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Emi Sakura
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Emi Sakura
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Emi Motokawa (元川 恵美, Motokawa Emi; born October 4, 1976),[1][2][3] better known by the ring name Emi Sakura (さくら えみ, Sakura Emi), is a Japanese professional wrestler performing for All Elite Wrestling (AEW),[7] ChocoPro and on the independent circuit.[5] After starting her career in International Wrestling Association of Japan in August 1995, Sakura worked for several promotions across Japan, winning numerous titles, before founding her own promotion, Ice Ribbon, in early 2006. Sakura not only wrestled for the promotion, but was also solely responsible for training wrestlers for the promotion, where she went on to become a two-time ICE×60 Champion and a five-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion.

Key Information

During 2009, Sakura held not only both the ICE×60 and International Ribbon Tag Team Championships, but also the Daily Sports Women's and JWP Tag Team Championships and the NEO Single and NWA Women's Pacific Championships, which led to the Tokyo Sports magazine naming her the 2009 joshi wrestler of the year. After six years with Ice Ribbon, Sakura left the promotion for "personal reasons" in January 2012. The following month, Sakura formed the Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling promotion in Bangkok, Thailand. During 2012, Sakura also became a regular for JWP Joshi Puroresu, winning the JWP Openweight Championship in October.

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

IWA Japan and FMW (1994–2002)

[edit]

In 1994, aged 17, Motokawa decided to find a career in professional wrestling and after going to auditions with the Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW) and Gaea Japan promotions, she was finally accepted into the International Wrestling Association of Japan dojo for training.[8][9] Motokawa, working under her real name, made her professional wrestling debut on August 17, 1995, in a match against Kiyoko Ichiki.[1][3][4] As IWA Japan had no other female wrestlers, Sakura spent her first year working almost exclusively with Ichiki. On August 13, 1997, Motokawa won her first championship, when she defeated Luna Vachon at an IWA Japan event to win American Wrestling Federation's (AWF) World Women's Championship.[10] When IWA Japan started a working relationship with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), Motokawa also began making appearances for AJW, unsuccessfully challenging Momoe Nakanishi for the AJW Junior Championship on August 26 and teaming with Manami Toyota in the 1997 Tag League the Best tournament.[11][12] On January 24, 1998, Sakura defeated Momoe Nakanishi to win the AJW Championship.[13] She would lose the title back to Nakanishi on April 12.[13] On March 19, 1999, Motokawa lost the AWF World Women's Championship to Yuko Kosugi, after which she left IWA Japan.[10]

On August 20, 1999, Motokawa began working regularly for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), where she often wrestled opposite Kaori Nakayama.[4][14] On October 24, 2000, Motokawa teamed with Azusa Kudo and Hisakatsu Oya to unsuccessfully challenge Nakayama, Gedo and Jado for the WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[15] Motokawa wrestled regularly for the promotion until August 2001, when she began suffering from various injuries, which eventually led her to undergo a hernia surgery.[16][17] While she was sidelined, FMW went out of business.

Gatokunyan (2002–2006)

[edit]

In 2002, Motokawa joined the Gatokunyan (我闘姑娘, Gatōkūnyan; GTKN) promotion, where she worked for the first year solely as a trainer, before returning to the ring in 2003 under the new ring name Emi Sakura.[4] During her years in the GTKN, Sakura split her time between wrestling and training virtually all other wrestlers in the promotion.

Ice Ribbon (2006–2012)

[edit]

In April 2006, Sakura left Gatokunyan to form her own promotion, named Ice Ribbon. Buying a dojo in Saitama,[18] Sakura continued to train wrestlers she had taken with her from Gatokunyan, including Aika Ando, Aoi Kizuki, Hikari Minami, Mai Ichii, Makoto, Riho and Seina. Ice Ribbon held its first two shows on June 20, 2006.[19][20] Sakura wrestled her first match for the promotion on October 15, losing to Riho.[21] Sakura spent most of her first year in Ice Ribbon, working with her then-nine-year-old pupil.[22][23][24] From the start, Ice Ribbon had a close relationship with the NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling promotion, which led to Sakura and some of her trainees making semi-regular appearances with the promotion.[25] In storyline, the partnership was explained with a relationship between Sakura and NEO president Tetsuya Koda. On February 18, 2007, the Sakura Ribbon Army, a team of Sakura and some of her trainees and friends, defeated the NEO Machineguns Army in a seven-on-seven battle royal, earning Sakura and Koda the right to marry each other and unify NEO and Ice Ribbon.[26] However, after pleading from her trainees, Sakura turned on Koda and abandoned him at the altar, ending the storyline.[27] On July 16, Sakura teamed with Yoshiko Tamura to defeat Haruka Matsuo and Misae Genki for the NEO Tag Team Championship.[28] They would lose the title to Ayako Hamada and Kaoru Ito just thirteen days later.[29] During 2008, Sakura made her acting debut, working on the film Three Count, which was set in the world of professional wrestling and also starred fellow wrestler Kyoko Inoue and Yoshiko Tamura.[30] From the cast of the film, Sakura received three more trainees to her Ice Ribbon dojo, Hikaru Shida, Miyako Matsumoto and Tsukasa Fujimoto.[31][32][33] On November 15, 2008, Sakura teamed with male wrestler Ribbon Takanashi to unsuccessfully challenge Riho and Yuki Sato for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship.[34] The following April, Sakura teamed with another one of her trainees, Makoto, facing Nanae Takahashi and Minori Makiba in a losing effort in a match for the vacant International Ribbon Tag Team Championship.[35]

