ONE Championship Launches Monthly Samurai Series in Japan Starting April 29

ONE Championship announced the launch of ONE Samurai, a new monthly event series dedicated to showcasing world-class Japanese martial arts talent at a press conference at Kanda Myojin Hall in Tokyo on February 18. The inaugural ONE Samurai event takes place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on April 29.

The series will feature multiple World Title fights with a strong focus on Japanese competitors across MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling. International martial arts superstars will also appear alongside homegrown talent throughout the series.

U-NEXT, Japan’s leading streaming platform, will broadcast all ONE Samurai events exclusively in the country. The promotion plans to produce 60 events over five years, with global broadcast details to be announced at a later date.

ONE Samurai Builds on Successful Japanese Event History

ONE Championship has established significant presence in Japan through multiple blockbuster events in recent years. The promotion broadcast ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang in March 2025 and ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri in November 2025, with both cards featuring multiple World Title fights that captivated Japanese audiences and fans worldwide.

In January 2024, the promotion organized ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru, headlined by two massive World Title fights. The 2019 events ONE: CENTURY and ONE: A NEW ERA both delivered numerous World Championship bouts that showcased the organization’s ability to produce premium content for Japanese fans.

The ONE Samurai event series represents a significant escalation of the organization’s Japanese presence. Monthly events provide consistent content for domestic audiences while creating regular opportunities for Japanese fighters to compete on home soil.

ONE 175 to ONE SAMURAI 🇯🇵⚔️ The inaugural event streams live exclusively this April 29 as part of 60 events in Japan over the next 5 years! 🔥 Stay tuned for global broadcast details coming soon.
 #ONESAMURAI1 | Apr 29
🇯🇵 Live on U-NEXT
🌎 Global broadcast details coming soon pic.twitter.com/1aJwpYWfDN

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 18, 2026

New Leadership Appointed to Oversee Japanese Operations

The ONE Samurai press conference featured the introduction of Shuntaro Tanaka as the organization’s new CEO for Japan and Group Chief Commercial Officer. Tanaka will direct all business operations in Japan while managing corporate strategy, partnerships, market development, and commercial expansion across the entire organization.

ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong attended the press conference alongside Japanese superstars who represent the caliber of talent competing in the new series. Those superstars include ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu, ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka, former three-division K-1 Champion Takeru Segawa, and former K-1 Champion Yuki Yoza.

The leadership appointment signals ONE Championship’s commitment to expanding Its presence in Japan’s lucrative combat sports market. Tanaka’s dual role overseeing both regional operations and group-wide commercial strategy showcases the importance of the Japanese market.

U-NEXT Partnership Ensures Wide Japanese Distribution

The exclusive domestic broadcast partnership with U-NEXT provides ONE Championship access to Japan’s premier streaming platform. The arrangement ensures maximum visibility for ONE Samurai events among Japanese fans while establishing a stable distribution channel for the five-year commitment.

The 60-event plan over five years averages 12 annual events, confirming the monthly cadence promised at the press conference. This consistent schedule allows Japanese fighters to build momentum and fan bases through regular competition while viewers enjoy access to world-class martial arts action. Global broadcast details will be announced later.

The ONE Samurai series launch represents ONE Championship’s most ambitious Japanese market expansion. The combination of monthly events, World Title fights, homegrown talent focus, and exclusive streaming partnership creates a comprehensive strategy for dominating Japan’s combat sports landscape.