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blowflyfag · 21 days

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SPARK OF SOMETHING SPECIAL

THE RISE OF THE AMERICAN JOSHI PROMOTION

As Japanese women’s promotions continue to gain influence worldwide, joshi-inspired companies have begun popping up around the U.S. In this feature story, PWI helps explain the growing phenomenon

TEXT BY KAREN PETERSON

PHOTOS BY JORDAN WILLIAMS

[Maya Yukihi, a two-time former champion of the Ice Ribbon promotion, twists the limbs of COLOR’s leader SAKI. This meeting in Orlando marked the very first singles bout between the two.]

OVER EIGHT YEARS of working the Japanese independent circuit contemporaneously, Maya Yukihi and SAKI have crossed paths numerous times. With showcase matches at Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan Pro Wrestling, competing in Stardom’s 2023 Triangle Derby, and working at multiple women’s promotions in Japan, they’d never faced off in a one-on-one bout. However, that changed on October 14, at the Englewood Neighborhood Center in Orlando, Florida, where these world-renowned freelance wrestlers finally locked horns in a main-event singles match for the inaugural SPARK Joshi Atlantic championship. “We’ve wrestled plenty of times, but always in tag and three-person matches,” Yukihi said enthusiastically. “I didn’t expect this to happen in the united states!”

The North American scene, in particular, has seen a significant uptick in Japanese wrestlers exploring the international wrestling landscape with fly-ins for single commitments, while others gain notoriety by making frequent visits to various North American and European promotions. Showcase tournaments such as the Mae Young Classic and the success of Japanese stars in WWE and All Elite Wrestling have served as the gateway for many to begin exploring their options outside the big companies.

American independent promotions–GCW, Deadlock Pro, West Coast Pro, and Prestige Wrestling, to name a few–have showcased Japanese talent, further contributing to the interest and continued success of the Japanese women’s wrestling scene. Even legends including Chigusa Nagayo, Bull Nakano, and Manami Toyota have all worked with international promotions to help make joshi more accessible across the board.

[“If wrestling in Japan isn’t a goal, I would question your intentions as a wrestler.” Thus says Australia native KZT, seen here making good use of her jiu-jitsu skills against Kelsey Raegan.]

The diversity in the North American independent scene isn’t just minted to athletes from Japan, as many wrestlers have relocated to the United States to hone their craft or work in backstage capacities. While she competes for WOW Superheros as Exodus, works behind the scenes t a major American promotion, and frequents East Coast outfits including GCW and frequents East Coast outfits including GCW, and DPW, KZT is an Australia-born wrestler based in Orlando with a full plate and an even bigger bucket list. “Wrestling in Japan is an absolute goal of mine. If wrestling in Japan isn’t a goal, I would question your intentions as a wrestler,” KZT mused, looking back at a recent work trip to the country.

When asked for her thoughts on being an Australian working in an American-based Japanese-inspired promotion in SPARK, she smiled. “It pretty much goes in line with who I am as a person,” explained KZT, who showed off her jiu-jitsu skills against Flordia mainstay Kelsey Raegan. “People always assume some things about me, but as soon as I open my mouth, they notice my Australian accent, and they find out things like I’m a black belt. I’ve never been one to fit in.”

For many wrestlers, making the journey to Japan–even for one single match–remains a bucket list item, as trying to find a foothold within the competitive market can be rather challenging. Founded in 2023, SPARK Joshi Puroresu of America is one of the latest showcase promotions to further expand opportunities for Women’s wrestling–and specifically, for wrestling on an international level.

The existence of Japanese-inspired wrestling promotions, such as Kitsune Women’s Wrestling and SPARK Joshi Puroresu of America, has inspired excitement among fans and wrestlers alike. These leagues provide another avenue for fans to experience Japanese wrestling without the international airfare; offer Japanese competitors chances to experience the international fan response while wrestling deserve opponents from around the world; and serve as a potential proving ground for talent interested in achieving the elusive dream of wrestling in Japan.

“When [SPARK] contacted me, I [realized] that this is something that I can bring my British skills to, plus what I learned in Japan. Said Xia Brookside, just prior to her title bout with SPARK Joshi Pacific champion Ram Kaichow. “And with all the talented women here, we can show an American audience what women wrestlers are made of.”

Brookside, a former member of the NXT U.K. roster, made her Japanese debut with Stardom at 18 years old. Now 25, the daughter of retired British grappler Robbie Brookside has completed five tours in Japan. Her most recent excursion was for the Triangle Derby in January 2023, when she completed as part of Mina Shirakawa’s unit, Club Venus.

[Maika Ozaki applies a camel clutch to Amber Nova during their encounter at RISING HEAT East.]

