‘Lead The Next Era’ – Ryujin Nasukawa Aims To Carve Out A Kickboxing Legacy In ONE Championship
Ryujin “Shindo” Nasukawa was never interested in simply inheriting a legacy. He wants to build one entirely his own on the global stage of ONE Championship.
The 20-year-old will make his highly anticipated promotional debut against Thongpoon PK Saenchai in a strawweight kickboxing showdown at The Inner Circle 23 on Friday, July 24. The card will stream live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium, and it will be available exclusively via live.onefc.com.
That ambition comes with a towering shadow. Ryujin’s older brother, Tenshin, cemented his place in the sport as one of Japan’s greatest strikers and retired from kickboxing competition with a flawless 42-0 resume.
That legacy only grew heavier this past April, when the young Team TEPPEN star watched another Japanese icon, Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa, call it a day at ONE SAMURAI 1.
The former three-division K-1 Champion – set to be inducted into the ONE Hall of Fame at ONE SAMURAI 4 in October – wrapped up his career by defeating Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon via fifth-round TKO to claim the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Title at home inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Ryujin reflected:
“I was glad to see Takeru finally get rewarded for everything he has done. Tenshin and Takeru were the two leading figures who carried an era of kickboxing.
“I was genuinely happy to see Takeru receive that moment.”
Watching that chapter close has only sharpened Ryujin’s belief that it is now his turn to pick up the torch.
Rather than simply carrying forward what his brother and Takeru built, the Chiba native is determined to carve an entirely new path, one defined by his own identity rather than someone else’s legacy.
Ryujin told onefc.com:
“The era of kickboxing built by Tenshin and Takeru has come to an end, and I believe I am the one who will lead the next era.
“I feel that it is my responsibility, so rather than saying I think I can do it, I will do it. Unlike Tenshin, I think my style is more about taking the initiative and moving forward.”
Ryujin’s Mission Begins Against Thongpoon
That mission does not wait. It begins the moment Ryujin Nasukawa fights inside the world-famous Lumpinee Stadium for the very first time at The Inner Circle 23.
The young gun is a two-division RISE Champion who brings an 18-3 record into his strawweight kickboxing clash, and he is eager to bounce back from a defeat this past June that brought an end to his 14-bout winning streak.
Rather than dwell on the setback, Ryujin sees his promotional bow as the ideal platform to launch another lengthy run, and he has no interest in leaving that decision in the judges’ hands.
The Chiba-based striker shared:
“I would want to go for the knockout to show why I am at the center of kickboxing. That is the kind of performance I want to deliver in my debut.”
The Japanese sensation will not be walking this path alone, either. Several of his Team TEPPEN stablemates have already tasted success in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
For instance, 21-year-old Ranma already enjoys a 3-0 run in ONE Championship. Meanwhile, Yuto Hirayama, 24, picked up a knockout victory in his debut at The Inner Circle 16 this past May, and 26-year-old Kazuteru Yamazaki has compiled a 3-1 promotional slate.
Ryujin intends to make his own mark on that list when his new chapter begins inside Lumpinee Stadium on July 24. He concluded:
“We have a large number of professional fighters, and because ONE Friday Fights and The Inner Circle are held every Friday, it has greatly increased the number of opportunities available.
“It is a great platform for fighters to gain valuable experience and compete.”
