy-next-door look...such an innocent face...make him remarkable. He`s also stood and traded with LeBanner (if I remember correctly, Bernardo and McDonald)

If I had to make a Japan Gp that actually meant smth I`d do it like this:

Hiromi Amada vs Takeru
Fujimoto vs Noboru Uchida
Tomihira vs Hiraku Hori
Nakasako vs Kakuda (just for the heck of it)

Take out Kakuda and replace him with Hayashi.

[Shinbone]

Amada tend to be funny, at least to me he looks funny. He seems a nice chap.

Another Japanese fighter I adore is Kozo Takada, he may not be a heavy weight, but his low kicks are so fast and sharp. Too bad, he suffered a view very tough Ko's as of lately

I really like low kicks, so Kozo is my man.

[The Ronin]

Masato
Tatsuji
Kozo Takeda
Yoshihiro Sato
Toshiyuki Kinami

[migs]

I love to see Takeru. I am always bouncing out of my chair when he is fighting cause he is outmatched but all balls and you can't help but to hope he pulls it off somehow.

Guys in Max like Takeda and Masato seem cool but I don't follow it as well so...

[Kamatari]

I think the thread starter excluded the MAX fighters for a reason. Even the B level (and I mean the actual kickboxers) guys are decent fighters in MAX.

I think Nakasako's a really tragic figure and that he could've been so much more. They should've matched him up more carefully. Hori was actually protected decently I thought, but his flaws resulted in him losing his bigger fights. If the performances in the fights at the Oceania GP are an indication then he's improving and working on his weaknesses. It's a shame he can't buy a better chin though. LOL

[K1power]

I think the thread starter excluded the max fighters, because good Japanese fighters are rare only in the HW division, mainly because most of them are "made" HW's. Most of them do have technique and spirit though, they just lack power. Japanese fighters that I like are (aside from Musashi who I really like, but won't mention in the same list because he's so much ahead of the rest of the other Japanese fighters);
- Fujimoto: he fights aggressive, has tons of heart and really tries his best to fit in as a HW.
- Tomihira: fast and hard kicks, guts, a lot of heart and some good fights/wins. Only dissappointment to me was how weak he looked against Manhoef. I really expected more from him and I know he could have done a lot better...
- Kakuda: Off course he doesn't fight anymore except from a Super Fight against a can here and there, but I really don't get people who ain't cutting him no slack as a fighter. His loss to Akebono wasn't nice to watch off course, but Kakuda was like 45 and outweighed by 130 kilos and he would have won the fight against Longinidis' brother if it wasn't for the knockdown. In early K-1 days he KO'd almost all the B fighters he fought and his only losses were to elite fighters back then; Stan Longinidis, Hug in the K-1 sanctioned Kyokushin fight and even then he put up a good fight in both cases. He lost to Musashi in 2003 but showed great heart after like 7 knockdowns and by then he was like 42. Keep in mind that this man never was and never will be a true HW and only is about 170 cm's tall. I think if size was somewhat more on his side he could have gave some elite fighters a run for their money back in the day...

That's pretty much the only Japanese HW fighters that I really enjoy watching, because the others simply lose too much fights or haven't a nice style to watch.

BTW anyone have a picture of Takeru because I can't seem to remember him..?

[Tommy_Arashikage]

I think the thread starter excluded the max fighters, because good Japanese fighters are rare only in the HW division, mainly because most of them are "made" HW's. Most of them do have technique and spirit though, they just lack power. Japanese fighters that I like are (aside from Musashi who I really like, but won't mention in the same list because he's so much ahead of the rest of the other Japanese fighters);
- Fujimoto: he fights aggressive, has tons of heart and really tries his best to fit in as a HW.
- Tomihira: fast and hard kicks, guts, a lot of heart and some good fights/wins. Only dissappointment to me was how weak he looked against Manhoef. I really expected more from him and I know he could have done a lot better...
- Kakuda: Off course he doesn't fight anymore except from a Super Fight against a can here and there, but I really don't get people who ain't cutting him no slack as a fighter. His loss to Akebono wasn't nice to watch off course, but Kakuda was like 45 and outweighed by 130 kilos and he would have won the fight against Longinidis' brother if it wasn't for the knockdown. In early K-1 days he KO'd almost all the B fighters he fought and his only losses were to elite fighters back then; Stan Longinidis, Hug in the K-1 sanctioned Kyokushin fight and even then he put up a good fight in both cases. He lost to Musashi in 2003 but showed great heart after like 7 knockdowns and by then he was like 42. Keep in mind that this man never was and never will be a true HW and only is about 170 cm's tall. I think if size was somewhat more on his side he could have gave some elite fighters a run for their money back in the day...

That's pretty much the only Japanese HW fighters that I really enjoy watching, because the others simply lose too much fights or haven't a nice style to watch.

