President's Diary RSS

October 1, 2026 Thirty-five consecutive days of rain, they say. Considering the title of this serialized column is "Fine Weather, Then Fine Weather," this is quite the trial. In Tokyo, it has rained every single day since August 27th. They say it surpassed the 33-day record from 2019, setting the longest record in recorded observation history. Hearing that it rained on all days in September with sunshine hours at only about 40% of an average year, as the former "Sun's Genius Child," I cannot simply remain silent. Sun-san, it's about time for your turn to shine, I say. Now then,...

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...

September 29, 2026 Looking at New Japan Pro-Wrestling right now, to be completely honest, our roster of talent is well-stacked. There are plenty of strong wrestlers and skilled wrestlers. However, there is just one frustrating thing. Their "peculiarities" (kuse)—in a good way—haven't fully grown yet. You could almost say there are too many model students. Their match quality is magnificent. They have technical skills. Their bodies are well-built. They are delivering results too. And yet, for some reason, they don't leave a fiercely deep mark in people's memories. Even though their ability is already proven, that "standout factor" is still...

September 28, 2026 The other day, I accompanied the tour on their Hokkaido excursion for just a little bit. The shows I attended were the New Chitose Airport show and the Muroran show. It was only two events, but for the first time in a long while, I was able to travel around Hokkaido together with the wrestlers. During last year's Hokkaido excursion, I had my last singles match against Yano-選手 (Toru Yano) at the Noboribetsu show. One year has passed since then. This time, rather than stepping into the ring, I was on the side, seeing the wrestlers off...

September 25, 2026 I love the "time before the match." There's a unique sense of tension at the venue; wrestlers prepare for their matches, and the staff make their final checks. The fans also hold that sense of anticipation—"What kind of matches will we see today?"—and even though nothing has started yet, it's already fun! I believe this sustained feeling of exhilaration is one of the massive charms of professional wrestling. And on a certain day, pro wrestling was held at New Chitose Airport. Thinking about it all over again, it's insanely interesting, isn't it? An airport is a place...

24 September, 2026 The new series: 【Pro Wrestlers and 〇〇】. The theme for this 4th edition is "Beckoning Cats" (Maneki-neko). Now, now, President... Surely this has absolutely zero connection to pro wrestling, right? To those of you who wanted to throw that jab at me: Fufufu ♪ In truth, there is a deep, inseparable commonality between the "pose of a beckoning cat" and a "pro wrestler." Speaking of beckoning cats, did you know that the meaning changes depending on which paw they hold up? Yeah, I also learned that for the very first time (laughs). Generally, a cat raising its...

September 22, 2026 The new series: 【Pro Wrestlers and 〇〇】. The theme for this 3rd edition is "Uchiwa Fans" (rigid paper fans). With mid-September now behind us, the evening breeze has gradually begun to mix in a hint of autumn. Pouring a bit of melancholy into this "passing summer," allow me to share a story about wrestlers and uchiwa fans this time. When speaking of uchiwa fans at a pro wrestling venue, they are now precious cheer goods packed with the love of all the fans. Scanning the audience seats, uchiwa, decorated with the name or photo of a fan's...

September 18, 2026 The new series: 【Pro-Wrestlers and 〇〇】. When I thought of the theme for the 2nd edition, even I naturally thought, "Is this one impossible?" The topic is unexpectedly... "Duct Tape." Fufufu ♪ See? Impossible, right? ...Or so you thought! In reality, within the professional wrestling world, duct tape (on site, mainly cloth tape or painter's/curing tape) literally continues to support the backside of the ring and touring, serving as a super-important multi-tool. I bet many fans have also seen rolls of tape rolling around beneath the ring, or down at the feet of the main official head table,...

September 17, 2026  The new series: 【Pro-Wrestlers and 〇〇】. The memorable 1st edition is about "Social Media" (SNS). We're now in an era where wrestlers can stay connected with fans 24 hours a day through their smartphones. However, looking back at my career, the early 2000s was a time when even official promotion websites weren't very common yet. Amidst that, the broadcasting of my words began with my mobile series on Pro-Wrestling Kakutogi DX titled 【Tanahashi no Tanagokoro (Tanahashi's Palm)】. I remember staring at the screen of my flip-phone (garakei), desperately searching for words on how to convey the charm...

September 16, 2026 The Mexican Embassy. It's a place where there's rarely an opportunity to set foot under normal circumstances, but this time I had the privilege of attending the 216th Anniversary of Mexican Independence Reception held at the Mexican Embassy. New Japan Pro-Wrestling has built a rock-solid relationship over many years with Mexico's prestigious pro wrestling promotion, CMLL. The annually held Fantastica Mania is the very symbol of that. Luchadores wearing various masks colour NJPW's rings, and it has now become a familiar seasonal tradition for all the New Japan Pro-Wrestling fans. Chairman Sugabayashi being an unparalleled fan of...