Saori Yoshida’s Beauty & Wellness | Skincare, Diet, Fitness & Sleep

Three consecutive Olympic gold medals, 16 consecutive world-level titles, and an extraordinary 206-match individual winning streak. Known in Japan as the "Strongest Woman in the Primate World," Saori Yoshida is one of the most celebrated athletes in the history of women's wrestling.

Born on October 5, 1982, in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan, Yoshida began wrestling at the age of three under the guidance of her father, Eikatsu Yoshida. She won her first World Championships title in 2002, followed by Olympic gold medals in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, and London in 2012. She earned a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Her remarkable career included 13 consecutive World Championships titles and three consecutive Olympic gold medals, giving her a combined 16 consecutive world-level titles. She received Japan's People's Honour Award in 2012 and announced her retirement from competitive wrestling in January 2019.

Since retiring, Yoshida has expanded her career through television appearances, speaking engagements, and sporting events. In October 2026, she celebrated her 44th birthday and is scheduled to make her major-label solo singing debut on October 28 with the single I'm Here.

During her wrestling career, Yoshida was famous for her explosive takedowns, remarkable speed, and extraordinary strength. Today, another side of her personality has attracted attention: her growing love of skincare, makeup, fashion, and nail care.

Her health habits are equally fascinating. Yoshida has spoken about struggling to gain weight because she naturally had a small appetite, continuing to monitor her weight after retirement, being able to fall asleep almost anywhere since childhood, and enjoying long, relaxing baths.

Behind her achievements are also deeply personal stories: her father's demanding coaching, the words her mother shared after her 119-match winning streak ended, treasured friendships, and new challenges involving golf and music.

Drawing on interviews with Yoshida and published sources, this article explores her beauty routine, skincare products, makeup, diet, fitness, sleep, bathing habits, family relationships, views on marriage, friendships, and personal interests. Together, these experiences reveal the woman behind one of Japan's most remarkable sporting careers.

1. Saori Yoshida's Beauty Philosophy: Discovering a New Side of Herself After Wrestling

From a Life in Tracksuits to Enjoying Fashion and Beauty

One of the biggest turning points in Saori Yoshida's relationship with beauty came when she retired from wrestling in 2019.

Having devoted most of her life to the sport, Yoshida had spent years organizing her days around training, competitions, international travel, and weight management. Her physical conditioning and wrestling technique were central to her daily routine, with nearly everything focused on preparing for victory.

In a 2023 interview with the Japanese women's magazine STORY, she recalled spending practically all day in tracksuits during her competitive career. Opportunities to wear ordinary clothes were limited, and she even revealed that she had not used facial lotion regularly at the time.

Her priorities began to change as her professional life expanded after retirement.

In a 2022 interview with InRed, Yoshida explained that television appearances and magazine shoots had introduced her to more hairstylists, makeup artists, and fashion professionals. Their suggestions opened up an unfamiliar but exciting world.

Trying a colour she might never have chosen for herself, wearing a different style of dress, or seeing how professional makeup could transform her appearance became genuinely enjoyable experiences.

In her STORY interview, she also shared how much she had come to enjoy wearing dresses after leaving competitive sport. The freedom to choose outfits and experiment with different looks became one of the pleasures of her new lifestyle.

As she entered her forties, Yoshida also spoke positively about following her interests rather than allowing her age to determine what she should try.

For someone who had spent decades pursuing excellence in one demanding sport, fashion and beauty offered a different kind of discovery. Instead of perfecting a single technique, she could explore a wide range of styles, colours, and experiences simply because they appealed to her.

A Beauty Transformation with Japanese Beauty Expert Megumi Kanzaki

In 2023, Yoshida appeared in the Japanese beauty magazine VOCE alongside well-known beauty expert Megumi Kanzaki.

For the feature, Kanzaki helped create a new look for Yoshida through makeup, hairstyling, and fashion. The result featured a more understated, sophisticated makeup style and elegant clothing that showed a different side of the former wrestling champion.

Yoshida expressed surprise at how much her appearance could change through relatively small adjustments. Having described herself as someone who tends to be impatient, she particularly appreciated how quickly makeup and styling could create a fresh impression.