On May 3, 2009, Sakura defeated Nanae Takahashi at a NEO event to win the NEO Single and NWA Women's Pacific Championships.[36] The finish of the match had to be improvised, after Sakura legitimately knocked Takahashi unconscious with a sunset flip powerbomb, which resulted in the referee ending the match without a three count and NEO president Tetsuya Koda awarding the titles to Sakura.[37][38] Her reign ended just two days later, when she was defeated by Yoshiko Tamura.[39] On July 5, Sakura and Nanae Takahashi defeated Tamura and Fuka in the finals to win NEO's Mid Summer Tag Tournament VIII.[40] On July 19, Sakura teamed with Kaori Yoneyama at a JWP Joshi Puroresu event to defeat Command Bolshoi and Megumi Yabushita for the JWP Tag Team and Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championships.[41] Sakura won her first championship in Ice Ribbon on September 21, when she and Yoneyama defeated Takahashi and Makiba for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship, becoming Triple Crown Tag Team Champions in the process.[42] Sakura's streak of title wins continued on October 12, when she defeated Makoto for Ice Ribbon's top title, the ICE×60 Championship.[43] During the next month, Sakura successfully defended the ICE×60 Championship eight times, defeating Hikari Minami,[44] Mai Ichii,[44] Chii Tomiya,[45] Riho,[46] Tsukasa Fujimoto,[47] Makoto,[48] Yukie Abe,[49] and Misaki Ohata.[50] On December 13, Sakura and Yoneyama lost all three of their tag team titles to Azumi Hyuga and Ran Yu-Yu at a JWP event.[51] On December 17, in recognition of the six different championships Sakura held in 2009, the Tokyo Sports magazine named her the joshi wrestler of the year.[52] On December 31, Sakura entered the Super-Ice Cup, where she put the ICE×60 Championship on the line in each of her matches. After defeating Miyako Matsumoto and Hikari Minami in her first round and semifinal matches,[53][54] Sakura was defeated in the finals on January 4, 2010, by Tsukasa Fujimoto in just six seconds.[54] With the defeat, Sakura's reign ended at 84 days and ten successful defenses.

Also in January, Sakura debuted her newest trainee, the twelve-year-old Tsukushi, with whom she would work for most of the year.[55][56] On April 3, Riho won the ICE×60 Championship for the first time and immediately afterwards nominated her trainer Sakura as her first challenger for the title, however, as the title had a 60 kg (130 lb) weight limit, Sakura first had to drop 10 kg (22 lb) of weight before being eligible to challenge for the title.[57][58] On May 3 at Golden Ribbon, Sakura defeated Riho to win the ICE×60 Championship for the second time.[59] After successful defenses against Tsukasa Fujimoto and Tsukushi,[60] Sakura lost the title to Hikari Minami on July 19.[61] On September 19, Sakura unsuccessfully challenged Kaori Yoneyama for the JWP Openweight Championship and was then, as per stipulation of the match, shaved bald.[62] In late 2010, Ice Ribbon started an interpromotional storyline rivalry with the Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling, which saw Sendai Girls' founder Meiko Satomura arrive to Ice Ribbon on September 23 to defeat Sakura in a singles match.[63] Two days later, Sakura and Nanae Takahashi defeated Gentaro and Mai Ichii for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship.[64] On November 22, Sakura made her debut for Smash at Smash.10, where she teamed with Kaori Yoneyama in a losing effort against the team of Kana and Syuri.[65] After a three-month reign, Sakura and Takahashi were stripped of the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship on December 11, after a title defense against Hikaru Shida and Yoshiko Tamura ended in a twenty-minute time limit draw.[66] Sakura and Takahashi attempted to regain the title on December 23, but were defeated in the finals of a tournament by Muscle Venus (Hikaru Shida and Tsukasa Fujimoto).[67] The following day, Sakura returned to Smash at Happening Eve, where she was defeated by Jessica Love.[68]

Sakura in February 2011

In February 2011, Sakura formed a tag team with the debuting Ray, her first ever trainee from the Gatokunyan dojo.[69][70] On March 19, Sakura and Ray defeated Muscle Venus in a non-title match to earn a match for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship on March 26, where they became the new champions.[71][72] On April 10, Sakura attempted to become a double champion, but her match for the IW19 Championship with Tsukushi ended in a nineteen-minute time limit draw.[73] On June 1, Sakura and Ray lost the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship to the Lovely Butchers (Hamuko Hoshi and Mochi Miyagi) in their fifth defense.[74] Sakura regained the title from the Lovely Butchers on August 13, teaming with Makoto, who had just announced that she was leaving Ice Ribbon to join the Smash promotion on a full-time basis.[75] After the two had successfully defended the title against Hikari Minami and Riho on August 17,[76] Sakura defeated Makoto in her Ice Ribbon farewell match on August 21, after which the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship was vacated.[77] In October, Sakura, Hikari Minami, Hikaru Shida and Tsukasa Fujimoto traveled to Nottingham, England to take part in events promoted by Pro-Wrestling: EVE and Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE).[78][79][80] During the tour Sakura unsuccessfully challenged Jenny Sjödin for the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship.[79] On October 27, Sakura led Team Ice Ribbon to Sendai Girls' Joshi Puroresu Dantai Taikou Flash tournament, a single-elimination tournament, where different joshi promotions battled each other. Ice Ribbon, represented by Sakura, Hikari Minami, Hikaru Shida, Tsukasa Fujimoto and Tsukushi, was eliminated from the tournament in the first round by their rival, Team Sendai, represented by Meiko Satomura, Dash Chisako, Kagetsu, Miyako Morino and Sendai Sachiko.[81][82] On December 14, Sakura surprisingly announced that she was leaving Ice Ribbon for "personal reasons" following the January 7, 2012, event in Sendai.[83] The storyline rivalry between Ice Ribbon and Sendai Girls' ended on December 25 at RibbonMania 2011, where Sakura and Tsukushi defeated Meiko Satomura and Sendai Sachiko to win the vacant International Ribbon Tag Team Championship.[84] However, Sakura's and Tsukushi's reign would last only three days, before they lost the title to Hikaru Shida and Maki Narumiya.[85] On January 7, 2012, Sakura was defeated by Tsukushi in her Ice Ribbon farewell match.[86]

Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (2012–)

[edit]

Sakura made her first appearance as a freelancer on January 8, 2012, at Bull Nakano's retirement event, where she teamed with Meiko Satomura and Nanae Takahashi to defeat Ayumi Kurihara, Tsukasa Fujimoto and Yoshiko in a six-woman tag team match, pinning her trainee Fujimoto for the win.[87] On February 12, Sakura appeared at a JWP event, where she announced that she was going to start another Ice Ribbon-like promotion in Bangkok, Thailand. Sakura and Kaori Yoneyama then agreed to a match, where, if Sakura was victorious, Yoneyama would join her in Thailand, but if Yoneyama was victorious, Sakura would make JWP her new home promotion in Japan.[88][89] Sakura officially established the Bangkok Girls Pro Wrestling (BKK Pro) promotion the following week.[90] On April 20, Sakura returned to Japan and made her debut for Pro Wrestling Wave, wrestling Toshie Uematsu in a losing effort as part of Uematsu's retirement tour. Following the match, Sakura teamed with Gami in a bonus match, where they wrestled Uematsu and Ran Yu-Yu to a five-minute time limit draw.[91] Two days later, Sakura returned to JWP, defeating Kaori Yoneyama in a singles match; as a result, Yoneyama was forced to join BKK Pro.[92] On May 4, Sakura and Yoneyama defeated Command Bolshoi and Rabbit Miu to win the vacant JWP Tag Team and Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championships, taking the belts with them to Thailand.[93] Later that same day, Sakura made an appearance for Union Pro Wrestling, replacing an injured Mio Shirai in a match and defeating Cherry, following interference from Shirai.[94][95] Sakura's Thailand promotion, now renamed Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, held its first official event on May 16.[96] Sakura was assisted by Yoneyama and male wrestler Madoka in training wrestlers for the new promotion.[97] Sakura and Yoneyama, now known collectively as the "Tai-Pan Sisters",[98] returned to JWP on June 17 to make their first successful defense of the JWP Tag Team and Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championships against the team of Arisa Nakajima and Manami Katsu.[99] Sakura and Yoneyama made their second successful defense on July 15 against the team of Kazuki and Morii,[100] after which they changed their team name from the Tai-Pan Sisters to "Reset".[101] On August 19, Reset lost the titles to Arisa Nakajima and Command Bolshoi in their third title defense.[102]

On September 9, Sakura and Yoneyama defeated Hanako Nakamori and Morii in a tag team match, after which the two agreed to join Reset to form the "Heart Move Kei Reform" (HMK) stable.[103][104][105][106] The first big match between HMK and the JWP Seikigun ("regular army") took place on October 7, when Sakura, Yoneyama, Nakamori and Morii defeated Arisa Nakajima, Command Bolshoi, Kayoko Haruyama and Manami Katsu 3–0 in an eight-woman captain's fall elimination tag team main event.[107] Later that same day, Sakura's former Ice Ribbon protégé Riho, who had recently left Ice Ribbon to rejoin her trainer, made her debut for Gatoh Move, wrestling Sakura to a ten-minute time limit draw at an event in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[108] On October 28, Sakura defeated Kayoko Haruyama to win the JWP Openweight Championship for the first time.[109][110] Sakura made her first successful defense of the title at Pro-Wrestling: EVE's Wrestle-Fever internet pay-per-view event in Sudbury, Suffolk, England on November 10, 2012, defeating Kay Lee Ray.[111][112] Later that evening, Sakura would answer an open challenge issued by the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Champion Nikki Storm, leading to Sakura defeating her to win the title.[111] On December 20, Sakura made her first successful defense of the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship, wrestling Hiroyo Matsumoto to a twenty-minute time limit draw at a Gatoh Move event in Itabashi, Tokyo.[113] Four days later, Sakura lost the JWP Openweight Championship to Arisa Nakajima in her second defense, ending her reign at just 57 days.[114][115] The match ended the collaboration between Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling and JWP. While Hanako Nakamori and Morii chose to return to JWP, wrestling their final Gatoh Move matches on January 25, 2013, Kaori Yoneyama instead chose to quit the promotion she had been affiliated with for her entire career and become a freelancer following January 27 in order to be able to continue working for Gatoh Move.[116][117] On February 2, Sakura returned to England, losing the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Championship back to Nikki Storm.[118] Sakura returned to JWP on April 14, teaming with the debuting Nikki Storm to defeat former stablemates Hanako Nakamori and Morii in a tag team match.[119][120] On May 11, Sakura defeated DJ Nira at a Gatoh Move event and, as a result, won his "Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere" contract, which gives its owner the right to challenge for the DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion's KO-D Openweight Championship.[121] The following day, Sakura made her debut for World Wonder Ring Stardom, wrestling Nanae Takahashi to a fifteen-minute time limit draw.[122][123] On May 17, before being able to cash it in, Sakura lost the "Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere" contract to Sayaka Obihiro.[124] On May 25, Sakura made another trip to England to take part in Pro-Wrestling: EVE's 2013 Queen of the Ring tournament, where she made it to the finals, before losing to Shanna.[125] Also in May, Sakura was involved in a storyline, where she supposedly found the old AWF World Women's Championship at the Hanazono Shrine flea market. She then contacted IWA Japan president Tatsukuni Asano, who bought back the title for ¥2000.[126] On June 1, Sakura returned to her original home promotion, IWA Japan, defeating Kappa Komachi to win the AWF World Women's Championship for the second time, sixteen years after she had won it the first time.[127] She made her first successful defense of the title at a Gatoh Move event on July 15 against old associate Kiyoko Ichiki.[128] Sakura's second successful title defense took place on August 10, when she defeated Welsh wrestler Pollyanna.[129]

