Episode 30: The Ideal Monday

March 4, 2026

Ever since I started going to the office every day, the biggest change has been my sense of the days of the week.

When I was an active wrestler, my daily routine only shifted slightly based on whether I had a match or not—though Sunday match times were usually a bit earlier.

I was appointed President in December 2023. That means for 24 years, from my debut in 1999 until then, my daily life was pretty free.

In other words, I didn’t really have a grasp on the days of the week (← that’s a problem). I’d watch the "Super Hero Time" block on TV Asahi (Kamen Rider and Super Sentai) and think, "Oh, I guess it’s Sunday" (← even more of a problem).

Back then, I wasn't conscious of the day, but now it’s different.

I finally get it: Friday makes me happy, and on Monday mornings, my face looks exactly like this → (￣(工)￣).

But if I stay like that, my performance on Monday drops, doesn't it? I want to give it my all right from the start of the week!

So, let's talk about how to boost your motivation on a Monday.

The key is to set a "near goal" and a "far goal" at the same time.

For example, set a goal for the day. Next, imagine who you want to be a week from now. If you do that, you should be able to set an even bigger goal for a month from now.

However, there is something you must do first with this method: decide on your ultimate "Final Goal."

For me, that goal was "A completely packed Tokyo Dome." Once I decided on that, every aspect of my life began to move toward achieving it.

I wanted to become more famous. I wanted to get bigger and stronger. I wanted to fire up the crowd in my matches. "I'll post on social media a ton, too!" Just like that, things I wanted to do and things I had to do came overflowing all at once.

No matter what state you are in now, you can still visualize your future. That is the turning point.

My dream was a sold-out, standing-room-only crowd at the Tokyo Dome.

That dream finally came true on the very day of my retirement. I suppose you could call that "dramatic" in its own way...

Truth be told, I had imagined achieving it much sooner! But hey, I managed to slide in safely just in time.