Episode 162: I Will Raise the Stock Value (and my reputation)!

September 30, 2026

How long has it been since I last felt this nervous? Today was the General Meeting of Shareholders.

Back in my active ring days, my life was a constant loop of tension and relief. Before a match, my heart would pound like crazy (baku-baku). However, the moment the gong sounded, that tension would smoothly release. That sharp contrast was the absolute best part of being in the ring.

Even after retiring, there are moments when I feel nervous, but that indescribable tension before a match isn't something you get to experience very often anymore.

However, today, it came back for the first time in a long while. That completely stiff, frozen feeling. In the ring, the fans were the ones on "the edge of their seats" (holding sweaty palms). Today, I was the one holding sweaty palms!

The shareholders are people who believe in and support the future of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. You could say their cheers of "Do your best!" from their fan days took the physical form of stock shares. Thinking about it that way, my spine straightened up even further.

It suddenly occurred to me. During my wrestling days, what I desperately kept raising was "Tanahashi's stock value" (reputation). Raising my popularity, turning boos upside down, and boosting my own stock.

That was my job as Wrestler Tanahashi. But now, what I must raise is the stock value of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Finishing the meeting, Tanahashi breathed a sigh of relief: "So-kai (General meeting), ah, is that so... so this is what the President's view looks like." Relief (ando) Tanahashi. And... Tanahashi!

To be completely honest, though, feeling nervous actually made me a little happy. Being nervous is proof that you're taking things dead seriously. It's the flip side of wanting to do a great job.

If my heart stopped pounding, it would mean I stopped taking on challenges. Well, I've decided to think of this part as my room for growth too.

The path to becoming a reliable President is still a long way off. But I don't have the luxury of sitting back and accepting that distance.

Even inside the ring, I wasn't a popular star right from the start. It was one step at a time, coming out from amidst the boos. This time, I will stack up the shareholders' feeling of "I'm so glad we have this President," step by step.

I am going to become a reliable President, yeaaaahhhhh--!!