On November 16, Sakura defeated Kyonin Shihan to combine the AWF World Women's Championship with the IWA World Heavyweight Championship and IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championships, creating the IWA Triple Crown.[130][131] From December 22 to 23, Sakura and Riho worked two Wrestle-1 events, wrestling singles matches against each other; Riho won the first and Sakura the second.[132][133] On December 27 at Gatoh Move's year-end event, Sakura lost the IWA Triple Crown to Antonio Honda.[134] Sakura regained the Triple Crown from Honda on January 25, 2014.[135] On February 23, Sakura made an appearance for DDT, taking part in a ten-person battle royal for the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship. During the match, Sakura defeated Yasu Urano to become the new champion, but held the title for only 58 seconds, before losing it to DJ Nira.[136][137] On August 10, Sakura lost the IWA Triple Crown to Konaka=Pehlwan.[138] She regained the title from Konaka on October 4.[139] Despite IWA Japan folding on October 13,[140] Sakura continued defending the IWA Triple Crown Championship, losing it to Riho in her second defense on November 2.[141] On August 13, 2015, Sakura celebrated her 20th anniversary in professional wrestling at Gatoh Move's first ever event in Korakuen Hall, where she teamed with Makoto to defeat Hikaru Shida and Sayaka Obihiro in a tag team match.[142]

On April 23, 2016, Sakura made a surprise return to Ice Ribbon, marking her first appearance for the promotion in over four years. Sakura confronted Tsukasa Fujimoto, who had effectively taken over her role as the face of Ice Ribbon, and stated that it was time to end the promotion. She then revealed herself as Nanae Takahashi's tag team partner in a match against Fujimoto and Arisa Nakajima at Ice Ribbon's 10th anniversary show on May 4.[143][144] In the match, Sakura was pinned by Fujimoto.[145][146] On February 18, 2017, Sakura returned to Pro Wrestling: EVE, working two shows in one day, unsuccessfully challenging Rhia O'Reilly for the Pro Wrestling: EVE Championship on the second show.[147] On March 28, 2017, Sakura and Masahiro Takanashi defeated "Kotori" and Riho to win the Asia Dream Tag Team Championship.[148] On August 5, Sakura defeated Riho to win the vacant IWA Triple Crown Championship for the fourth time.[149] Sakura then immediately retired the title and returned it to IWA Japan with Gatoh Move planning to create their own singles title, the Super Asia Championship, to take its place.[150] Sakura and Takanashi lost the Asia Dream Tag Team Championship to Yuna Mizumori and Saki on August 21, 2018.

Philippine Wrestling Revolution (2019)

[edit]

On March 17, 2019, Sakura made her debut for the Philippine Wrestling Revolution in which she faced The Queen of Philippine Wrestling, Crystal. Sakura got the win over Crystal via a Diving Moonsault. The two hugged after the match as a sign of respect.[151]

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

[edit]

On May 25, 2019, Sakura made her debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in a six-woman tag team match at AEW Double or Nothing, teaming with Aja Kong and Yuka Sakazaki in a losing effort against the team of Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Ryo Mizunami.[152] She made her return on October 9 at Dynamite, teaming with Bea Priestley in a losing effort against Britt Baker and Riho.[153] On the October 29 episode of AEW Dark, Sakura picked up her first victory, pinning Penelope Ford in a four-way match that involved Allie and Sadie Gibbs.[154] Sakura would pick up another victory when, at the Thanksgiving Eve special episode of Dynamite on November 27, Sakura teamed up with Bea Priestly to defeat Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander.[155] At Full Gear, she unsuccessfully challenged Riho for the AEW Women's World Championship.[156]

In February 2021, Sakura along with her protégé Mei Suruga were announced as participants in a tournament for the Women's World Championship as part of the Japanese bracket. On February 15, Sakura pinned Venny and advanced to the next round.[157] The following week, she was eliminated by Sakazaki in the semi-finals.[158] After the match, Sakura attacked Sakazaki with Suruga and Yuna Mizumori who accompanied Sakura to the match, establishing herself as a heel.[158] On July 25, Sakura announced that she is returning to AEW full-time.[159] On the January 28, 2023, episode of Rampage, Sakura fought the Women's World Champion Jamie Hayter in the main event in a losing effort.[160] On the June 2 episode of Rampage, Sakura fought Willow Nightingale for the NJPW Strong Women's Championship, but failed to win the title.[161] On the September 6 episode of Dynamite, Sakura lost to Kris Statlander for the AEW TBS Championship.[162] On the November 29 episode of Dynamite, she had another shot for the TBS Championship against Julia Hart in a House Rules match, but failed to win the title.[163]

On October 8, 2024, at Dynamite: Title Tuesday, Sakura fought Mercedes Moné for both the AEW TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women's Championship in a losing effort.[164]

Ring of Honor (2023–present)

[edit]

On the March 30, 2023, episode of ROH Honor Club TV, Sakura made her Ring of Honor (ROH) debut facing Athena for the ROH Women's World Championship in a losing effort. After the match, Sakura was attacked by Athena before Yuka Sakazaki arrived to save her.[165]

Wrestlers trained

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Championships and accomplishments

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Luchas de Apuestas record

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See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Kaori Yoneyama (championship and hair) Emi Sakura (hair) Tokyo, Japan JWP Revolution September 19, 2010 [62]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Emi Sakura