There was also a charming moment when she was complimented on her beauty.

Throughout her wrestling career, Yoshida had frequently been praised for her strength and achievements. Being told she looked beautiful or cute, however, could still make her feel rather shy.

Her reaction offered a glimpse of the warm and approachable personality behind her formidable reputation on the wrestling mat.

In a September 2026 interview, Yoshida was again asked about comments that she seemed to look increasingly beautiful. She mentioned her habit of taking half-body baths and reflected on how her overall atmosphere may have changed since leaving the intense world of competition.

For Yoshida, beauty seems closely connected to enjoying everyday life: choosing clothes she loves, exploring new makeup techniques, and being open to a different hairstyle or a fresh experience.

2. Saori Yoshida's Skincare Routine: Face Masks, Moisturiser, and Facial Oil

Her Skincare Products Revealed in VOGUE JAPAN

One of the most useful sources for understanding the skincare products Saori Yoshida actually used is her appearance in VOGUE JAPAN's Beauty Secrets series in 2022.

In the video, Yoshida demonstrated her routine from skincare through to makeup, naming several products and explaining how she incorporated them into her daily beauty habits.

She began with a morning sheet mask from Saborino, the Mezamashi Sheet SA 20. After placing the mask on her face, she left it on for approximately one minute before removing it.

She also demonstrated folding the used sheet and gently pressing it against different areas of her face.

Next came Celvoke's Rich Lotion and Rich Milk, followed by the Calming Oil from F ORGANICS.

Yoshida explained that she paid particular attention to areas where she noticed dryness, including the skin beneath her eyes and around her mouth.

Rather than presenting skincare as a complicated series of rules, she showed how she approached it as a comfortable part of everyday life.

Her routine combined a sheet mask, facial lotion, milky moisturiser, and oil, with attention to the areas she personally wanted to care for.

It is an interesting contrast with the years she spent focused almost entirely on wrestling. Having become more familiar with skincare after retirement, Yoshida was clearly enjoying the process of discovering products and developing her own preferences.

The products mentioned here were shown in Yoshida's 2022 appearance and are presented as a record of what she used at that time.

Facial Massage and Her Makeup Base

After applying her skincare products, Yoshida also demonstrated facial massage.

She gently moved her fingers around the areas beneath her eyes, along her jawline, and down her neck, making massage part of the same routine.

She described experiencing a pleasant sensation of warmth in her face during the process.

What stands out is the relaxed way she incorporated the massage into her daily care. It was another opportunity to pay attention to how her skin felt.

Once her skincare was complete, Yoshida moved on to her makeup base. In the video, she used IPSA's Control Base e Pink and CLIO's Kill Cover Founwear Cushion XP.

She also applied CEZANNE's Pearl Glow Highlight to add a luminous finish to her makeup.

Seeing her demonstrate the sequence—from face mask and moisturiser to primer, cushion foundation, and highlighter—offers an unusually detailed glimpse of her personal beauty routine.

These are products she was documented using during the 2022 interview. Their inclusion describes her choices at that time rather than promising particular changes to the skin.

3. Saori Yoshida's Makeup, Haircare, and Nails: Finding Joy in Beauty Appointments

Monthly Hair Appointments and Regular Nail and Eyelash Treatments

Yoshida provided an especially detailed picture of her beauty appointments in a 2022 interview with InRed.

At the time, she visited a hair salon approximately once a month for cutting and colouring.

She also changed her nail designs about once every three weeks, enjoying the process of choosing colours and styles to suit the season or her mood.

Eyelash extensions were another part of her routine, with appointments at approximately three-week intervals.

These visits became something she looked forward to after retiring from wrestling.

Rather than simply maintaining her appearance, Yoshida enjoyed receiving suggestions from beauty professionals and discovering styles that she might never have considered herself.

In 2022, she also attracted attention after colouring her hair a pink-lavender shade. The brighter colour created a fresh look and reflected her willingness to experiment with her appearance.

The appointment frequencies described above come from her 2022 interview, but they offer a vivid example of how beauty became one of her personal interests after years of competition.

Glittery Eye Makeup and Her Approach to Lip Care

One of Yoshida's most distinctive makeup preferences is her fondness for glitter and shimmering colours.

