Emi Sakura, Kaori Yoneyama &「Kotori」vs. Riho & Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI) (Gatoh Move, 5/3/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・226 (5/3/2016)

Emi Sakura, Kaori Yoneyama &「Kotori」vs. Riho & Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI)

*****

「Kotori」, Antonio Honda & SAKI vs. Masa Takanashi, MIZUKI & Riho (Gatoh Move, 7/19/2015)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・176 (7/19/2015)

「Kotori」, Antonio Honda & SAKI vs. Masa Takanashi, MIZUKI & Riho

I didn't find Antonio Honda's comedy funny here... I don't find him funny a lot of the time, actually. This was solid. There's a couple of moments where the spots look telegraphed/contrived, especially the ending where "Kotori" blatantly positions herself for Riho's diving stomp. Still a fine match, regardless.

**3/4

「Kotori」& Riho vs. Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI) (Gatoh Move, 8/7/2014)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・119 ~ 7 Day War (8/7/2014)

「Kotori」& Riho vs. Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI)

Another good match from these teams. Some of the execution was rough, but still good. The「Kotori」and SAKI submission exchange was particularly great, as were all of the vicious wall slams.  

***3/4

「Kotori」& Riho vs. Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI) (Gatoh Move, 6/26/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・235 ~ Butaman! Takoyaki! Kushikatsu! Gatoh Move! (6/26/2016)

「Kotori」& Riho vs. Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI)

The lighting makes the performers look like white silhouettes when they're in the middle of the ring, but still, an enjoyable tag. The double team moves from Buribato are always fun to watch. MIZUKI and Riho exchange heated elbows, and SAKI was hitting some awesome power moves. 

***1/2

WAVE - Osaka Rhapsody Vol. 33/Shizuoka WAVE ~Fuji~ (4/29/2017~4/30/2017)

WAVE - Osaka Rhapsody Vol. 33 (4/29/2017)

3. Catch THE WAVE 2017: Misaki Ohata vs. SAKI

SAKI dominates until Ohata makes her intense comeback. The impact of that fisherman buster from Ohata looked nasty.

***1/2

4. Catch THE WAVE 2017 ZABUN Block: Hiroe Nagahama vs. Rina Yamashita

***

WAVE - Shizuoka WAVE ~Fuji~ (4/30/2017) 

Catch the WAVE 2017: Moeka Haruhi vs. SAKI

***

Gatoh Move - High School Graduation (3/28/2017)

1. Aoi Kizuki vs. Mitsuru Konno

This was a decent showing for Konno. She's new, so errors are to be expected. Aoi Kizuki is obviously a joshi puroresu artisan so there is a lot to be learned from grappling with her.

**1/4

2. Emi Sakura W vs. Yako Fujigasaki

***

3. Hikaru Shida vs. SAKI

This was a match built up on who has the better brainbuster between these two via social media, so they're going back and forth with them.

***1/4

4. Cho-un Shiryu & Antonio Honda vs. Rocky Kawamura & Sayaka Obihiro

***1/2

5. Aasa Maika vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto

***

6. Asia Dream Tag Team Championship:「Kotori」& Riho (c) vs. Masahiro Takanashi & Emi Sakura

This is Chinese variety art in the form of a wrestling match, such a mesmerizing display of balance and timing, coupled with great storytelling.

****3/4

WAVE - JOSHIPRO Festival ~ Love and Kindness and Strong Heart ~ (3/21/2017)

1. Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Ryo Mizunami

***1/4

2. 48 Count Match: Cherry vs. Maya Yukihi

**1/4

3. ERINA vs. Kagetsu

**1/2

4. Hiroe Nagahama vs. Natsumi Maki

**

5. Fairy Nipponbashi vs. Mika Shirahime

**1/4

6. SAKI vs. Sareee

***

7. Rin Kadokura vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto

***

8. Misaki Ohata vs. Yoshiko

****

9. Sumire Natsu vs. Takumi Iroha

***3/4

10. Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Rina Yamashita

***3/4

WAVE - Sunday WAVE Vol. 32 (3/5/2017)

3. Las Aventureras (ASUKA & Yuu Yamagata) vs. Fairy Nipponbashi & Mochi Miyagi

***3/4

4. Misaki Ohata vs. SAKI

***1/2

5. WAVE Tag Team Championship - Elimination: Over Sun (Yuki Miyazaki & Yumi Ohka) (c) vs. Cherry & Kaori Yoneyama vs. Hikaru Shida & Mika Iida

***3/4

6. Regina di WAVE Championship: Ryo Mizunami (c) vs. Moeka Haruhi

This was one hell of a carry job from Mizunami. Moeka showed fighting spirit and had great counters and took some punishment. Really great match.