BTW anyone have a picture of Takeru because I can't seem to remember him..?

I think the reason nobody takes Kakuda seriously as a fighter is because he was knocked down by JOE SON.

Not a typo.

[migs]

K-1power, Takeru is the smallish guy that threw down with Bernardo in the first round of a GP tourney in 2001...I think it was the tourney where Bernardo bowed out of the final cause he got his nuts smached too hard in the semis...my memory is fading but I am fairly sure. Takeru went nuts like he wasn't gonna go down until he was spent and unconscious...of course he lost but his intensity with no hope of victory was great.

I saw him do the same with Lebanner I am sure but don't remember when.

[LethalSassonic]

Heavies? Hori, Musashi, and that's it.
Tomihara impressed me for a while after his fights with Sefo and Bernardo, and his Hiroshima tourney performance, I had high hopes but he has been well below average since then...

[Dado]

Heavies? Hori, Musashi, and that's it.
Tomihara impressed me for a while after his fights with Sefo and Bernardo, and his Hiroshima tourney performance, I had high hopes but he has been well below average since then...

Yeah Musashi definately he is a smart fighter and uses his strenghts well.

I used to really dislike Hori because he was so akward, but he looked a lot better at the Oceania GP, he still has some flaws that he needs to fix and isnt the sharpest yet.

As for Tomihara, he has solid technique and demonstrated this when he fought Abidi and was kicking his legs for 4 rounds then he took 2 low kicks and got knocked out. So his power is lacking and recently he has been on a slump.

Do be honest im not impressed much by the variation of heavyweight talent that Japan is producing.

[CentralKickboxing.Org]

I feel sympathy for most of them. The pressure is tremendous. They get extra chances in Vegas or where ever and get humiliated there too.

Japan has always abused their talent. Musashi got through it and now it is Hori's turn. Japan has the resources to produce some very good Japanese talent. The problem is that they want it yesterday.

[K1power]

I think the reason nobody takes Kakuda seriously as a fighter is because he was knocked down by JOE SON.

Not a typo.
Well, Hoost was knocked OUT by Sapp.... TWICE!!

Now I don't wanna go in-depth to the comparison, but it is kinda the same thing. BTW Kakuda KO'd Joe Son like 10 seconds later...

[kentaro]

Masato.

[unicorn]

>Japan has the resources to produce some very good Japanese talent. The problem is >that they want it yesterday.

Can't express more accurate my thoughts. Hori is young and has heart, potential and good biology. Yet he was thrown to the wolves with but few second thoughts. Musashi became detested because he had favors bestowed upon over and over but I doubt that it was really his choice or request. Masato makes for all who go wrong.

[El Presidente]

Takeru - showed amazing kamikaze heart against elite fighters (like Bernardo at his peak). Who can forget his flying knee at the start of R2 only to get tagged in mid-air and go down WWE-style.

Gave Duane van der Merwe a tough time before he got stopped. KOed Andrew Thompson in a shocking fight Andrew was expected to win.

Not the best but he had a courage you could only admire.

[K1power]

So did Takeru retire or why wasn't he active in K-1 anymore since 2004..?

[sparkles]

I like Amada. He's a japanese fighter that actually knows how to box. He fought Sefo and easily went the distance, he fought JLB twice. He has a good punch and a sweet style!

[K1power]

I like Amada. He's a japanese fighter that actually knows how to box. He fought Sefo and easily went the distance, he fought JLB twice. He has a good punch and a sweet style!
I agree. He does neglect his kicks a bit though, unfortunately...

[LethalSassonic]

I agree. He does neglect his kicks a bit though, unfortunately...
Amada is always game, gotta give him that, I like his attitude.

[Matasorapit]

Regardless of been given bogus wins some of the fighters are good. Masato has skills and thats obvious. I disagree with any of the handouts but he still has skills.

Musashi has improved over the years. He may not be the best out there but he does bring a fight to the game and is getting well established skills.

Satake had some good fights many years ago but still like the others was awarded fights after he lost them.

Kozo has not had too much luck fighting K1 but I have seen him fight in Thailand and he is great to watch.

Hirakau is new but has some good skills. I agree with central kickboxing in that Japan needs to allow their fighters to grow into their element. I remember when Iishi first started putting his fighters into kickboxing matches. He threw them in with already legendary champs during their first fights. This was crazy and from what I can remember one of his Seido fighters died after fighting back to back weekends. Japan and the Japanese fans need to learn to love the sport for the sports glory, not the glory of their nation at the cost of their fighters dignity and health. Japan has a pressure for everyone to suceed in all walks of life. The pressure on their celebrities must be overwhelming.

[( o Y o )]

Noboru is a decent fighter. He has "beaten" McDonald and managed to get through Iggy in Paris last year.

