Episode 156: Guruguru Hiroshi (Wound-Up Hiroshi)

September 18, 2026

The new series: 【Pro-Wrestlers and 〇〇】. When I thought of the theme for the 2nd edition, even I naturally thought, "Is this one impossible?"

The topic is unexpectedly... "Duct Tape." Fufufu ♪ See? Impossible, right?

...Or so you thought! In reality, within the professional wrestling world, duct tape (on site, mainly cloth tape or painter's/curing tape) literally continues to support the backside of the ring and touring, serving as a super-important multi-tool.

I bet many fans have also seen rolls of tape rolling around beneath the ring, or down at the feet of the main official head table, haven't you?

At a pro wrestling venue, duct tape is the savior that rescues us from every kind of pinch. When ring shoes get broken? Wait, maybe not that (laughs). Taping up dressing room signs on walls at regional venues is also entirely the job of duct tape (and occasionally athletic taping).

For the people working on site, there is no partner more dependable than this.

However, having become an "executive" overseeing over 150 affiliated wrestlers and staff members, the me of today views this duct tape from a slightly different perspective as well. That is the perspective of it being a symbol of "Cost Management" and "Safety and Trust."

New Japan Pro-Wrestling holds many shows nationwide throughout the entire year. The amount of duct tape consumed during every single assembly and teardown actually turns out to be a staggering number. Do not disdain it thinking "it's just tape"—this too is a proper consumable expense.

Having a solid awareness of costs is the absolute basics of management. Furthermore, exercising fine-tuned care—such as using easy-to-peel "curing tape" versus heavy-duty "cloth tape" to avoid damaging venue floors and walls—is an essential piece of business etiquette to protect our relationships of trust with venue owners across the country.

And above all else, physical safety at the battlefield known as the ring is sometimes supported by this very single roll of tape.

And that connects directly to my job as President as well. Not only rolling out flashy strategies, but quickly and firmly repairing and holding together small tears in the organization or anxieties on the frontlines—just like duct tape. That right there is my role as President. At this point, I'm practically the Duct Tape President. Gum-hashi Tape-shi (Tanahashi Hiroshi transformed into Tape)!

Setting that aside, the true strength of New Japan Pro-Wrestling resides in this invisible "bonding power" (kessokuryoku). ...And with that, I ended up wrapping things up a bit forcefully (laughs).

With this momentum, maybe I should just wind all the fans' hearts up tightly with duct tape too~ (laughs)!