In her VOGUE JAPAN appearance, she combined gold, pink, and brown eyeshadows to create a lively eye makeup look.

She applied a gold-toned shade to her eyelids, layered pink glitter over it, and used brown to create subtle definition.

For the area beneath her eyes, she used Celvoke's Infinitely Glimmer Liquid, adding another touch of sparkle.

The products featured also included CLIO Pro Single Shadow and shimmering eyeshadows from Yves Saint Laurent's Sequin Crush and Lame Crush ranges.

Yoshida shared that she enjoyed trying techniques she had learned from professional makeup artists, including recreating looks herself.

Her approach to lip makeup was similarly personal.

She said her lips tended to feel dry and showed how she used MELIXIR's Vegan Lip Butter, followed by CHANEL's Rouge Coco Gloss.

Layering the products allowed her to enjoy a natural-looking colour with a little extra shine.

During her 2023 VOCE appearance, she also explored a different way of styling her fringe. She explained that she usually preferred to wear her fringe down because she was conscious of having a relatively narrow forehead, but she was happy to try an alternative look with professional guidance.

For Yoshida, makeup and hairstyling are opportunities to experiment. Whether she is exploring a different eyeshadow, lip gloss, or hairstyle, the process itself has become part of the fun.

4. Saori Yoshida's Diet: A Small Appetite, Weight Management, and Favourite Foods

Why Gaining Weight Was a Challenge During Her Wrestling Career

One of the more surprising aspects of Yoshida's health story is the difficulty she experienced with eating enough food during her competitive career.

In an August 2024 radio appearance, she explained that gaining weight had often been more challenging for her than losing it.

Yoshida naturally had a small appetite and found it difficult to eat large amounts in one sitting. As competitions approached, nerves could make eating enough even more challenging.

At one stage, she divided what would normally have been three meals into five smaller eating occasions throughout the day.

Wrestling is a weight-category sport, but individual athletes face different demands depending on their bodies and competition requirements. For Yoshida, the priority was finding a way to consume the amount of food she needed.

Her memories of summer training camps reveal just how difficult that could be.

At a training facility in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, athletes faced demanding sessions followed by generous meals with large portions of rice and side dishes.

Yoshida recalled that other wrestlers sometimes finished eating and left the dining hall while she was still working through her meal.

Senior athletes would stay beside her and encourage her to keep eating.

It is a very human detail from the career of an athlete whose achievements often seemed almost superhuman. Behind the medals were daily challenges involving not only training and technique, but also the ordinary act of sitting down to eat.

Yakiniku, Natto, and the Flavours of Her Home Prefecture

In a 2021 interview, Yoshida listed yakiniku, or Japanese grilled meat, teppanyaki dishes, and mochi rice cakes among her favourite foods.

She also admitted enjoying familiar snacks such as potato chips and chocolate.

Her dislikes included aubergine and green peppers, and she described herself as less enthusiastic about particularly sour or spicy flavours.

These everyday food preferences make her feel surprisingly relatable despite her extraordinary athletic achievements.

At a 2017 event involving natto, Japan's traditional fermented soybeans, Yoshida also spoke about how her tastes had changed with age.

She had disliked natto as a child but came to enjoy it as an adult. One of her preferences was to eat it separately rather than placing it directly on top of rice. She also mentioned occasionally adding mayonnaise.

In 2025, Yoshida participated in an event celebrating food from her home prefecture of Mie, where she enjoyed regional ingredients including Ise lobster, Iga beef, and Kumano chicken.

She was especially enthusiastic about trying roasted Iga beef together with nori seaweed, expressing surprise at how well the flavours worked together.

She also spoke about enjoying meat dishes during her wrestling career, connecting her sporting memories with the cuisine of her hometown.

Her appreciation for Mie's food was accompanied by childhood memories of travelling around the prefecture with her father and spending time with family and wrestling friends.

Why She Continued Weighing Herself After Retirement

Another revealing detail emerged in 2025 when Yoshida spoke about her daily approach to weight management.

She explained that she continued to step on the scales every day, even after retiring from competitive wrestling.

