Osaka Tournament Invites Breaking Down with Unconventional Crowd-Pulling Strategy for Expo

Yoshimura Governor Appears on Asakura Mikuru’s YouTube

On July 28, fighter Asakura Mikuru (32) announced his retirement after losing to Hiramoto Ren (26) at the martial arts event “Super RIZIN.3.” He faced an unpleasant conclusion regarding Hiramoto’s “doping allegations.” However, on September 4, an astonishing figure appeared on Asakura’s official YouTube channel.

In a video titled “It Seems the Breaking Down Osaka Tournament is About to Be Decided,” Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura (49) made a surprise appearance. The filming took place at a gym in Osaka where Governor Yoshimura receives personal training once a week. He reportedly watches Asakura’s videos and highlighted that his son is a fan of Asakura. They engaged in a lively discussion about training, during which Governor Yoshimura made a surprising suggestion, saying, “Isn’t it good to have Breaking Down and various activities in Osaka?”

“Breaking Down (hereafter referred to as Bredan) is a martial arts event that determines the ‘strongest in one minute,’ with Asakura serving as CEO. The event gained popularity after participants engaged in brawls during auditions, going viral on the internet, and has now become a widely popular content. However, it is also an event that has attracted attention for various reasons, including participants with criminal records and multiple arrests among competitors,” said a martial arts writer.

In the aforementioned video, Governor Yoshimura enthusiastically promoted the upcoming “Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025,” which is scheduled to be held for six months starting in April next year. He stated, “It will attract 160 countries, so let’s build a pavilion. When you go there, the world will be condensed.” He continued, “During the Expo, think about where we can hold it. Let’s do something like the Osaka Expo tournament. Is it good to say that Breaking Down in Osaka is confirmed?” Governor Yoshimura pressed forward eagerly. Asakura responded positively, saying, “Then it’s decided! Let’s go to the Expo!” indicating his enthusiasm for holding the Osaka tournament.

“The current situation is that while there are regular martial arts fans among the audience of Bredan, there are also many ‘yankara’ (semi-organized crime members). Since dignitaries from various countries will likely attend the Expo, people of all ages and genders from both overseas and across the nation will visit. If Bredan is held there, the area around the venue is sure to become chaotic with inbound tourists, VIPs, and semi-organized crime members gathering. It’s highly unlikely that the event will take place inside the Expo venue or nearby,” said the source.