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Emi Sakura (born Emi Motokawa; October 4, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler, promoter, and trainer renowned for her contributions to joshi puroresu, the women's professional wrestling scene in Japan. Standing at 5'2" (158 cm) and weighing 154 lbs (70 kg), she debuted on August 17, 1995, under her real name in IWA Japan, marking the start of a career spanning over 30 years as an allrounder and technician with signature moves including the La Magistral and Tiger Driver. Sakura has competed internationally across promotions such as All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), New England Women's Pro Wrestling (NEO), World Wonder Ring Stardom, and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where she signed in 2019 and remains active as of 2025. Sakura's early career in the mid-1990s saw her training and performing in harsh environments, including IWA Japan's deathmatch style events and AJW's competitive roster, where she captured the AJW Championship in January 1998 by defeating Momoe Nakanishi at age 21. She also won the AWF Women's Championship in 1997 against Luna Vachon and secured the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship five times, showcasing her versatility in both technical and hardcore wrestling. By the early 2000s, she transitioned into a multifaceted role, founding Ice Ribbon in 2006 as a training ground for emerging talent and later establishing Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (initially Bangkok Girls Pro Wrestling) in 2012, which evolved into the streaming-focused ChocoPro brand. As a trainer, Sakura has profoundly influenced modern joshi wrestling by mentoring wrestlers such as Riho, Hikaru Shida, Tsukasa Fujimoto, Makoto, and Mei Suruga, many of whom have achieved global success in AEW and beyond. Her promotional work with Ice Ribbon and Gatoh Move emphasized accessibility and innovation, including no-paywall content on platforms like YouTube, helping to globalize Japanese women's wrestling during the 2010s. In AEW, she has participated in high-profile events, including challenging for the AEW Women's World Championship at Full Gear 2019 against Riho and defending titles like the DPW Women's World Championship as recently as 2023. Sakura's enduring legacy lies in her role as a pioneer who bridged traditional joshi with international audiences, holding additional championships such as the ICE×∞ Championship, NWA Women's Pacific Championship, and JWP Openweight Championship throughout her career.

Early life

Upbringing in Japan

Emi Sakura was born Emi Motokawa on October 4, 1976, in , , . She spent her formative years growing up in the suburban environment of during the and , a time marked by 's economic prosperity and a burgeoning interest in sports and entertainment. During her youth, joshi puroresu——reached peak popularity in , captivating audiences with high-profile rivalries and athletic spectacles that influenced .

Entry into professional wrestling

In the early 1990s, Emi Sakura, born Emi Motokawa in , , became interested in pursuing a career in . Her determination helped her navigate the industry's barriers. At the age of 17 in 1994, Motokawa began auditioning for established women's promotions, including Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW) and , but was repeatedly rejected for lacking sufficient talent. These rejections highlighted the challenges faced by aspiring female wrestlers in at the time, where the industry remained heavily male-dominated and opportunities for women were limited by societal expectations and rigid selection processes. Despite these obstacles, she continued seeking entry points into the profession. Eventually, in 1994, Motokawa was accepted into the dojo of the International Wrestling Association of (IWA Japan), a promotion known for its hardcore style and scarcity of female talent. There, she commenced her formal training under Keisuke Yamada, preparing for her professional debut the following year. No prior background is documented for her.

Professional wrestling career

Early career in IWA Japan and FMW (1995–2002)

Emi Sakura, then known by her real name Emi Motokawa, began her professional wrestling journey after being accepted into the IWA Japan dojo in 1994, following rejections from other promotions like LLPW and . She made her in-ring debut on August 17, , at IWA Japan's Kawasaki Dream event, where she faced Kiyoko Ichiki in a singles match that she lost. Early in her IWA tenure, Motokawa grappled with a limited women's roster, leading to repeated bouts against Ichiki throughout and 1996, as well as matches against Yukiko Kadota, which helped build her foundational skills in the promotion's intense environment known for incorporating hardcore elements like and weapons in select events. By 1997, Motokawa expanded her experience beyond IWA Japan, but she returned for key appearances before her final match there in January 1999. She transitioned to Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) later that year, debuting on August 5, 1999, in a tag team match alongside Kaori Nakayama against Yuka Nakamura and Tanny Mouse, marking the start of her involvement in FMW's more eclectic card that blended joshi wrestling with the promotion's signature deathmatch influences. In FMW, she participated in multi-woman and handicap matches, including a six-person tag at the promotion's 10th Anniversary Show in November 1999, teaming with Nakayama against international opponents like Jazz and Malia Hosaka. These bouts highlighted her growing adaptability, forming short-term tag partnerships that emphasized teamwork amid FMW's chaotic booking. During this period, Motokawa's style evolved from pure technical grappling—honed through submission holds and chain wrestling in IWA—to incorporating high-impact maneuvers like dives and stiff strikes, aligning with the demands of wrestling's athletic intensity while navigating FMW's occasional hardcore stipulations. Notable events included her contributions to FMW's 2000 tours, where she wrestled in singles and tag formats against established talents, solidifying her reputation as a versatile performer before the promotion's financial struggles intensified. However, her progress was hampered by mounting physical tolls; in August 2001, accumulating injuries culminated in hernia surgery, sidelining her for the remainder of 2001 and much of 2002 amid FMW's operational decline leading to its closure.

Independent promotions and Gatokunyan (2002–2006)

