4. Thekla vs. Suzu Suzuki
This was the 15th anniversary dojo event, and it seemed like they were working even harder than they usually do on events of this scale. Thekla is on the smaller side among the foreign competitors in Japan, but her all-around skill more than makes up for it. Grappling, submissions, striking, heel work; she's amazing in every way. And Suzu is similarly versatile. This match was filled with dynamic action, high-paced back and forth exchanges, and some great near falls. ****
5. Tsukasa Fujimoto, Risa Sera & Akane Fujita vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto, Yukihi Maya & Maika Ozaki
I'm always a sucker for a stacked prelude tag match. This one was a preview for Fujimoto-Hiroyo and was a loaded 30-minute epic in the Ice Ribbon dojo. It had a catchy ebb and flow to it, and the big moves were well distributed over its long duration. Each performer shined as they showed their great chemistry and familiarity with each other both as partners and opponents. The key encounters had plenty of depth to them. ****1/2
