A (very long) 2 part Wakana interview with Shukan Bunshun dropped shortly before the show
https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/79222>"Ever since elementary school, my thighs were chubby" — "I was teased for having a big chest and called 'fat'...">A professional wrestler (29), known for her "overly muscular thighs," opens up about her childhood body insecurities>Interview with Wakana Uehara #1>Wakana Uehara (29), a professional wrestler and media personality, describes herself as having a "58 cm waist and 59 cm thighs." Every time she posts a photo emphasizing her thighs on social media, it draws a huge response, with many commenting on how “powerful” or “muscular” they are. Today, Uehara embraces her thighs with confidence, but that wasn’t always the case. In the past, they were a source of insecurity and even created issues in her daily life. What kind of struggles did she face regarding her thighs? We spoke with her to find out.>— I heard you were born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture. What was your childhood like?>Uehara: I lived near Ebina, which is famous for its service area. Compared to kids my age, I was a head taller and often played with the boys. When I look at the group photo in my elementary school graduation album, I’m not among the girls striking cute poses. I was at the top of the jungle gym, goofing around with the boys (laughs).>— Sounds like you were a very active child. You took a lot of extracurricular lessons, didn’t you?>Uehara: I started piano when I was 2 and continued through high school. But I never aimed to become a professional — I just enjoyed it as a hobby. I did ballet from kindergarten through early elementary school, then got into swimming and kept at it until my second year of high school. The swimming school had an unlimited-use system, so I thought, “That’s a great deal!” I went both in the morning and afternoon — swimming eight times a week!>— You also did gymnastics and dance, right? 