Akari Ogata let her feet do the talking as she pulled off an upset with a victory over Megumi Tachimoto in the final to claim her first title at the All Japan Women's National Championship on Sunday.
In the first major domestic tournament since an abuse scandal involving coaches for the women's national team came to light at the start of the year, Ogata rallied to beat her rival with a major inside reaping leg trip that narrowly sent Tachimoto to the mat at Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium.
"It's sinking in that I really won. Everyone's congratulating me and even gave me a celebratory toss in the air," said the 22-year-old Ogata. "This is the meet that decides the best in Japan. I really wanted the Empress Cup. I've fought her several times before, so I know how strong she is. I really showed that I didn't want to lose today."