For Japanese natives performing outside of their home country, one of the biggest eye-openers tends to be the energy of the international crowd–especially how vocal fans are with their opinions and expressions. Typically, Japanese audiences don’t break into song, rounds of chanting, or candidly express their opinions. However, the overall positive energy is definitely not lost in translation. “Because we’re in America, I was curious what the atmosphere would be like,” confessed Miu Wantanaabe, a popular member of the TJPW roster who has only wrestled internationally a handful of times. “The fans know and love Japanese wrestling, so it made me so happy.” In her victory over IMPACT’s KiLynn King, Wantanabe put her strength and power to the test, refusing to let the language barrier impede her performance.

One of the clear advantages of SPARK and similar promotions is the shared enthusiasm to pay homage to Japanese wrestling traditions, but to present them in a way that is more accessible to the non-Japanese speaking market. SPARK showrunner Chibi (C.B.) joins with inaugural SPARK Atlantic champion SAKI (founder of freelance group COLOR’S) to open and close each show with a self-produced, Japanese pop-inspired theme song called “ZA SUPAAKU” (“THE SPARK”).”I was able to come to the United States for the first time with the advent of SPARK Joshi,” SAKI told PWI, after defeating Maya Ykihi in the main event of RISING HEAT EAST in Orlando. “So, I want to do my best to help take the company to new highs.”

[Xia Brookside struggles to break free of Ram Kaichow’s grip during an unsuccessful bid for the SPARK Joshi Pacific title.]

[SAKI, as the newly crowned SPARK Joshi Atlantic champion, closed out RISING HEAT EAST on a high note.

MODERN MYTH PHOTOGRAPHY]

With the various women’s promotions in Japan opening their doors to more international wrestlers, promotions such as SPARK offer opportunities for American prospects to build rapport with potential future colleagues, while also gaining a career understanding of what they should expect when they touch down in Japan (should they choose to pursue that). “It’s a dream come true,” said Texas native Jessie Elaban. “I wanted to bring everything that I learned in Japan to the States.”

Elaban, who formerly competed for NXT under the name Jessi Kamea, also joined Mina Shirakawa’s Club Venus stable during a 2023 Stardom stint. In a conversation after the show, she seemed grateful for the dynamic new platform in SPARK. “I am having to make adjustments between Japanese and American styles,” admitted Elaban. “But I feel like I'm able to be more fluid with the new me.”

In addition to helping talent grow and prosper, proliferation of American international leagues is an obvious benefit for fans of exciting, athletic, and hard-hitting wrestling. Promotions such as SPARK and Kitsune–and Sukeban, which filmed a colorful TV pilot this past September in New York City–have captured the imaginations of those who stream joshi shows and covet chances to see their favorite ring performers mix it up in person.

With the global presence of joshi continuing to mount, the future is bright for women’s wrestling. And, with the ever-increasing interest in Japanese wrestling, forbidden doors are getting kicked open around the world.

[SPARK Joshi offered Florida wrestling enthusiasts appearances by Tokyo Joshi Pro standouts Miu Wantananbe (left, victorious over KiLynn King) and Miyu Yamashita (inset, landing a hard strike to Jessie Elaban.)

MODERN MYTH PHOTOGRAPHY]

#joshi #pwi #pro wrestling illustrated #magazine scan #magazine transcript

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sincerelylaurel · 3 years

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YA Books With South Asian Representation

I think we can all agree that we need more South Asian representation in the books we read, especially in Young Adult and fantasy. Here’s a list of YA books with south asian rep because we need it. They’re all written by South Asian authors, too! I read a bit about each of them which was very fun. I’m including the synopsis from goodreads as well so you know which ones to read first :)

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own...Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

Hunted by the Sky by Taniz Bhathena

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge. Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort...a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

If the night sky holds many secrets, it holds Sheetal Mistry's secret the closest. A secret that explains why her hair is the silver of starlight, or why some nights the stars call Sheetal by name. Stars like her mother, who returned to her place in the constellation Pushya years ago. Since that day, Sheetal has been forced to hide. But as her seventeenth birthday draws near, the pull from the sky is growing stronger. So strong that Sheetal loses control, and a flare of starfire burns her human father—an injury only a full star's blood can heal. Sheetal has no choice but to answer the starsong and ascend to the sky. But her celestial family has summoned her for a reason: to act as their human champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of heavens. Desperate to save her father, Sheetal agrees. But nothing could have prepared Sheetal to face the stars' dark history—or the forces that are working to shut the gate between the realms for good.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigrirdar

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants—as long as she isn’t herself. Because Muslim girls aren’t lesbians. Nishat doesn’t want to hide who she is, but she also doesn’t want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flávia is appropriating Nishat’s culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush on Flávia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood. Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive.

#writers on tumblr #writing #writeblr #writing inspiration #writing advice #writer #writing techniques #my writing #writersofinstagram #writeaway #books #fantasy books #south asia #representation #ya books #fantasy

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