Yoshihiro Akiyama doesn’t have an answer when asked why his level of popularity has remained untouched over the years. But he is appreciative of the fan support.
“I’m delighted,” he said, “but I don’t know where my popularity comes from.”
We could start with his acting and modeling gigs or his “Sexyama” persona, but what it really comes down to is his fighting style, which is centered not on a particular martial arts base, but on entertaining those who are watching. Yes, Akiyama has a judo black belt, but those skills often go out the window in favor of back-and-forth slugfests.