This post is a recap of personal highlights I extracted from Episodes 1 and 2 of her 4-part video series.

She also talks about her excursion to Mexico, the thought behind her ring gear, and much more! If you're interested, I've left the link in the comments—feel free to check it out!

1. Her Judo Background & Corporate Team Success

• 15 Years on the Mat: Maika dedicated roughly 15 years of her life to Judo, starting from a young age.
• Corporate Team Success: She competed for a top corporate Judo team after graduating and achieved an impressive top-8 finish at a prestigious national tournament.

2. The Turning Point: Transitioning to Pro Wrestling

• Discovered on Social Media: TAKA Michinoku scouted her via Instagram DMs after seeing her posts about national tournament results.
• Making the Jump: Although initially hesitant, she was at a crossroads with her Judo career. Seeing Utami Hayashishita—another wrestler with a Judo background—thriving in Stardom sparked a sense of urgency and rivalry in her. Driven by this spark, she resigned from her job to pursue wrestling full-time.

3. The Grind and Hardships at JTO (JUST TAP OUT)

• Driver & Office Worker: While training, she acted as TAKA Michinoku’s driver and lived in the promotion's office/dormitory. She handled backend logistics like merch inventory and mailing out fan club membership cards.
• Living in Extreme Poverty: As a trainee, she received no salary and actually had to pay 30,000 yen (approx. $200 USD) a month for room and board, completely burning through her savings.
• A Hidden Severe Injury: During training, she took a head-first bump from a hurricanrana (corbata) delivered by a male wrestler and injured her neck. Lacking money, she couldn't go to the hospital at the time. Years later, when undergoing a full checkup upon joining Stardom, tests revealed a healed bone fracture from that incident.
• Scrappy Early Days: Even after her debut, she had very few matches (about one every two months for her first year). To make ends meet and sell tickets, she personally went from bar to bar selling tickets for Korakuen Hall shows.

4. Rooming with Tomoka Inaba: The "Mom" Role

• Taking Care of Inaba: She lived with Tomoka Inaba, who was around 16 at the time and couldn't cook. Maika stepped up like a mother, regularly prepping meals for her.
• Daily Struggles: Coming home exhausted from ticket-selling runs, she would snap at finding dirty dishes in the sink, yet she pushed through to keep their household afloat.

5. Culture Shock: Pro Wrestling’s Hierarchy

• Seniority by Debut Date: Accustomed to traditional age-based seniority, she found wrestling’s "debut date rules" confusing at first. She suddenly had to address teenagers and middle/high schoolers (like AZM and other young prodigies) with formal, respectful language just because they debuted earlier

6. Joining Stardom and Skyrocketing to the Top

Recruited by Giulia: After drawing eyes through cross-promotional matches (including a standout bout against Utami Hayashishita), she was invited by Giulia to join Stardom.

Donna del Mondo & Breakout Success: Co-founding Donna del Mondo (DDM) completely transformed her career, visibility, and income. She broke out of her struggling years and rose to become one of the promotion's premier top stars.

Paying It Forward: Having survived the hardest times, she now carries on the pro wrestling tradition of taking care of her juniors, regularly treating younger wrestlers to meals.

https://preview.redd.it/wcshkwx4oqjh1.jpg?width=2279&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ee4ac5cacdd1303be0e1737e2f350d80f1e4f5d

10/25 Yokohama Budokan: Power Godzilla Alliance vs. Seikigun + Natsuko Tora

Click here for the full article

Seiki-gun remains one member short, with Tora expected to bring in a secret ally—most likely from HATE.

She will work as a freelancer going forward, while continuing to make appearances for Diana.

[Kuroyume × BMI2000 STARDOM Entrance Theme - Demo Version Premiered!] Discussing Behind-the-Scenes Production with Kiyoharu, Tomoki Takaso, Natsuko Tora & Ruaka!

Kuroyume A legendary rock band that shook the Japanese rock scene in the 1990s. Led by their overwhelmingly charismatic vocalist Kiyoharu, they are renowned for their cutting-edge sound, which dramatically evolved from Visual Kei to heavy punk and alternative rock. With their radical, dark worldbuilding combined with catchy yet edgy songwriting, Kuroyume has left an indelible mark on countless artists and subcultures across Japan.

Kiyoharu, the vocalist of Kuroyume, was introduced to STARDOM by his friend Tomoki Takaso, the designer featured in this video. He got so hooked that he now watches their matches live at venues like Korakuen Hall.