Although she no longer needed to prepare for competition weigh-ins, she maintained a personal idea of the weight range she preferred.

She also mentioned making small adjustments to her eating habits when she felt she had eaten more than usual the previous day.

During her sporting career, weight management had been closely connected to preparing for matches. After retirement, it became part of her everyday awareness of her body.

Her experience illustrates how habits developed over many years of elite sport can remain part of an athlete's life, even when the purpose behind those habits has changed.

5. Saori Yoshida's Fitness and Training: From Intense Wrestling Camps to Golf

Learning Wrestling from Her Father at the Age of Three

Saori Yoshida's physical development and sporting philosophy were shaped profoundly by her father, Eikatsu Yoshida.

A former wrestler and coach, he established a wrestling training space at the family home and taught Yoshida and her two older brothers.

She began wrestling at the age of three. Although it initially felt like a game, a defeat at the age of five changed her attitude towards the sport.

After losing to a boy in a competition, she saw him wearing a gold medal and decided that she wanted one too.

Her father explained that medals were earned through training and winning matches rather than simply purchased from a shop.

That lesson became the beginning of her determination to pursue gold.

As Yoshida grew older, wrestling became an increasingly demanding part of daily life. She trained after school and travelled to competitions and practice sessions on weekends.

Her father's coaching placed great importance on being proactive.

Even after winning, Yoshida could be criticised if she had wrestled too defensively. Conversely, a defeat could still be acknowledged positively if she had attacked with determination.

That philosophy helped shape the aggressive wrestling style and remarkably fast takedowns that would become her trademark.

As a teenager, Yoshida was also inspired by the Olympic achievements of Japanese judoka Ryoko Tamura, later known as Ryoko Tani.

Watching another Japanese woman succeed at the highest international level made Yoshida's own Olympic ambitions feel increasingly real.

The Demanding Summer Camps Behind Her Success

Yoshida's achievements were built on years of demanding training.

In an interview looking back on her competitive career, she described summer camps in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, where the athletes spent their days running, wrestling, eating, resting, and returning to training.

Morning sessions involved running along hilly routes, followed by more wrestling practice later in the day.

The facility was surrounded by nature, and Yoshida remembered the heat, insects, and sounds of frogs at night as vividly as the training itself.

She joked that the camp was so demanding she wanted to go home almost as soon as she arrived.

Nevertheless, those experiences formed part of the preparation that allowed her to compete at the highest level over many years.

They also reveal that her success was shaped by persistence through difficult, repetitive routines rather than by medals alone.

Staying Active Through Wrestling and Golf

Although Yoshida retired from competition in 2019, wrestling remains an important part of her life.

In 2026, she shared footage of training sessions with fellow Olympic champion Eri Tosaka and other athletes.

The activities included partner exercises, mat work, takedown drills, sparring, and rope climbing.

These sessions showed Yoshida enjoying movement and maintaining friendships with people who share her sporting background.

Golf, however, has become one of her favourite recreational sports.

In September 2026, she announced that she had achieved a personal-best score of 80.

Her next goal was to break into the 70s.

After spending so much of her life chasing gold medals, Yoshida was now setting new personal targets on the golf course, enjoying both the challenge and the time spent with friends.

Her relationship with exercise has evolved from the intense demands of elite competition to a lifestyle that includes sport for enjoyment, friendship, and personal achievement.

6. Saori Yoshida's Sleep, Bathing Habits, and Health in Her Forties

Her Remarkable Ability to Fall Asleep Almost Anywhere

One of Yoshida's most distinctive personal habits involves sleep.

In a question-and-answer feature published by the Japanese Olympic Committee, she was asked about sleep routines and items she used to rest comfortably.

Yoshida responded that she could sleep practically anywhere and therefore had few special requirements.

At a 2026 event alongside Japanese entertainer and former athlete So Takei, she shared another memory that illustrated this lifelong characteristic.

As a child, she frequently travelled to wrestling competitions in a car driven by her father. She recalled falling asleep very quickly once the journey began.

Travelling between competitions and training venues was part of her childhood, and sleeping during those journeys became entirely natural.

At the same event, Takei discussed paying close attention to details such as bedroom temperature and humidity.

