‘The Culmination Of Everything’ – Takeru Segawa On Retirement, Revenge, And Japan’s New Martial Arts Era At ONE SAMURAI 1

This is exactly how Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa intends to bow out: competing for a World Title, settling the score against an eternal rival, and carrying the weight of a nation’s martial arts legacy on his shoulders.

The Japanese megastar faces Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon in a high-stakes rematch for the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship. The bout headlines ONE SAMURAI 1 inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29.

For the former three-division K-1 Champion, the opportunity to represent his country while ushering in a new era of martial arts in “The Land of the Rising Sun” holds massive significance.

It marks the launch of ONE Championship’s new monthly series in Japan — a platform the 34-year-old believes possesses the potential to reshape the combat sports landscape. As the man headlining its inaugural edition, he understands exactly what his performance dictates for the events that follow.

He told onefc.com:

“Right now, I can see that there are many [fighters] saying they want to participate in ONE SAMURAI. So, I hope the event will become that kind of event. That is what I hope for – to become the best event.

“So, just like when K-1 became popular back in the day, I hope ONE SAMURAI becomes the place where fighters from other organizations want to compete to decide who is the strongest.”

The weight of that vision rests comfortably on Takeru’s shoulders. He has carried Japan’s flag his entire career, first through karate — the discipline that introduced him to combat sports — and then through kickboxing, where he rewrote the record books across three weight classes.

For an athlete whose roots trace back to the traditions of Japanese martial arts, winning on this stage means far more than capturing a belt or enjoying a retirement sendoff.

He continued:

“I originally came from karate myself, a different martial art. So, winning this important fight will be special. I want to show Japan’s bushido spirit to the world and win.

“Japan is a nation of martial arts, and the likes of karate, judo, and plenty of other martial arts started here.”

The upcoming rematch serves as the final chapter of a story built over nearly two decades.

It is certainly no exhibition or casual farewell lap. The Team Vasileus representative, who directly inspired stablemate Yuki Yoza to turn professional, faces a genuine threat for the sport’s ultimate prize on the biggest stage Japanese martial arts has hosted in years.

Takeru would not have it any other way.

He stated:

“I believe this fight will be the one to leave the proof of what I have done as a fighter. I consider this retirement fight the culmination of everything I have done as a fighter, and not just a regular fight of my career.

“Victory would definitely be special because this is the fight to win the ONE Championship belt and defeat the opponent I have always wanted to fight the most before I retire.”

One Last Lesson, One Final Mission

Takeru’s investment in ONE SAMURAI does not end when the final bell rings on April 29.

What happens to the monthly spectacle after he leaves, the athletes who inherit the stage, and the future of combat sports in his country all matter to him in a way few retiring stars ever pause to consider.

The 34-year-old explained to the world’s largest martial arts organization:

“After my retirement, I hope the martial arts sports industry will remain popular and lively. It will make me sad if it declines after I’m gone. So, I want to do what I can to keep combat sports in Japan popular and thriving.

“I would like fighters who truly care about the martial arts industry to lead it. So, it should not be someone who only thinks about themselves, even though in martial arts, it’s unavoidable that people become focused only on themselves.”

The hope for Japanese combat sports, however, begins with the man headlining its biggest night.

Before Takeru can pass the torch, he has one final piece of unfinished business against the man who stopped him in just 80 seconds at ONE 172 in Saitama last year. “Natural Born Krusher” has spent every training session since deciphering what went wrong and implementing the necessary adjustments.

He concluded:

“What I learned from the first fight, perhaps, is that conditioning is absolutely important. Previously, what mattered was how much I forced myself to push to the limit in preparation for a fight, because this was how I kept winning — this was my only way.

“But with age, there have been [different ways] I approach my practice. These days, I’m paying most attention to that so I can ensure that I enter the ring in the best condition.”

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