Vertical Bison | MP
By Noah Leatherland
Yuki Arai currently finds herself at the top of Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling. Her journey there began all the way back in 2018. As a member of the idol group SKE48, Arai had a brief run with the Iron Man Heavy Metal Championship, entering the ring for the first time in a battle royal for DDT. That seemed to plant the wrestling bug in her. In 2021, she joined TJPW as a fully fledged wrestler, juggling her time in the ring with her time as an idol performer. Arai found success in TJPW while straddling the two worlds. She was recognised as the Tokyo Sports Rookie of the Year in 2021, won the Princess Tag Team Championship the following year with Saki Akai, and then claimed the International Princess Championship in 2023.
In 2025, Arai took a bold step forward. She graduated from SKE48 and devoted herself fully to pro wrestling and TJPW. Already carving herself a path to the top, the past year has seen Arai climb and ascend to the top of her home promotion. Back in March, Arai faced Miu Watanabe at TJPW Grand Princess, the biggest event in the promotion’s history. Against the woman that Arai teamed with in her very first TJPW match, Arai claimed the Princess of Princess Championship.
Photo Credit: Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
Arai’s title win was not only a huge moment on an individual level, but also for one as the promotion as a whole. At TJPW Grand Princess, the company introduced all new designs for each of their championship belts, signifying a new era off the back of their monumental Ryogoku Kokugikan event. Heading into Grand Princess, TJPW was already coming off a hugely successful American tour. With Arai at the helm, their 2026 has gone from strength to strength. TJPW had another successful WrestleMania weekend, made their debut in Canada and Arai’s defences against Arisu Endo and Yuki Kamifuku each drew over 1,000 fans to Korakuen Hall.
Now, Arai faces her biggest challenge yet as champion, Miyu Yamashita. Before the two stars battle for the Princess of Princess Title at TJPW Summer Sun Princess, Monthly Puroresu had the opportunity to catch up with the ‘Genius Girl’ Yuki Arai.
Monthly Puroresu:
TJPW held shows in the Austin, Dallas, Houston, Vancouver and Las Vegas this year. Lots of overseas fans had a chance to see TJPW live for the first time. Were you surprised by the amount of support TJPW got over there?
Yuki Arai:
I was very surprised! Especially since it was our first time holding an event in Canada, I was a little worried about how much support we would get from the local fans. As soon as the match started, I could hear the loud cheers from the fans, and I was truly happy!
Photo Credit: Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
Do you have any memorable experiences from these trips that happened outside the ring?
Yuki Arai:
In Canada, it was so much fun going to a 24-hour diner early in the morning to eat pancakes! Also, during our days off between the Canada show and the Las Vegas show, we went to Disney in America and took a walk in a big park. I really enjoyed my time off!
Monthly Puroresu:
You were in the main event as the Princess of Princess Champion for the Las Vegas show, defending against J-Rod. How did it feel to be in such an important position as champion?
Yuki Arai:
This trip happened right after I became champion, and it was my very first title defense. Since I was still feeling a lot of anxiety even in Japan, to be honest, I was very nervous about having a title match in America at that time.
However, once I stood in the ring and the match began, so many people cheered for me, calling out “Arai!” It had been a year since I first participated in an American tour, it made me so happy to think that maybe people even far away from Japan, in America, had been watching my journey over the past year.
It made me truly realize that even if our countries and cultures are different, we can connect through professional wrestling.
Photo Credit: Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
Your next challenger is Miyu Yamashita. Yamashita has held the Princess of Princess Championship four times. She was also the first ever champion. Does it feel like you have something to prove in this match?
Yuki Arai:
Yamashita-san is a senior wrestler who has been practicing with me ever since I started training. I think she is a very special presence who has always been running at the front and leading Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling for me and for everyone else.
This will be a title match against her. Since I was defeated by her in a matter of seconds in our match at the end of last year, I want to overcome that trauma here, and I want to overwrite everyone’s memory of the “Arai vs. Yamashita” match that has been paused since then. By beating Yamashita-san, I am sure I can shine even more, both as a champion and as an individual professional wrestler!
Image Credit: Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
Every champion hopes to reign for as long as possible. What else would you like to accomplish as the Princess of Princess champion?
Yuki Arai:
I want more and more people to know about Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling! Not only in Japan, but also people all over the world! I feel that holding the championship belt makes it easier for people to notice me than before. At this time, I want to fight with all my might so that many people will want to come and see our shows at the venues!
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling for facilitating this interview with Yuki Arai.
Yuki Arai defends the Princess of Princess Championship against Miyu Yamashita at TJPW Summer Sun Princess on July 18th at Korakuen Hall.
Date:
June 30, 2026
