Episode 41: Spring Man and Summer Man
March 19, 2026
The semifinals of the NEW JAPAN CUP 2026 take place on the 20th, followed by the finals on the 21st, held as a two-day back-to-back event at Aore Nagaoka. Over the last few years, the image of this tournament's finale has become synonymous with Aore Nagaoka. Though, personally, I didn't exactly win much at this venue... (￣(工)￣) (A brief moment of silence) ...It’s a very nice arena.
Plus, Aore Nagaoka is directly connected to JR Nagaoka Station—only a 3-minute walk. The location is excellent. While most people from within the prefecture or neighboring areas probably come by car, it’s incredibly convenient for those traveling from all over Japan via Tokyo Station.
Now, we’re finally reaching the climax. At one point, people started talking about the title of "Spring Man" (Haru-Otoko), but since that was based on the G1’s "Summer Man" (Natsu-Otoko) trope, it never quite... stuck, did it? But what do you think about "Spring Man"? Personally, I like it because it has a bright, cheerful image. I suppose the whole concept started because of "Summer Man." "Summer Man" pulls in all these images: the "heat" of the battle, the actual "heat" of the temperature, and the "heat" of the fans' cheers. As a result, everyone wants to be called the "Summer Man," while "Spring Man" feels a bit... meh.
Why is that? Is it because of April Fool's Day? We call it "April Fish" or "April Fool" (Shigatsu-baka) in Japanese. In Chinese, I heard it’s called "Yuren-jie" (Fool’s Festival). I mean, they're literally calling you a "fool" (Guren).
Anyway, "Spring and Summer." What comes to mind when you hear that phrase? Hmm... that’s a poorly phrased question (lol). "The Spring-Summer Grand Slam!" It makes me think of High School Baseball at Koshien. I’d love to see someone achieve a "Spring-Summer Grand Slam" by winning the NEW JAPAN CUP in the spring and the G1 CLIMAX in the summer. I wonder who will pull it off? Ugh, I wish I could have done it...
Note: Hirooki Goto has achieved the "Summer-to-Spring" back-to-back victory.