From Manga to Mat: Natsumi Kakuta’s Inspiring Journey to Paris Olympics Judo Gold
Natsumi Kakuta Reveals Her Pre-Tournament Manga Inspiration
Photo by Sponichi
Natsumi Kakuta, the 32-year-old judoka from SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic, recently appeared on Nippon Television’s “Ueda and the Night the Women Howl” and shared her pre-tournament ritual. As the gold medalist in the women’s 48 kg judo event at the Paris Olympics, Kakuta revealed the manga that inspires her before each competition.
The episode, titled “A gathering of women who love manga too much,” featured Kakuta as a guest star, where she confessed her love for “Shura no Mon” by Masatoshi Kawahara. When asked about a memorable line from the manga, Kakuta shared her feelings before a tournament, saying, “I also feel scared when I go to a match, and even if my opponent is strong, no matter how many world championships I win, I’m still scared of the Olympics.”
Kakuta admitted to getting nervous before each tournament and revealed that she always reads ”Shura no Mon” beforehand. The main character, Mutsu Tsukumo, says, “There’s no one who isn’t scary. It’s important not to run away.” Kakuta finds inspiration in these words, telling herself, “Mutsu is also undefeated. But we both feel scared. So I tell myself, ‘I can’t run away.'”