Episode 128: Energy Circulation (Part 1)
August 10, 2026
Today is a bit of a special day. Starting at noon, a group of seven middle and high school students will be visiting the New Japan Pro-Wrestling office for a vocational work experience program.
I'm scheduled to handle a one-hour talk and Q&A session with them, and how should I put it... I'm just so excited for it.
I often describe New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a "company that sells energy for tomorrow."
Our product isn't cakes, nor is it ice cream (though we do have an Ice; Yuto-Ice, that is).
What people purchase from us is something intangible: "energy" itself.
If someone watches a match and thinks, "Alright, I'm gonna give it my all too," then at that moment, our product is completely sold out.
Come to think of it, ever since I started this career, what I've been doing inside the ring all along was ultimately just that.
Getting back up even after getting beaten. Put on a face that says "it doesn't hurt" even when it hurts like crazy. By showing that side of myself, I pass along a little bit of energy to someone else's tomorrow.
Even now as President, what I do hasn't changed.
Whether I'm in a conference room or inside the ring, I might just be an energy form taking the shape of Tanahashi. ← Wait, I honestly don't even know what I'm saying (laughs).
Now then, the students coming today might still only have vague thoughts about their future careers.
However, if spending an hour together makes them think, "Man, adults talk about their work with so much passion," and if that becomes a source of energy for them, I would be beyond happy.
As for the Q&A session, I'm honestly thrilled to see what kind of questions will come flying at me. If someone asks, "Does it hurt?", I might give a mysterious answer like, "It hurts, but it doesn't hurt, you know?" That would definitely plunge us straight into a parallel world (laughs).
I'm truly delighted that New Japan Pro-Wrestling was chosen as part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's vocational work experience initiative, where students get to experience various corporate workplaces.
I'll make sure to exceed their expectations!