Nanae Takahashi
The current version of the title, the AWA Japan Women's Championship, was created when the AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the AWA World Women's Championship was retired following the death of former champion Sherri Martel on June 15, 2007. The AWA, wanting to still recognize the current champion, recognized then-champion Nanae Takahashi of Pro Wrestling Zero1 as the first AWA Japan Women's Champion.