# Akari (kickboxer)

Akari Watanabe (Japanese: 渡邊 星, Watanabe Akari, born December 8, 2003), more popularly known by her ring name AKARI, is a retired Japanese professional kickboxer. She was the 2021 RISE NEXT QUEEN Tournament winner and a two-time RISE Women's Mini Flyweight title challenger.
Between November 2023 and May 2024, she was ranked as one of the ten best women's strawweight kickboxers in the world.

## Kickboxing career

Akari made her professional kickboxing debut against Eriko at RISE WORLD SERIES 2019 Final Round on September 16, 2019. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 29–28 in her favor.
Akari faced Wakana Miyazaki at the inaugural RISE GIRLS POWER event on November 8, 2019. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Akari next faced Ran at RISE GIRLS POWER 2 on February 11, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Akari was expected to face Moe Okura at RISE 141 on August 23, 2020. Okura withdrew from the bout on August 7, after contracting COVID-19, and was replaced by Maki Goto. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with two ringside officials awarding her a 30–28 scorecard, while the third judge scored the contest an even 29–29.
Akari faced Yurika Jimbo at Rise 144 on December 18, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 29–28.
On February 22, 2021, it was announced that Akari would face Wakana Miyazaki in the semifinals of the RISE NEXT QUEEN Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) tournament, held on March 28, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision and advanced to the finals of the one-day tournament, where she faced Moe Okura. Akari won the fight by split decision, with scores of 30–29, 29–28 and 28–29.
Akari challenged Hinata Terayama for the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship at RISE on Abema 2 on May 16, 2021. Terayama won the fight by unanimous decision, winning 48–47 on all three judges scorecards.
Akari faced YAYA in a flyweight (-52 kg) bout at RISE Girls Power 5 on September 12, 2021. Akari was able to knock her opponent down with a left straight near the end of the opening round. This knockdown caused an ankle injury, which forced YAYA to retire from the contest 10 seconds into the second round.
Akari faced erika♡ at RISE 153 on December 12, 2021. The fight was ruled a draw by unanimous decision after the first three rounds were contested. erika was awarded a unanimous decision win after an extra fourth round was fought.
Akari faced Wakana Miyazaki in the semifinals of the RISE Mini Flyweight Championship tournament at RISE 157 on April 24, 2022. She was able to overcome Miyazaki by split decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–28 and 29–30. Akari faced erika♡ in the tournament final at RISE 159 on June 24, 2022. She lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50–48, 49–47 and 50–46.
Akari faced the #4 ranked RISE mini-flyweight contender Eriko at RISE 162 on October 30, 2022. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Akari announced her retirement from competition on September 20, 2024.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Amateur

* RISE
** 2018 KAMINARIMON All Japan Women's Flyweight (-52 kg) Tournament Winner

### Professional

* RISE
** 2021 RISE NEXT QUEEN Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) Tournament Winner
** 2022 RISE Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) Championship Tournament Runner-up

## Fight record

Professional Kickboxing Record :
| 10 Wins (1 (T)KOs), 3 Losses, 0 Draws ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2022-10-30 | Win | Eriko | RISE 162 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2022-06-24 | Loss | erika❤️ | RISE 159 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 |
| For the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship. ||||||||
| 2022-04-24 | Win | Wakana Miyazaki | RISE 157 - Tournament Semifinal | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2021-12-12 | Loss | erika❤️ | RISE 153 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2021-09-12 | Win | YAYA | RISE Girls Power 5 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Injury to ankle) | 2 | 0:04 |
| 2021-06-15 | Loss | Hinata Terayama | RISE on Abema 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 |
| For the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship. ||||||||
| 2021-03-28 | Win | Moe Okura | RISE 147, Tournament Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 |
| Wins the RISE NEXT QUEEN Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) Tournament. ||||||||
| 2021-03-28 | Win | Wakana Miyazaki | RISE 147, Tournament Semifinal | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2020-12-18 | Win | Yurika Jimbo | RISE 144 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2020-12-18 | Win | Maki Goto | RISE 141 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2020-02-11 | Win | Ran | RISE Girls Power 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2019-11-08 | Win | Wakana Miyazaki | RISE Girls Power | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| 2019-09-18 | Win | Eriko | RISE WORLD SERIES 2019 Final Round | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes ||||||||
Amateur Kickboxing Record :
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2019-06-02 | Win | Sakika Ito | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2019-06-02 | Win | Yukari Kobayashi | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | TKO | 1 | |
| 2019-04-14 | Win | Moe Shimizu | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2018-10-21 | Loss | Koko Ohara | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2018-08-05 | Win | Megumi Inoue | KAMINARIMON All Japan Tournament, Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 1:30 |
| Wins the 2018 KAMINARIMON All Japan Women's Flyweight (-52 kg) Tournament. ||||||||
| 2018-08-05 | Win | Satsuki Murakami | KAMINARIMON All Japan Tournament, Semifnal | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2018-03-11 | Win | Miyu Nakamura | Shootboxing | Tokyo, Japan | KO | 1 | |
| 2016-12-11 | Loss | Koyo Highashi | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2016-10-09 | Loss | Bunto Takasaka | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2014-12-14 | Loss | Shota Noda | KAMINARIMON | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 2 | 1:30 |
| 2014-10-19 | Loss | Renichi Hishinuma | WPMF & BOM Amateur Tournament | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 1:30 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes ||||||||