Episode 82: Rather, It’s Light

June 2, 2026

Traveling from Tokyo to Osaka, or heading to a big match venue in the countryside—even after becoming President, the time spent moving on the Shinkansen remains an essential, special time for me.

Watching the window scenery rush past at 285 km/h, what I’m always thinking about is "New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s next big ideas" and "everyone’s smiles."

I set my smartphone aside for a bit and open my notebook. The moderate running sound of the train combined with a private space where nobody strikes up a conversation makes me feel almost weightless, like I’ve dropped all the heavy burdens from my shoulders. (I’m not saying my daily life is high-load or anything... though I pretty much just did, laughs).

• "That ring crew kid has been working with a really great expression on their face lately. Maybe I should go talk to them at the next venue."

• "I want the wrestlers to do even more promotional work for the upcoming regional shows~"

• "Should I buy a bento on the train? Or should I hold out until Shin-Yokohama Station and go to CoCo Ichibanya?!"

I keep looping through thoughts exactly like these, but I do so with the absolute highest level of excitement.

A President's job is to make decisions. That is precisely why this travel time—stepping away from the daily bustle of the office to carefully look at the future of the promotion—feels like it grants me the power of right judgment.

By the time I step off the Shinkansen, my notebook is packed with scribbled ideas... though I scribble so fast that more often than not, it’s too messy to even read (laughs).

To all the business professionals out there: "Travel time is not merely travel time." Well, technically it is travel time, but it's a solitary period, a period where you can immerse yourself completely. Let’s make good use of it. For me, it is my time to "plot."

Aaaahhh~! But now that I’ve said all this out loud, I won't be able to catch any sleep on the Shinkansen anymore, will I?! ((((；ﾟДﾟ)))))))