Fijimoto is great in that he just always gives it his all.

Tomihira seemed to be on a roll until he faced Sapp, and has been crap ever since.

Nakasako is as tragic as Kamatari mentioned. His career has been basically destoyed, as has his confidence, by poor matching.

Kakuda earnt my respect when he fought Stan. He also still has one of the most brutal KO's ever against that Australian guy who probably still suffers flashbacks and headaches. These days though...and when I say these days I mean after his comeback (I consider his comeback fight the one against Musashi) he has been a tough-nut pro wrestler though....he can take some punishment and make things flow how he wants them too....I just don't consider him a fighter is all.

[Cracked_Knuckle]

I would say Uchida, Fujimoto, Hiromi, and Musashi are about it.

[Ookami Shippou]

I like Masato, Kozo, Kohi, Tatsuji, Nitta, and Yuya to an extent

[migs]

I the Nakasako story is too bad. I thought he might be a star when I first saw him.

As for Musashi, I have crazy respect for him because when he was clearly not a top K-1 level fighter, yet he had to fight the top K-1 guys all the time and get killed. I thought he would get a broken spirit and maybe brain damage from K-1s continuous kamikaze missions for him but he just slowly improved and now is legiimately one of K-1s top guys. Doesn't mean I agree with some recent decisions though (Extra round with Remy in the final!!! I was disgusted).

[Razor Bump]

Naoki Ishikawa
Turbo
Genki Yamamoto
Haruaki Otsuki
Satoshi Koboyashi
Yuya Yamamoto
Yoshihiro Sato
(Secret shhhhh Mr. Strike Kohi)
Silver Wolf Masato
Kozo Takeda
Masaaki Kato
Future Tribe Hayato
ShinobuTsogto Amara
Satoruvashikoba
Some from J-Network but yeah there's some

[Lord Gaul]

For the most part I do like the majority of the Japanese fighters. They are usually game and they leave it in the ring win, lose, or draw. Uchida is my favorite to take the Japan GP if he is in it. I like him and I see him replacing Musashi as Japans greatest hope for it all. I like all the Max guys with the exception of Kohi, simply because of some of his ring tactics. But know that he is fighting Masato I want him to win and shock the crowd so he is on my good side now. Masato is the man and Sato is the Schilt of the Max. He is my dark horse to take the tourny. I even like some of the lesser Max guys like Nitta and Hayato.

Overall I got no problem with the fighters from Japan.

[Ookami Shippou]

Nitta ain't no lesser max guy. He is now, I guess

But he's pretty bad ass. Remember, the guy drew with Dekkers.

Nitta has lost only to GOOD guys recently: Kohi, Sato, and Schaffa (who went the distance with Masato and Shishido)

Btw, I'm not saying Schaffa's a top MAX fighter, but he's not shabby himself

[Lord Gaul]

I was just saying that I like him and I like watching his fights. I say lesser if I don't fee that a fighter doesn't have the potential to win it all, and though I like him, he isn't even the 5th best fighter in his country.

He did KO Kit Cope, and though I do like Kit, I must say that the Muay Thai world is forever indebt to Nitta for shuting up probably the biggest mouth in stand up fighting.

[Ookami Shippou]

LAWL! It's great!

How did he KO Kit? Leg kicks? I know he KOed "The Next Masato" Ash-Ra that way

[Razor Bump]

Oh.... how could I forget my man from Shoot Box Shishido

[Lord Gaul]

I didn't think that Shishido counted because he is not in Max or K-1. But if we can go beyond the K-1 stand up I would add Kid, Sakuraba, Gomi, or if we named boxers I would say that Masamori Tokuyama and Hozumi Hasegawa are very tough and entertainig Bantomweights. Hasegawa is holding the WBC crown at Bantomweight and Tokuyama is in line to fight for the vacant WBO title at the same weight and he holds the WBC title at 115 pounds. There really are a lot of great Japanese fighters out there.

[Lord Gaul]

Oh and Ookami, it was a high kick and it knocked him out cold if I remember correctly.

[LethalSassonic]

Uchida is my favorite to take the Japan GP if he is in it. I like him and I see him replacing Musashi as Japans greatest hope for it all.
You're that high on Uchida? I think he's ok, nice upset vs Iggy, but I don't see him replacing Musashi, his game is limited, and his image/marketability is even more limited to replace Musashi...

[Lord Gaul]

I don't know if I see him doing as well as Musashi, but I deffinetly think he will be a good replacment as Japan's best hope in K-1. For sure I feel he has a head and shoulders advantage over the other guys from Japan.

[LethalSassonic]

Hori has the height and some of the basic tools, he just needs a little more muscle, experience, and confidence. He is also very young (24 I think...) I would say the Japanese fighter with the best pure "potential" has to be Hori.