Watch the full episode on ABEMA Video

Note: The following post is an excerpt from the same TV program and includes content not shown in the linked YouTube video.

Entering the World of Pro Wrestling Unexpectedly

Without consulting her mother, she applied for the Stardom audition as an idol and passed. At the time, Kamitani had no intention of doing professional wrestling at all. When she broke the news of her acceptance, her mother was genuinely happy for her. However, the idol group disbanded shortly after, and she was transitioned into becoming a pro wrestling trainee.

She kept her trainee status a complete secret from her mother. However, the secret was blown when her mother spotted a photo on social media showing Kamitani acting as a second (ringside assistant) at a match. Her mother was furious, and from that day on, they began having explosive arguments every single day.

The Brutal Trainee Days

Her days as a trainee were brutal, especially before the Bushiroad era took over management. The training was merciless; even when she suffered a fractured sternum (breastbone), she was still forced to practice the backward breakfall (ushiro-ukemi) 100 times.

One day, during yet another one of their usual shouting matches, Saya, driven to utter frustration, snapped, "If I quit pro wrestling now and regret it later, are you going to take responsibility for that?" Upon hearing this, her mother burst into tears for the very first time and said, "I just want you to stay healthy, Saya." It was only through doing this TV show that Saya learned a heartbreaking truth: while she wasn't around, her mother had secretly cried many times out of sheer worry.

A Mother's Secret Support and Reconciliation

Even after Kamitani made her official pro wrestling debut, her mother remained firmly opposed to it. Yet, she secretly attended the matches to watch her daughter without Saya knowing.

In February of this year, her mother came to watch a title defense match where Kamitani successfully defended her championship despite fighting through a finger injury. After the match, her mother told her, "Saya, you were so cool. I truly think you are strong."

For Saya, this exact moment was the happiest she had ever felt since entering the world of professional wrestling.

A Surprise Letter from Her Mother at the End of the Show

To Saya,

I was at a loss when you suddenly became a professional wrestling trainee; it was something I never expected. Because it is such a dangerous sport where injuries are a constant threat, my only thought was that I had to make you quit as soon as possible.

Right after you became a trainee, you fractured your sternum. But a senior wrestler contacted you, saying, "Even with a fracture, there are jobs you can do, so don't rest and come on in." I tried to stop you, but you went to the venue anyway.

After a while, that injury healed, but this time you came home on crutches because you had hurt your leg.

It was then, for the first time, that you cried and said, "Why am I doing this?" So I thought, This will make her quit. But as soon as you healed, you started going to practice again.

Even when you passed the pro test and your debut match was set, I couldn't rejoice from the bottom of my heart. But as I watched you working so hard, I gradually became able to support you.

Now, I support you from the bottom of my heart. When you contacted me about winning the Pro Wrestling Grand Prix MVP award, I was truly happy.

Thinking about it now, I am filled with feelings of misery that I couldn't tell you, "Do your best," when you were working so hard as a trainee.

I should have understood your feelings of hard work rather than focusing on my own feelings. I am sorry.

Please practice a lot so that you don't get hurt, and take good care of your peers. Always act with a sense of gratitude. I will come to watch your match again sometime soon.

From Mom

Blunder Teacher

"Learn from my mistakes so you don't repeat them!"

In this unique educational variety show, celebrities who have hit rock bottom after major life blunders step up as "teachers." They deliver passionate lessons as negative role models, sharing their dark pasts and crucial life lessons so that the "students" (and the audience) won't make the same mistakes.

Watch the full episode on ABEMA Video

Saya Kamitani is making waves as a dominant heel (villain) in the women's pro wrestling promotion "STARDOM." On the flip side, her appearance on variety shows has sparked huge conversations, turning her into an overnight favorite thanks to a charming personality and sincere, dedicated attitude that stands in stark contrast to her in-ring persona. What is the secret behind the strong, beautiful, and "ultimate physique" of this beloved dark heroine, who rises no matter how many times she gets knocked down and takes flight so gracefully?

Whether in the squared circle or on variety TV, STARDOM's Saya Kamitani continues to captivate audiences. We sat down with this spotlighted dark heroine—known for her mesmerizing, high-flying maneuvers and enchanting allure—to find out her philosophy behind building a "physique made to captivate."

"Unlike performing on a standard stage, pro wrestling surrounds you with fans 360 degrees. So, I’m always conscious of making sure my body and movements look beautiful from every single angle. The back is especially crucial. I try to express and convey all the emotions born in battle—the joy, the anger, the sorrow, and the pleasure—right through my back."

