Japan will bring a talented group of wrestlers to the 2026 Senior World Championships, with Yoshinosuke Aoyagi and Arash Yoshida among the names to watch in men's freestyle.

Although Japan is best known for its success in women's wrestling, its men's program continues to develop athletes capable of competing on the international stage. 

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• 2026 Senior World Championships: Full Men's Freestyle Rosters

Aoyagi and Yoshida will face difficult tests in two competitive weight classes, with opportunities to measure themselves against some of the world's best.

Here are two Japanese wrestlers to watch at the Senior World Championships.

Yoshinosuke Aoyagi, 74 kg

Yoshinosuke Aoyagi enters the 2026 Senior World Championships with a senior world title already on his resume. He won the 2025 World Championships at 70 kilograms, establishing himself among Japan's top men's freestyle wrestlers.

His path to the 2026 team is another reason to watch him. Aoyagi moved up to 74 kg and defeated Kota Takahashi in Japan's selection process to earn the country's world team spot. 

Takahashi won the 2025 world title at 74 kg, making the result particularly significant.

That victory gives Aoyagi an opportunity to test himself against the world's best at a new weight. His senior world title at 70 kilograms already demonstrates that he can win on the sport's biggest stage, and his win over Takahashi provides another important credential heading into Astana.

Arash Yoshida, 97 kg

Arash Yoshida has built an impressive international resume in men's freestyle, particularly in the upper weight classes.

Yoshida won the Asian championship at 92 kg in 2023 before capturing the 97 kg title in 2025 and defending it in 2026. Those back-to-back Asian titles have established him as a consistent senior-level contender.

His success against international competition will be important as he steps onto the world championship stage. The 97-kilogram division includes some of the sport's biggest names, including Olympic and world champions Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev.

Yoshida's recent results show that he can compete against high-level opposition. The Senior World Championships will give him another opportunity to turn that international experience into a major result against the deepest field in the sport.

How To Watch The 2026 Senior World Championships:

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