August 24, 2026
Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling’s International Princess Champion, Suzume (27), has opened up about her feelings after finally achieving a long-sought-after dream.
In the finals of the “13th Tokyo Princess Cup” singles tournament (August 23rd, Korakuen Hall), she clashed with Rika Tatsumi. Although she was tormented by Tatsumi’s signature Dragon-style offense, Suzume ultimately sank her opponent with a tenacious Spring Ring-A-Bell to secure the tournament victory.
Speaking to the press, Suzume broke down the key to her win: “Over the past year of wearing the International belt, experiencing title matches, and wrestling overseas, my heart has gotten incredibly strong.” She explained that she truly felt herself growing alongside the championship.
During her post-match microphone address, a tearful Suzume told the crowd, “TJPW taught me that it doesn’t matter how old you are when you find a dream, and it doesn’t matter how many dreams you have.”
Reflecting on her childhood, she shared, “I took a lot of lessons growing up and had moments where I’d say, ‘I want to be a volleyball player!’ But I always ended up giving up, assuming I’d never actually be able to do it…” Even when it came time to decide her career path in high school, she couldn’t bring herself to voice her dream of moving to Tokyo, instead taking a job at a local factory.
However, discovering TJPW changed everything. “Even when I put in my notice [to quit], they gave me a warm send-off. It was a really good company,” she recalled fondly. “I wonder if they’d look at me today and think, ‘Wow, she really made it big.'”
Having conquered the tournament, Suzume already has her sights set on her next goal. A challenge has been made official for the October 3rd Ota Ward Gymnasium show, where she will face Yuki Arai for the Princess of Princess Championship.
“Arai has an incredibly strong heart, but I’ve finally reached a point where I can rival that strength,” she declared proudly. It seems the momentum of the “Hornet” who conquered the summer won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Translator’s Notes
- Dragon-style offense (ドラゴン殺法): A reference to Rika Tatsumi’s move set. Tatsumi’s gimmick incorporates several moves popularized by Japanese wrestling legend Tatsumi Fujinami (whose nickname is “The Dragon”), most notably the Dragon Sleeper and Dragon Screw.
- Spring Ring-A-Bell: A springboard variation of Suzume’s signature finisher, the Ring-A-Bell (a leaping cutter/facebuster).
- The “Hornet” (スズメバチ – Suzumebachi):Tokyo Sports ends the article with a clever pun on Suzume’s name. While “Suzume” traditionally translates to “sparrow,” her ring gear and persona are explicitly themed around a bee/wasp. The Japanese word for hornet is suzumebachi (which literally translates to “sparrow bee”).
- Princess of Princess Championship: TJPW’s top singles championship, often affectionately abbreviated by fans and wrestlers as the “PuriPuri” title.