Two summers ago, she made the leap from a babyface (fan favorite) to a heel. That transition triggered a major shift in her training philosophy.

"To embody the ideal heel image I look up to—someone whose posture and even fingertips are beautiful—I felt the need to evolve my physique and core strength. That’s why I switched from working out on my own to personal training."

When it comes to training, her priority is suppleness over sheer muscle mass.

"My ideal body is one that is highly functional and flexible. Instead of just chasing heavier weights in the gym, my goal is to build a physique that actually translates to the ring. Women's matches involve a lot of fluid, supple movements like bridges, so stretching is a must. Sometimes I massage my muscles with Nivea cream after a bath, but that's more for muscle recovery than hydration. To be honest, between matches and training, my arms and legs are always covered in bruises and scratches, so I don't really stress over typical body care (laughs)."

For inner care, she takes protein and amino acids post-workout. On the other hand, she doesn't follow any strict rules regarding food.

"If I restrict my diet too strictly, it takes a bigger toll on my mind than my body. In pro wrestling, mental control is just as vital, so I make it a point to eat what I love. In return, I make sure to train hard. For me, keeping both my mind and body healthy is what matters most."

Her current approach to wellness stems heavily from her past background as a Japanese idol.

"Back when I was an idol, I went through some extreme dieting. I lost weight, but the rebound made me binge on sweet pastries. Looking back, it was terrible for both my mental and physical health. Back then, I believed being skinny was the definition of beauty. But over time, I’ve come to realize that true beauty is about your presence, your character, and the energy you radiate. That's why I love myself most right now—having a healthy balance of muscle and fat, and being able to enjoy meals with my friends."

She notes that she is "120% satisfied" with her current physique and doesn't look to any specific role models.

"If you set someone else as your ultimate goal, it eventually becomes painful. In wrestling, you have heavily muscled powerhouses, and you have those who can't gain weight due to their genetics. Just like fight styles, everyone has a different body type. So, as long as I am satisfied with myself, that’s all that matters."

Looking at the photos from today's shoot, Kamitani smiled and said, "I've never seen this side of myself before!" While her charming real-life personality is a far cry from her fierce in-ring character, she has a clear vision of how she wants to present herself as a villain.

"When I was a babyface, I felt like I always had to be the 'good girl,' but being a heel lets you do bad things. Showing strength, weakness, malice, and ugliness... baring all of those raw emotions has vastly widened my range of expression. Even so, I still want to hold onto beauty. The way you communicate changes with every single word and movement, so I always make sure never to lose my sense of elegance and grace."

Women's pro wrestling is a beautiful yet intense collision of diverse athletes. We asked her once more what makes Joshi wrestling so captivating.

"I think the audience gets drawn into the story from the very moment a wrestler enters to their theme music wrapped in their robe. During the match, every single moment is a sequence of fluid, picture-perfect moves, and seeing that raw, exposed emotion is something I really want people to watch. There are so many times during a fight when I think, 'This hurts so much, I don't know if I can keep going,' but the fans' cheers completely fire me up to say, 'I'm not done yet!' Everyone out there is pushing through life and refusing to give up despite their own hardships. I truly hope that seeing us rise no matter how many times we get knocked down can give them some kind of power."

[Saya Kamitani's Training & Body-Making Routines]

■ Ring Gear Designed for Social Media and Visual Impact

"I basically self-produce my ring gear. I always incorporate black, which is my signature color. It makes my physique look sharp and creates a beautiful contrast that makes my fair skin pop. For the design, the long fringe is key. When I execute spinning techniques or kicks, it flutters beautifully in the air, which adds a huge impact for photos that fans upload to social media."

■ High-Intensity Stair Sprints for Explosive Power & Endurance

"Running is just as critical to me as weight training. First, I do 10 sets of high-speed stair sprints, hitting every single step on a massive flight of stairs. After that, depending on the day, I might do five 200–300 meter sprints and five 50-meter sprints. Since I have to balance this with weekend shows and other work, I combine personal training sessions with these running routines."

■ Weekly Personal Training: Building Ring-Ready Muscle

"Since I have to lift and throw opponents during matches, I train with weights that simulate another person. My trainer pushes me to the limit while keeping me hyped with praise, which is honestly a huge part of why personal training keeps my motivation so high (laughs). If my muscles stay too fatigued, I can't fall asleep, so it’s a strict rule of mine to thoroughly loosen them up with a massage gun afterward."