Yoshida reacted with amusement, explaining that she had rarely monitored those measurements in such detail herself.

The conversation highlighted two different personal approaches to rest. Yoshida's own experience was defined by her ability to settle down and sleep comfortably in different environments.

Her Longstanding Interest in Half-Body Baths

Bathing is another routine Yoshida has discussed repeatedly over the years.

At an event in 2019, she mentioned relaxing in a warm bath as one of her preferred ways to unwind.

In her 2022 VOGUE JAPAN appearance, she described taking half-body baths regularly, including winter baths at approximately 42–43°C for around 30 minutes.

In September 2026, she again mentioned half-body bathing when asked about her beauty habits.

Her comments across several years suggest that bathing has remained an enjoyable part of her lifestyle.

The water temperature and duration described in the 2022 interview reflect Yoshida's personal practice at that time. Hot baths, particularly for extended periods, may place additional strain on the body, so these details should be understood as a record of her experience rather than a recommended routine for everyone.

Taking an Interest in Health Screening After Forty

In 2025, Yoshida also participated in an initiative encouraging people to attend specific health check-ups in Japan.

Drawing on her experience as an elite athlete, she spoke about the importance of understanding one's physical condition.

During her competitive career, conditioning had been closely connected to the goal of performing well in matches.

In her forties, everyday health awareness became part of a broader lifestyle that included monitoring her weight, enjoying activities such as golf, and encouraging people to take an interest in health screening.

It is another example of how Yoshida's relationship with her body has evolved since retiring from professional sport.

7. Saori Yoshida's Family and Views on Marriage: The Support Behind Her Success

Growing Up with Her Parents and Two Older Brothers

Family has always played an important part in Yoshida's life and sporting achievements.

Her father, Eikatsu, was a wrestler and coach, while her mother, Sachiyo, also had a sporting background. Both of Yoshida's older brothers trained in wrestling.

As the youngest of three children, Yoshida grew up surrounded by the sport at home.

Her father's coaching was demanding, and she later recalled sometimes wishing she could spend more time playing with friends rather than attending training sessions.

Her mother offered a different kind of support.

In a 2021 interview, Yoshida remembered occasions when she cried because training felt so difficult. Her mother would bring her close and comfort her on her lap.

The combination of strict coaching and gentle encouragement became a defining part of her upbringing.

Growing up alongside her brothers also gave Yoshida opportunities to learn by watching others.

She recalled observing her father correct her brothers during training and thinking carefully about how she could avoid making the same mistakes herself.

That habit of watching and learning was a natural part of childhood in a family where wrestling played such a central role.

The Words Her Mother Shared When Her Winning Streak Ended

Despite her extraordinary record, Yoshida experienced a particularly painful defeat in January 2008.

During a World Cup team competition ahead of the Beijing Olympics, her 119-match winning streak came to an end.

The loss was devastating for an athlete who had become accustomed to winning. Because the match was part of a team event, Yoshida also felt that she had let her teammates down.

Her mother, Sachiyo, helped her see the experience differently.

She reminded Yoshida that the 119 opponents who had lost to her during the winning streak had also experienced the disappointment of defeat.

Yoshida had now experienced that feeling herself. Her mother encouraged her to keep looking forward and begin working towards the next opportunity.

Those words helped Yoshida gradually regain her determination.

In a later interview, she reflected that losing had made her more aware of how many people supported her.

Later that year, Yoshida went on to win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Her father's emphasis on taking the initiative and her mother's compassionate perspective both contributed to the person she became.

Her Thoughts About Marriage and Family Life

Yoshida has also spoken openly about her hopes for marriage and family life.

In a 2022 interview with InRed, she expressed an interest in getting married and having children someday.

When describing her ideal partner, she mentioned someone masculine, enjoyable to be around, and easy to feel comfortable with.

At an event promoting Mie Prefecture in 2025, she also smiled while expressing her hope of meeting someone special.

In March 2026, she shared a light-hearted exchange about marriage with So Takei during a public event.

As of October 2026, there had been no confirmed public announcement of Yoshida getting married.

Meanwhile, she continued to enjoy a varied life involving television work, sporting events, golf, music, and time with friends.

