Sukeban
Takes
Miami

Introducing the Japanese female wrestling league that’s rewriting fashion rules.

Text: Steff Yotka
Photography: Ysanya Perez

That thud you’re hearing from the ring isn’t because two guys are smashing into each other. It’s the aggressive pound made by the female wrestlers of the Sukeban league. The 18-woman crew from Japan has just arrived in Miami for its second-ever stateside event, held at Art Basel Miami Beach to a crowd of over 1,000 obsessed fans.

It’s easy to see the draw: Not only are the women tough and entertaining, extending their gestures for maximum entertainment, but they also come with serious art- and fashion-world cred. Their costumes—including sailor-like schoolgirl uniforms and harlequin bloomer sets—were designed by Olympia Le-Tan, the designer whose eponymous brand and Hotel Olympia collection have defined cerebral cuteness for decades. Their meticulous makeup was done by innovative British makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, and their nails—yes, nails!—were crafted by popular nail artist Mei Kawajiri. The victor of the match won a championship belt designed by no less than Marc Newson.

From left: Maya Mamushi, Bingo, and Ichigo Sayaka

“I love unusual projects that allow me to create new ways of approaching character design,” Ffrench tells SSENSE. For Ichigo Sayaka, of the Harajuku Stars, Ffrench crafted silver and hot-pink swirls down the cheeks to complement her Barbie-pink braids. Sareee, of the Cherry Bomb Girls, got streaks of blush and pink eyebrows in contrast to her cropped polo and latex miniskirt. “The Sukeban project is so fun and creative, and having the look brought to life in the ring adds another element of expression to what we create,” says Ffrench.

The league came together earlier in 2023, headed up by famed Japanese wrestler Bull Nakano. Many of the wrestlers, like Atomic Banshee and Riko Blondie, already had famed careers on the mat, making Sukeban kind of like the Justice League for lethal Japanese femmes. (Its name even nods to its cabal-like status; sukeban means “girl gang” in Japanese.)

“Traditionally, Japanese women’s professional wrestling places a heavy emphasis on fighting. While this is an important aspect of the business, Sukeban does not limit itself to it,” says Maya Mamushi, who is a member of the Harajuku Stars. “Instead, it aims to bring a more diverse meaning to wrestling as a form of entertainment—from hair and make-up backstage all the way to walk-out music performed by live DJs, Sukeban brings different branches of entertainment together, creating a workplace for all.”

After a couple of hours of sparring on the mat in Miami, Arisa Nakajima—that’s Commander Nakajima in the ring—was crowned the victor. She took home the Newson-designed belt as the crowd cheered on for more. Fans will have to wait until next year to see which wrestler takes home the next belt—until then, scroll through SSENSE’s exclusive images of the match in Miami and take heed of Atomic Banshee’s wisdom: “You cannot compare Sukeban to other wrestling leagues because Sukeban is not wrestling. Then what is it? The beauty of it all is that you get to decide.”