Tokyo Sports MVP Saya Kamitani: My goal is to ‘bring women’s wrestling to the top’
After becoming the first woman to win the Tokyo Sports MVP award, Saya Kamitani says she’s working to bring women’s wrestling to the top with her at the forefront.
On Wednesday, NJPW1972.com published comments from some of the winners of the 2025 Tokyo Sports Awards.
Kamitani said:
“Saya-sama was the obvious choice! I won the World of STARDOM title last year in Ryogoku, won with my career on the line in April in Yokohama, then in September got women’s pro-wrestling on broadcast TV for the first time in 23 years. My goal has been for people who have never seen women’s wrestling to know who we are, and I did all the media that I could and worked in that ring to change perceptions stuck in the old women’s wrestling boom years ago.
I’ve spent the whole year thinking of nothing but wrestling, driving myself half crazy, but this award justifies my not backing down from any of it. I still have any ambition to chase, to have all of you see something you’ve never seen before, bring women’s wrestling to the top of the major scene, and have Saya Kamitani at the forefront. Don’t take your eyes off Saya-sama!”
Kamitani is scheduled to face IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in a Winner Takes All match for the NJPW Strong and IWGP Women’s titles.
Konosuke Takeshita – Most Outstanding
IWGP World Champion and G1 winner Konosuke Takeshita received the Outstanding Performer award. Takeshita said to NJPW1972.com:
“I’m honored to receive this award even as I’m based in America, and add this to the highlights of my career in 2025. I’m currently competing in AEW’s Continental Classic league, and I’m looking to end the year on a high. I want to live up to the outstanding performance award for the remainder of 2025, and have an even better year in 2026.”
Takeshita is currently wrestling in the AEW Continental Classic, where he has a 2-0-1 record, 7 points, and two round-robin matches remaining in the Blue League.
Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) – Best Tag Team
IWGP Tag Team Champions OSKAR & Yuto-Ice, the Knockout Brothers, won Best Tag Team.
Yuto-Ice said:
“I’m glad we’re in this lineup of the best and the baddest this year. What our belts, and this award means is more chances to fight the toughest people around. Having the belt and the award means we’re a target for teams in NJPW and other companies and that’s fine with me. You want to fight, you want to get high, let’s go. I hear there’s a little cash payoff. Make sure we get more next year. Feel it! Let’s get high- Big up!”
OSKAR said:
“In four months and only 13 matches as a tag team this year in Japan, we’ve already done enough to be names best tag. Winning the titles on our first attempt was proof enough. We’ll keep the results coming, keep the money coming and keep moving upward. KOB is just getting started and we will be undeniable.”
The Knockout Brothers were eliminated in the semifinals of the 2025 World Tag League by Gabe Kidd and Yota Tsuji. They will defend their titles against tournament winners Zack Sabre Jr. and Ryohei Oiwa at New Year’s Dash on January 5.
Technique Award: Hiroshi Tanahashi
In the final year of his in-ring career, Hiroshi Tanahashi earned the Technique Award from Tokyo Sports. He said to NJPW1972.com:
“I’m honoured to just slide under the line and win the Technique Award in my final year. It’s the one Tokyo Sports award I never won, so I’ve completed my grand slam. This is the award I’ve always coveted, so I’m happy and grateful for the selection.”
Tanahashi will wrestle his final match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in the Tokyo Dome against his longtime rival, Kazuchika Okada.
Tokyo Sports Awards 2025 —
- MVP: Saya Kamitani
- Best Match: OZAWA vs. Kaito Kiyomiya from NOAH The New Year 2025
- Women’s MVP: Saya Kamitani
- Outstanding Performer: Konosuke Takeshita
- Fighting Spirit Award: Sareee
- Technique Award: Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Best Tag Team: Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice)
- Rookie of the Year: Kaisei Takechi of DDT Pro Wrestling
- Special Topic Award: Teppei Arita of the comedy duo Cream Stew for his pro wrestling YouTube channel
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.