Her interviews suggest someone who can look forward to future possibilities while appreciating the freedom and experiences of her present life.

8. Saori Yoshida's Friendships and New Challenges: Kyoko Fukada, Homare Sawa, and Music

Her Friendships with Kyoko Fukada, Aya Ueto, and Homare Sawa

Saori Yoshida has developed friendships that extend well beyond the sporting world.

One of her best-known friends is Japanese actress Kyoko Fukada.

The two became acquainted through work and developed a close friendship, sharing the additional connection of being born in the same year.

Fukada has spoken on television about discussing work and family with Yoshida. She has also described receiving encouraging words from the former champion during difficult moments.

Their friendship includes playful stories, such as Fukada experiencing some of Yoshida's wrestling techniques firsthand.

Yoshida is also friendly with actress Aya Ueto and former Japanese football star Homare Sawa.

In June 2025, she shared photographs from a meal with Ueto and Sawa on Instagram.

According to Yoshida, the three had not all met together for approximately two years. Despite the time apart, their conversation flowed so easily that the gathering felt much too short.

It was a warm example of how people from different professional backgrounds can maintain meaningful friendships beyond their work.

Relaxing with Her Dog Lily and Learning to Play Guitar

Another glimpse of Yoshida's everyday personality comes from her relationship with her pet dog, Lily.

In a 2021 interview, she explained that greeting Lily was one of the first things she did after waking up. She would also speak to the dog before going to bed.

In 2022, InRed described Lily as a toy poodle and included time spent playing with her among Yoshida's favourite ways to relax.

Music has also been a longstanding personal interest.

After retiring from wrestling, Yoshida began spending more time playing guitar and enjoying singing.

In her 2022 InRed interview, she recalled buying a guitar for her birthday in 2019.

In a 2024 interview with Fender, she spoke in greater detail about developing an interest in guitar playing during a period when she was spending more time at home.

She admired singer-songwriters such as Mao Abe and gradually learned guitar chords with help from people she knew.

At first, moving her fingers into the correct positions was difficult. However, Yoshida enjoyed the gradual process of becoming able to play songs that had once seemed challenging.

Unlike the highly competitive world of wrestling, guitar playing gave her an opportunity to learn at her own pace and enjoy music for its own sake.

What began as a personal hobby eventually became connected to another exciting stage in her life.

A Major-Label Solo Singing Debut at the Age of 44

On October 28, 2026, Yoshida is scheduled to make her major-label solo singing debut with the single I'm Here, released through Tokuma Japan Communications.

The release includes two tracks, I'm Here and Kachi ni Iku, Ima (approximately, "Going for the Win, Now").

The songs reflect experiences and feelings Yoshida has valued throughout her life, including her long career in wrestling and the people who supported her along the way.

As a competitive athlete, Yoshida spent many years receiving encouragement from fans, coaches, teammates, and family.

Through music, she hopes to encourage others who are pursuing their own dreams and ambitions.

After winning three Olympic gold medals and achieving 16 consecutive world-level titles, she is now embracing the challenge of expressing herself in a completely different field.

That spirit of curiosity connects many aspects of Yoshida's life: discovering makeup after retirement, finding pleasure in fashion, aiming for a new personal best in golf, learning guitar, and beginning a musical career in her forties.

Conclusion: A Life of Strength, Beauty, and New Discoveries

Saori Yoshida's beauty and wellness story connects two distinctive chapters of her life: the years she devoted to becoming one of the world's greatest wrestlers, and the freedom she discovered after retirement.

Her journey from a competition-focused lifestyle to enjoying skincare, makeup, fashion, and beauty appointments reveals a willingness to keep learning and embracing change.

Her experiences with food and weight management show the demanding everyday routines behind elite sporting success. Her continuing enjoyment of golf, sleep, bathing, and personal interests provides another perspective on life after professional competition.

Family encouragement, close friendships, time with her dog, and the pleasure of learning guitar have all contributed to the person she is today.

Now, at 44, she is preparing to take another step forward as a singer.

For Yoshida, achieving one extraordinary dream has never meant the end of discovering new ones. Her story is a reminder that personal style, wellbeing, and the joy of trying something new can continue to evolve throughout life.