Episode 116: The Ace Who Wants to Go to Yamato
July 27, 2026
Now then, this coming July 29th is our Osaka show. This year, instead of our familiar stomping grounds at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, the event will take place at "Yamato University Arena."
I’ve actually wrestled there once before myself.
However, when people think of Osaka, the image of Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium is strong. Just hearing the name "Yamato," some of you might be left wondering, "Is that over toward Nara?" or "Where even is that?" and find it hard to get a sense of where the venue is located. I reflect on my lack of explanation here, and I hope we can follow up with more details on NJPW’s official X account.
Furthermore, holding it on a Wednesday is also a deliberate choice. Rather than a weekend trip—a "special day" away—you can casually jump into an extraordinary world on a Wednesday night. Heading straight to the arena after work is a luxury unique to weekday events, I think.
Access from Umeda and Namba is great, and we'll make sure to provide clear directions for trains after the show ends, so please don't worry about any of that.
And there's one more piece of great news. On the day of the show, Yamato University's cafeteria will be specially open for business! You'll be able to fuel up before the matches. It’s a chance to enjoy cafeteria food for the first time since your student days. I hope you'll support the heated action in the ring with a full stomach.
Maybe I'll pop by just to eat at the cafeteria too (I'm pretty serious about this).
We are also in discussions with the university so that Yamato University students can come straight over after their lectures. The cafeteria, the students, and New Japan—a new Osaka story created by everyone together. That racing heartbeat at the start... Maybe it wasn't nervousness, but the sound of anticipation. Heh heh heh♪
As expected, doing something new brings a bit of nerves, but the exciting feeling of anticipation is much bigger.
Still, I really want to eat at that cafeteria (laughs).