Episode 79: The Ideal Fifty

May 26, 2026

This is a bit further down the road, but I’ve been booked for a speaking engagement.

Whenever I get a request for a lecture, I start by thinking, "What should I talk about?" Usually, it ends up being about the behind-the-scenes story of NJPW’s "V-shaped recovery"—how we brought pro-wrestling back to life—or mental strength: how I kept fighting while being showered with boos.

However, the target audience for this lecture is men in their 50s and 60s. They’re... older than me! If a "youngster" like me tries to lecture them on "how to live your life," it probably won't resonate at all. A reckless request has arrived!!!

But, I pulled myself together, thinking, "There must be something I can convey," and I gave it some thought.

I’m turning 50 this year myself, and I’ve become quite "pudgy"—far from the physique I had as a wrestler.

Since metabolic syndrome is a common concern, I can address that as a shared struggle. I can also teach simple home workouts to those who don't have a regular exercise habit.

The goal is: "Let’s stay as cool dads." That’s the idea.

There’s a genre of YouTube videos I really love. An unsuspecting father is brought to a hair salon by his wife or daughter. By getting his hair styled and colored, he undergoes a massive transformation into a "cool middle-aged guy" (Ike-oji). When his family, waiting outside, sees the change, they are shocked and moved to tears.

In the end, families want their fathers to stay youthful and cool forever.

To achieve that, you need to slightly rewire your mindset and pay attention to your diet and daily habits.

Yes. What I want to convey most in this lecture is that no matter how old you get, you can live with a "goal" or a "purpose."

Wait, do I—the Tanahashi who is turning 50 this year—have a purpose?

Yes, of course I do. I have so many I can't even write them all down here (laughs).

But if I had to name just one... let's see...

It would be losing weight (of course).