As a winner of the All Japan Adult Championship and All Japan Student Championship, it is safe to assume that Hikaru Aono will be the most decorated wrestler in the Deep Jewels Atomweight Tournament. At 27 years old, the idea of avenging some losses and becoming the champion in the same tournament seems to excite her. We had the opportunity to speak to Hikaru after the bouts were decided, so please read a transcript of our conversation below where we talk about her wrestling background, how she got into MMA, her upcoming fight, and her love of Pokemon Go.
SK: You are a decorated wrestler, can you talk about your wrestling background?
Hikaru: I started wrestling when I was in 3rd grade, when I was 7 or 8, and I went all the way through my 4th year at college, so I wrestled for about 13-14 years. When I was in elementary school, I didn’t really win that much, I wasn’t able to win at the inter-school tournament, but when I got to middle school, I started winning at the inter-school, and when I was in high school I did well too. Then when I got to college, I was able to do pretty well at tournaments too.
In the beginning, it was really hard, so I wanted to quit, but at that time I didn’t think that I would become a pro-fighter, so now that I am a pro-fighter, I am really happy that I stuck with it and wrestled for so long.
SK: Did you ever get to wrestle abroad?
Hikaru: Yes, when I was in middle school I went to South Korea, then again in high school. When I was in college I went to places like America, Thailand, and Vietnam.
SK: When did you become interested in MMA?
Hikaru: I wasn’t really interested in it, I didn’t watch much fighting, I got into it because of grappling. I wanted to participate in grappling because I heard there was a global stage for it, so I started training. That is how I got introduced to MMA. I knew someone who was grappling at a gym, so I went with him to grappling practice and then I went to the MMA practice afterwards. Someone told me to put on these gloves, so that was the first time. I wasn’t interested in it before I put the gloves on and never thought that I would get involved. That was 3 and 1/5 years ago.
SK: When and why did you decide to go pro?
Hikaru: When I started doing it, there was a lot of new stuff and it was a lot of fun. I felt like I had wrapped up my wrestling career, so it was fun to challenge myself with something new, so I started to think that I would like to have a match.
SK: I read that you wrestled against Miyuu Yamamoto (All Japan Open Semi-Finals 2011), what was that like? I also heard that you’d like to face her in MMA?
Hikaru: I lost to her. I remember thinking how strong she was, when I felt her grip, I realized that she was on a different level than me. I was still in college (Miyuu would have been around 36) but I was able to understand how strong she was. I’d like to fight her if I can get the chance.
SK: I saw that Miyuu is producing at Quintet, do you have any interest in participating for them again?
Hikaru: I’ve done it once before, it was a really good experience and it was a lot of fun. However, this time the event is pretty close to the Deep Jewels event so the timing doesn’t work out.
SK: Can you talk about your MMA goals?
Hikaru: I want to become the Deep Jewels Champion, then I want to fight for Rizin, then I want to fight abroad.
SK: Speaking of the championship, can you talk about the tournament?
Hikaru: I’m able to fight who I wanted to fight most, so I can get revenge on Sato-san, who I lost to in my pro-debut. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to get revenge.
SK: Is there anyone else that sticks out as someone you want to fight?
Hikaru: I also want to fight Tomimatsu-san again.
SK: Besides yourself, who else do you see doing well in the tournament?
Hikaru: Park is strong.
SK: Are you wanting to fight her again as well?
Hikaru: If I can, I’d like to get my revenge against her in the finals.
SK: So the first round of the tournament will be in March, who do you think will win?
Hikaru: I think Park and Sakura will win their matches, I don’t know about the other fight.
SK: What do you think about fighting more than once in one night?
Hikaru: You mean in the 2nd part of the tournament in May? It will be my first time, so it sounds tough, but the fights will only be 2 rounds so maybe that will make it better than if they were 3 rounds…
SK: Now for some non-fight related questions, I heard that you’ve been making your own masks, how did you get into that?
Hikaru: Because of quarantine we really can’t go outside, so I thought I would try to make some masks.
SK: Do you have a favorite?
Hikaru: My one with Pikachu, I really like Pokemon.
SK: Really? Who is your favorite and how did you get into Pokemon?
Hikaru: Pikachu is my favorite. I play a game on my phone called Pokemon Go, that is how I got into it. I really like it now. I play with my mom and my family, we all do it. I play every day, I do raids and fight every day (laughter).
SK: Do you participate in the special events?
Hikaru: Yes, I did one yesterday but wasn’t able to get even one shiny Sneasel. Everyone else was able to get one. I’m level 40 now…I also really like Pokemon goods and stuff like that.
SK: Outside of Pokemon, your boyfriend is famous for his love of sweets, do you also like sweets?
Hikaru: He is on a different level than me, I like them, but not like he likes them. My favorite food is meat, like yakiniku or shabu shabu.
SK: Is that what you eat after a fight?
Hikaru: After every fight I always go out to eat some kind of meat. Something like wagyu. At first I couldn’t really tell the difference in meat qualities but now I can tell the difference.
SK: Thank you for your time and for answering our questions! Is there anything you would like to say?
Hikaru: Finally, my opponent in the tournament is decided. I can get revenge on the loss I suffered in my pro-debut. I have grown a lot and gotten better so I am looking forward to showing that in the tournament, and I can also become the champion, so please continue to support me.
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