Following the closure of (FMW) on February 4, 2002, due to financial difficulties including , Emi Motokawa transitioned to freelance wrestling on the Japanese . In 2002, she competed for promotions such as SPARK Joshi Puroresu, where she participated in at least one match, and Wrestling Marvelous Future, appearing in two bouts that highlighted her technical skills against other freelancers. Motokawa's independent schedule allowed her to travel extensively across Japanese indies, building a reputation as a versatile performer adept at both technical wrestling and occasional hardcore elements carried over from her FMW tenure. That same year, Motokawa co-founded and owned Gatokunyan (我闘姑娘), a small promotion based in that operated from 2002 to 2007 and emphasized training and showcasing emerging female talent through her "Sakura Kids" program for high school-aged wrestlers. Under Gatokunyan, she adopted a cat-themed persona, drawing from the group's name—which incorporates "nyan" (the Japanese for a cat's )—to portray a playful, agile "" character complete with feline mannerisms and quick strikes in matches. The promotion ran regular events focused on developmental bouts, with Motokawa serving as both wrestler and trainer, fostering talents like early trainees who would later debut professionally. Gatokunyan's activities from 2003 to 2006 included a mix of singles and matches, often featuring Motokawa in high-energy contests against younger roster members or visiting freelancers. For instance, in , she wrestled 11 times for the promotion, including a title challenge loss to Aika in the Ambition of Pro Wrestling Girls Vol. 2 event, where her cat-themed antics added flair to the competitive exchanges. She also expanded her indie footprint that year with 20 appearances in NEO Women's Pro Wrestling, engaging in mixed-gender and multi-woman bouts that showcased her adaptability. This freelance era marked significant personal growth for Motokawa, as she refined her in-ring style by integrating agile maneuvers and early iterations of her signature La Magistral cradle suplex, a bridging hold that became a staple of her technical arsenal. Her exposure across promotions solidified her status as a reliable wrestler, paving the way for greater leadership roles in joshi puroresu.

Ice Ribbon era and promotion founding (2006–2012)

In 2006, Emi Sakura founded following her departure from Gatokunyan, aiming to address gaps in the joshi puroresu landscape by creating a promotion centered on and showcasing emerging female wrestlers in a supportive environment. The inaugural event took place on June 20, 2006, in , marking the start of a venture that emphasized character-driven storytelling and athletic development for young talent. Sakura envisioned as a dojo-based operation that would nurture rookies while providing competitive matches, filling a void left by larger promotions that often overlooked beginner-level opportunities in women's wrestling. Throughout her tenure from 2006 to 2012, Sakura served as both a prominent wrestler and the primary booker, shaping the promotion's direction by integrating her trainees into key narratives that highlighted dynamics and intergenerational rivalries. As booker, she developed storylines around the International Tag Team Championship, which became a cornerstone of Ice Ribbon's identity, featuring teams of veterans and newcomers to build cohesion and rivalries within the roster. Sakura's dual responsibilities extended to , where she personally mentored dozens of wrestlers at the promotion's , blending rigorous sessions with on-card performances to accelerate their growth. This approach allowed her to craft arcs like the tag team tournaments, which emphasized partnership and progression, fostering a family-like atmosphere amid competitive feuds. Ice Ribbon's formative years under Sakura included major events such as the annual Ribbonmania series, which served as year-end showcases blending high-stakes matches with festive elements to draw crowds and highlight roster evolution. A notable rivalry developed between Sakura and , a top trainee who emerged as a prodigy; their encounters, including title defenses and multi-woman battles, underscored themes of turning into competition, with Fujimoto often challenging Sakura's veteran dominance in singles and tag formats. These storylines culminated in events like Ribbonmania 2011, where Sakura's matches against Fujimoto and others exemplified the promotion's blend of technical prowess and dramatic tension. By 2010, interpromotional angles, such as the feud with Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling, added external stakes, elevating Ice Ribbon's profile through crossover bouts that tested Sakura's booked narratives against established rivals. The promotion expanded rapidly during this period, transitioning from small dojo shows to larger venues like Korakuen Hall, while Sakura integrated scouting and training to bolster the roster with international-flavored talent, such as young prospects inspired by her global experiences. She actively recruited and developed wrestlers like and , incorporating diverse styles into the training regimen to prepare them for broader circuits. Sakura's personal matches further highlighted her veteran status, including defenses of the ICE×∞ Championship against rising stars like Fujimoto and Tsukushi, where she showcased resilience and technical mastery to elevate opponents in grueling bouts. These efforts solidified Ice Ribbon's reputation as a talent incubator, with Sakura's bookings ensuring a steady influx of skilled performers. As grew into a stable entity by 2011, Sakura began planning her transition, announcing her departure in December 2011 for personal reasons, with her final match occurring on January 7, 2012. This move paved the way for her to establish Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling shortly thereafter, allowing her to apply lessons from Ice Ribbon's expansion while handing over creative reins to trusted alumni like Fujimoto. The shift reflected Sakura's vision of sustainable growth, ensuring Ice Ribbon's continuity amid its increasing independence.

Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (2012–present)

Emi Sakura founded Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling in 2012, initially as Bangkok Girls Pro Wrestling, with its first event held on June 18, 2012, in , emphasizing a philosophy of fun, accessible wrestling that prioritizes enjoyment for both performers and audiences through small-scale, innovative matches rather than high-stakes drama. Building on her experience from founding as a precursor, Sakura established Gatoh Move to foster a supportive environment for wrestlers, featuring a core roster of talents like and alongside guest appearances. The promotion quickly developed signature events, including the "Cult Heroine" series, which highlights milestone celebrations with high-energy bouts, and the ChocoPro streaming shows, launched as a weekly YouTube-exclusive format to deliver free, no-paywall content from the intimate Chocolate Square venue. Key matches and feuds have showcased Sakura's in-ring prowess, such as her emotional farewell bout against alumni on July 2, 2019, at FACE, where emerged victorious in a technical showcase of their mentor-protégé dynamic. During the , Gatoh Move evolved by shifting to online formats, debuting ChocoPro on March 29, 2020, as a taped wrestling series streamed on , allowing the promotion to continue operations without live crowds while maintaining its whimsical style through creative, space-constrained matches. This adaptation not only sustained the roster but also expanded its global reach, with ChocoPro becoming a cornerstone of the promotion's identity. In 2025, Gatoh Move marked its ongoing legacy with 30th anniversary celebrations for Sakura's debut, culminating in the "Cult Heroine" event on October 30, 2025, at Shinjuku FACE, featuring high-profile matches including Riho's return, a bout with Stardom's AZM, and a tag team clash involving New Hayabusa and Masato Tanaka against Baliyan Akki and Chris Brookes. The event was taped and premiered as ChocoPro 485 on November 8, 2025, drawing 468 attendees and highlighting the promotion's blend of nostalgia and fresh talent. Throughout 2025, Sakura continues to balance her roles as owner, booker, and active performer, overseeing weekly ChocoPro episodes and special cards that uphold the promotion's joyful ethos.