****1/2

WAVE - White Breath (2/11/2017)

1. Fairy Nipponbashi & Rina Yamashita vs. Kagetsu & Sawako

***

3. Elimination: ASUKA & Yuu Yamagata vs. Hikaru Shida & Mika Iida vs. Hiroe Nagahama & Moeka Haruhi

**3/4

4. Natsu Sumire vs. SAKI

**

5. WAVE Tag Team Championship: Over Sun (Yuki Miyazaki & Yumi Ohka) (c) vs. Azure Revolution (Maya Yukihi & Risa Sera)

**3/4

6. Regina di WAVE Championship: Ryo Mizunami (c) vs. Misaki Ohata

****1/2

SAKI vs. Sayaka Obihiro (Gatoh Move, 6/4/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・230 (6/4/2016)

SAKI vs. Sayaka Obihiro

Obihiro uses tactical espionage to gain an early advantage, emerging from the window with a surprise attack. There's some sloppiness here, but I always enjoy Obihiro's dramatic performance and SAKI did interesting moves.

**3/4

Emi Sakura vs. SAKI (Gatoh Move, 1/9/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・208 (1/9/2016)

Emi Sakura vs. SAKI

Paced and laid out well leading to its draw, but there isn't anything particularly exciting here other than Emi screaming like a banshee as she sells.

**1/2

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・210 (1/31/2016)

2. DJ Nira vs. MIZUKI

There's clever limbwork and submissions with comedy bits spliced in. Nira employing the use of an electric fan to work over MIZUKI's hand was great.

***3/4

3. Antonio Honda, Riho & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Emi Sakura, 「Kotori」& Masa Takanashi

Another really fun GM trios. Not much to say about this one except that it was thoroughly enjoyable.

****

「Kotori」, Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Riho & Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI) (Gatoh Move, 12/31/2015)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・206 (12/31/2015)

「Kotori」, Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Riho & Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI)

This was a very kinetic trios match, the action accelerates towards a very exciting peak, moves and sequences are seamlessly strung together in an incredible way. It was so simple and yet delivered so much, amazing match.

*****

WAVE - HAPPY NEW YEAR WAVE ‘17 (1/8/2017)

1. Battle Royal: Aoi Kizuki vs. Cherry vs. Fairy Nihonbashi vs. Hiroe Nagahama vs. Manami Toyota vs. Moeka Haruhi vs. Rina Yamashita vs. SAKI vs. Tsubasa Kuragaki vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto

Aoi Kizuki cosplayed as a chicken in this match. It was nice to see SAKI of the former Buribato make her return. Yamashita goes over Fujimoto in a dramatic finish. All is well.

**1/2

3. Yukihi Maya & Sumire Natsu vs. Syuri & Tsukushi

Definition of a fan-service match. Water guns, FEET, Maya-obachan, Sumire Natsu, Yuki Miyazaki's embarrassment hold.

*

4. Best 2/3 Falls: Hikaru Shida, Mika Iida, Yuki Miyazaki & Yumi Ohka vs. Las Aventureras (ASUKA, Kaori Yoneyama, Sawako Shimono & Yuu Yamagata)

his was an enjoyable match chock-full of comedy and neat double team spots.

***

5. WAVE Tag Team Championship: Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) (c) vs. "Oedo Tai" (Kyoko Kimura & Kagetsu)

At 24 minutes, this is long, and there is definitely a sluggishness to it, but I liked a lot of what they did here and they build to a satisfying finish between Ohata and Kyoko. Avid Rival has some of the most devastating double team moves you will see in joshi puroresu. That counter Ohata did of Kyoko's Gory Bomb into the Blue Dhalia was wonderful. Lots of heat and big boots being throw.

***3/4