The Day Martial Arts Beat the Red & White Author’s Surprising Pitch to Akebono

Was it good for Akebono?

—Various circumstances intertwined, and the miraculous “Akebono vs. Sapp” match became a reality. However, there remains the question, “Was it really good for Akebono?”

Hosoda: The match ended in 2 rounds and 47 seconds with a decisive victory for Sapp. But I think it was good for Akebono. Although he didn’t achieve results in K-1, he thrived in pro wrestling afterward, like a fish in water. Being in the spotlight on New Year’s Eve in 2003, with the whole of Japan watching, brought Akebono back to life.

—It attracted so much attention that it even surpassed the viewership of the Red and White Singing Contest.

Hosoda: I was recently on the radio show hosted by Shunpūtei Ichinosuke, and announcer Mai Kawaminami said, “I was a university student at the time, but I also watched that (Akebono vs. Sapp) match.” I was surprised. Even a young woman, who had no interest in martial arts or pro wrestling, remembered thinking, “I wonder what happened with Akebono’s match,” and switched the channel from the Red and White. It became a true social phenomenon.

—That’s certainly true.

Hosoda: Of course, Akebono’s latent potential and Sapp’s fame played a role, but if it hadn’t been on terrestrial TV, it wouldn’t have become such a widespread social event. Nowadays, martial arts broadcasting is centered on subscription services, which can be frustrating. Naoya Inoue’s boxing matches are emblematic of this. Despite his incredible achievements, his matches haven’t become national events. As for “Akebono vs. Sapp,” it became a huge incident that overtook the Red and White because it was in the golden age of television.

—It’s clear not only from the movement in the martial arts world but also from the brilliance of the TV industry at the time. Thank you very much.

Hosoda: Thank you very much.

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Masashi Hosoda

Non-fiction writer. Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1971, raised in Tottori City. After working as a caster for the CS channel Samurai TV and as a scriptwriter, he became a non-fiction writer. His books include Sakamoto Ryoma Didn’t Exist (Saizusha) and Why Do Musicians Abandon Their Wives? (East Press). His 2020 work, The Man Who Made Tadashi Sawamura Throw a Vacuum / Biography of Showa-Era Promoter Osamu Noguchi (Shinchosha), won the 43rd Kodansha Yasuharu Honda Non-Fiction Award. Rikidozan’s Widow (Shogakukan) won the 30th Shogakukan Non-Fiction Award. In December 2024, he published The Day Martial Arts Defeated the Red and White Singing Contest (Kodansha).