International work in AEW, ROH, and other promotions (2019–present)

Emi Sakura made her (AEW) debut on May 25, 2019, at , competing in a six-woman match alongside and against , , and . Her early appearances highlighted her role in elevating Japanese talent in the promotion, culminating in a high-profile storyline with her former protégé Riho, who had won the earlier that year. This mentor-student rivalry peaked at Full Gear on November 9, 2019, where Sakura challenged for the title but was defeated by Riho in an emotional match. Throughout her AEW tenure, Sakura has been involved in various tag team efforts, including partnerships with The Bunny in and sporadic multi-woman matches that showcased her veteran technical style. In 2022, she achieved a milestone outside AEW by winning the Women's World Championship from on November 12, marking her first singles title in after defeating in the semifinals earlier that year. Sakura joined AEW on a full-time basis in July , allowing for more consistent U.S. bookings as both a competitor and occasional coach. In 2023, Sakura expanded her international footprint by debuting in (ROH) on March 30, challenging for the in a losing effort, and making additional appearances through 2023 that included cross-promotional tapings with AEW talent. Her 2024-2025 run featured notable feuds, such as a title challenge against Mercedes Moné for the AEW TBS and NJPW Strong Women's Championships on October 8, 2024, where she was defeated, setting up further tension. This led into her return to AEW television on September 10, 2025, teaming with Moné against and in a losing tag match on . Beyond , Sakura debuted for the on March 17, 2019, defeating local star Crystal at Path of Gold in a showcase of her global appeal. She has continued European tours with Pro Wrestling EVE, including a scheduled She-1 qualifying match against Rayne Leverkusen on December 5, 2025, at Let's Slam Santa. Cross-promotional work includes recent appearances, such as a six-woman tag loss on October 20, 2025, at Starlight Kid's Debut 10th Anniversary Show. To adapt to Western audiences, Sakura has incorporated English-language promos and interviews, as seen in her 2024 Hey! (EW) segment discussing her influences, while engaging in high-profile feuds that blend her roots with AEW's high-energy style.

Other contributions to wrestling

Wrestlers trained

Emi Sakura has been a pivotal figure in training the next generation of wrestlers since founding in 2006, where she established a focused on developing young talent. Her trainees include Aika Ando, who debuted in 2007 after training under Sakura in the early Gatokunyan and sessions; Aoi Kizuki, who began her training in 2005 and became a key figure in before retiring in 2018; Hikari Minami, who entered the at age 11 and debuted in 2006; Mai Ichii, a former kickboxer who transitioned to wrestling under Sakura's guidance starting in 2004; , who joined the in 2006 and debuted later that year; Riho, who started training at age nine in 2006 alongside her sister; Seina, Riho's sister who trained concurrently and debuted young; , who began training in 2008 for a film role and stayed in wrestling; Miyako Matsumoto, part of the 2008 Triangle debut class; , also from the 2008 class; and Tsukushi, who debuted at 13 in 2010 after a trial series. Sakura's training methods emphasize technical fundamentals, such as precise chain wrestling and high-flying maneuvers, alongside building resilience through rigorous physical conditioning and drills to withstand the demands of long tours. She also stresses character development and storytelling in matches, drawing from her own experiences to teach performers how to connect emotionally with audiences in the intimate settings of Gatoh Move and dojos. This approach has been implemented primarily from 2007 onward in her Saitama-based academy and later in Gatoh Move facilities in , where sessions often include live practice matches to simulate real competition. Among her most notable success stories is , who credits Sakura's early guidance for her technical prowess and debuted as AEW's inaugural Women's World Champion in , bringing joshi-style innovation to international audiences. Similarly, , under Sakura's tutelage, became a three-time AEW Women's World Champion and held multiple titles, often highlighting her mentor's role in instilling discipline and adaptability that propelled her global career. , trained starting at age 25, rose to become Ice Ribbon's ace, winning the promotion's top championship multiple times and influencing its creative direction. Through these trainees, Sakura has significantly impacted the wrestling scene by exporting talent to major promotions like AEW and , where her protégés have achieved success including multiple world championships and helped popularize agile, character-driven women's matches worldwide since the mid-2010s. Her has produced over 50 wrestlers, fostering a pipeline that elevates 's visibility and technical standards on the global stage.

Coaching and promotional roles

Emi Sakura played a pivotal role in establishing as a key training hub for wrestlers upon founding the promotion in 2006, where she personally handled the training of new talent at a in Saitama until her departure in 2012. Following her exit, she founded Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (later rebranded as ChocoPro) in 2012, transforming it into another essential training ground that emphasized accessibility and skill development for emerging performers. These promotions became vital incubators for talent amid the decline of larger entities like FMW in the early , helping to sustain the genre through structured coaching programs. Sakura's booking philosophy centers on fostering fun and inclusivity, exemplified by ChocoPro's format of lighthearted events streamed globally on with a no-paywall policy to broaden access to wrestling. This approach includes post-match traditions like Janken tournaments for chocolate prizes and group sing-alongs, creating an environment that prioritizes enjoyment and community engagement over rigid competition. Her inclusive training ethos, encapsulated in the mantra "Everyone can be a Wrestler," has enabled diverse individuals to enter the industry, countering economic barriers by relying on low-budget, DIY production models during challenges like the . In her international work, Sakura has served as a guest coach for (AEW) and (ROH) since 2019, contributing to talent development through her expertise in techniques. In 2021, she signed a full-time contract with AEW, allowing her to mentor roster members on-site and enhance the promotion's women's division with her foundational training methods. Her efforts have bolstered international growth, including scouting and collaborations such as her return to Pro Wrestling EVE in December 2025 for joint events that bridge Japanese and scenes. Sakura's industry advocacy focuses on preserving and expanding women's wrestling post the FMW era, through initiatives like her 30th anniversary event "Cult Heroine" on October 30, 2025, at FACE, which spotlighted emerging talent alongside veterans to inspire the next generation. Despite economic hurdles in sustaining independent promotions—such as adapting to streaming revenue during global disruptions—her business acumen has kept Gatoh Move and viable, producing wrestlers who have succeeded internationally, including in AEW.

Championships and accomplishments

Title reigns

Emi Sakura has held numerous championships throughout her career, primarily in Japanese promotions, with a focus on , , and later international and independent circuits. Her title successes span singles, , and novelty divisions, reflecting her versatility and longevity in the industry. She has captured 16 distinct championships, with multiple reigns in several, often partnering with wrestlers like and Masahiro Takanashi in competitions. In , where Sakura founded the promotion, she achieved significant accolades early on. She won the ICEx∞ Championship twice: first on October 12, 2009, holding it for 84 days until January 4, 2010, and again on May 3, 2010, for 77 days until July 19, 2010. She also secured the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship five times between 2007 and 2011, including reigns with (September 21, 2009, to December 13, 2009, 83 days), (September 25, 2010, to December 11, 2010, 77 days), Ray (March 26, 2011, to June 1, 2011, 67 days), (August 13, 2011, to August 24, 2011, 11 days), and Tsukushi (December 25, 2011, to December 28, 2011, 3 days). These victories established her as a cornerstone of the promotion's tag division during its formative years. Transitioning to in 2012, Sakura claimed the JWP Openweight Championship on October 28, 2012, defeating Kayoko Haruyama in a high-profile vs. match, and held it for 57 days until December 24, 2012. That same year, she and Yoneyama won the JWP Tag Team Championship (May 4, 2012, to August 19, 2012, 107 days) and the Daily Sports Women's Championship simultaneously (same dates and duration), showcasing her adaptability in inter-promotional competition. Later in her career, Sakura's international and independent work yielded additional honors. She captured the multiple times, including a brief reign on February 23, 2014 (less than one day), amid DDT Pro-Wrestling's chaotic 24/7 title scene. In 2019, she held it again briefly, defeating Yasu Urano but losing it after 58 seconds. She also won the EVE Championship in the UK on November 10, 2012, for 84 days until February 2, 2013. More recently, in Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, she became the inaugural Super Asia Champion on July 5, 2023, holding it for a career-long 423 days until August 31, 2024. Her Asia Dream Tag Team Championship reigns include partnerships with Takanashi (March 28, 2017, to August 21, 2018, 511 days; May 30, 2024, to July 31, 2024, 62 days) and Yoneyama (March 20, 2020, to December 31, 2020, 286 days). Additionally, she held the DPW Women's World Championship from December 10, 2022, to December 10, 2023 (365 days) and the 3CW Women's Championship from October 12, 2018, to December 29, 2018 (78 days). While Sakura has not won titles in (AEW), she pursued the , notably challenging her protégé at Full Gear on November 23, 2019, in a losing effort that highlighted her mentor-student dynamic. Her efforts in AEW, often with The Native Beast (Bea Priestley and ), contributed to key victories but did not result in championship gold. Overall, Sakura's 30+ individual reigns include her longest hold of 583 days as AWF World Women's Champion (August 13, 1997, to March 19, 1999, under her pre-ring name Emi Motokawa) and the IWA Triple Crown Championship four times between 2013 and 2017, including a 197-day reign from January 25 to August 10, 2014, along with shorter reigns, as well as numerous brief novelty reigns under one day with the . These accomplishments underscore her impact across promotions, with a total of over 2,000 days as champion cumulatively.
ChampionshipReignsLongest HoldPartners (Tag Titles)
ICEx∞ Championship284 daysN/A
International Ribbon Tag Team Championship583 days, , Ray, , Tsukushi
JWP Openweight Championship157 daysN/A
Asia Dream Tag Team Championship3511 daysMasahiro Takanashi (2),
5+<1 day (multiple)N/A
Super Asia Championship1423 daysN/A
DPW Women's World Championship1365 daysN/A

Awards and recognitions

In 2009, Emi Sakura was awarded the Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize, recognizing her as the top wrestler of the year for her dominant performances across multiple promotions and six championship reigns that year. Within , Sakura earned the Enemy Award in 2012, an accolade given to the promotion's most impactful antagonist based on fan and peer votes, reflecting her intense rivalries and storytelling contributions. She also received the JWP Best Bout Award that year for her tag team match alongside against and Command Bolshoi, highlighting her role in delivering standout technical wrestling. In the 2023 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Women's 250 rankings, Sakura placed at No. 87, acknowledging her consistent in-ring work across international promotions like AEW and her foundational influence in joshi circuits. She ranked No. 76 in the 2025 PWI Women's 250. Marking her 30th anniversary in professional wrestling in 2025, ChocoPro presented the sold-out event "Cult Heroine" on October 30, featuring high-profile matches with talents like Riho and AZM, as an industry-wide tribute to Sakura's pioneering career and promotional legacy. Sakura's broader accolades often underscore her mentorship impact, having trained over 50 wrestlers whose successes—including multiple world and titles—have amplified her reputation as a key figure in preserving and evolving traditions.

Luchas de Apuestas record

#ResultWagerWinner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDate
1LossHair (hair)Emi Sakura (hair)Tokyo, JapanJWP RevolutionSeptember 19, 2010
2WinHairEmi Sakura (hair)Muscle Sakai (hair)Saitama, Japan New AisurihoOctober 2, 2010

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