President's Diary RSS

September 1, 2026 6:00 PM. The bell marking the end of the workday silently echoed. Actually, no bell rang (￣(工)￣). Today was the memorable first day at our new office. Naturally, this morning I was fretting over whether things would run smoothly, but those worries ended up completely falling flat. To put it in wrestling terms: it was like worrying, "Will tonight's crowd be hyped?" only to be greeted by deafening cheers during the entrance! The new office occupies a single floor. With a rectangular layout centred around the President's desk, I can see everyone's faces all around me. It...

August 29, 2026 Today was a milestone day for me. It was my very last day working at the office that has taken care of us for so many years. In the morning, taking a brief moment out of my schedule, I visited Bushiroad's Chairman Kidani—who has supported us for so long as our parent company—to pay my respects and say farewell. Looking back, it was 2012 when Bushiroad became the parent company of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, making massive promotions possible that were completely unimaginable before then. From TV exposure to collaborations with other industries, it far exceeded all prior...

August 28, 2026 One of the reasons I became a professional wrestler was because "I wouldn't have to wear a suit." Head to work every day in the same outfit—to my 18-year-old self back then, that somehow felt unbearable cramped and stifling. In the ring, you can expose your true self in just a pair of tights. I thought that was the absolute coolest thing ever. And yet, look at what happened when the lid was opened. Today, as Representative Director, I wear a suit every single day and head to the office. Press conferences, media coverage for title matches,...

August 27, 2026 I had curry rice for lunch today. Ah man, curry is just so delicious, isn't it? No matter how many times I eat it, I never get tired of it. Back when CoCo Ichibanya sponsored us, the number of times I went there increased even more. In truth, to me, curry isn't just a simple lunch menu item. In 2011, when I was holding the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt as champion, I made it a strict rule to always eat curry before a match. My lucky food! Superstition, as you'd call it. Back then, I was racking...

August 26, 2026 "As you get older, time feels like it passes much faster." It's a common saying, but did you know there's actually a name for it called Janet's Law? I certainly didn't. Yep, it popped up when I was researching it. Even after becoming President, I'm still constantly learning (￣(工)￣). It's a concept proposed by 19th-century French philosopher Paul Janet. To put it simply, "the perceived weight of a year is determined as a fraction of the total years you have lived." For a 5-year-old child, one year is a 1/5th of their entire life. But for a...

August 24, 2026 The other day, we held a collaboration event with the TV Asahi Summer Fest called New Japan Pro-Wrestling x Suntory Nama Beer Dream Beer Garden Ariake. It turned out to be a passionate night truly fit for NJPW! Events with this kind of close distance where you can raise a mug and toast directly with the wrestlers don't come around very often, after all. However, last Saturday... the session with Shota Umino and me was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather (sadness). Hearing that there were fans who were looking forward to it, even some who travelled...

August 19, 2026 Please lend your attention to our Ariake Summer Fest at TOKYO DREAM PARK on Saturday, August 22nd with Shota Umino... is what I'd like to say, but I'll be completely honest with you. While ticket sales for popular units are going strong, tickets for our August 22nd slot are still available (￣(工)￣). Having two performances (day and night) is tricky, too. If things go wrong with the night show, I might end up starting the event completely wasted. Getting drunk on alcohol is totally fine, but I have to maintain enough sanity to follow compliance rules. What's...

August 18, 2026 Yuya Uemura. This spring, he lost in the finals of the NEW JAPAN CUP, and this summer, he lost again in the finals of the G1. Twice he reached out to within a hair's breadth of the pinnacle, but fell just short. To be completely honest, I'm a little worried about him. A single 2nd place finish serves as "fuel." However, when it happens twice in a row, what was supposed to be fuel can quietly transform into a heavy burden. There might have been nights when Yuya asked himself, "Is there something I'm lacking...?" And yet,...

August 17, 2026 What an incredible two days it has been. Yesterday, Hiroyoshi Tenzan brought the curtain down on his 35-year wrestling career. And today, with Tenzan-san watching on from the commentary desk, his former attendant Ryohei Oiwa captured his very first G1 CLIMAX 36 victory! When Oiwa first joined the Dojo, he learned the ropes as Tenzan-san's personal attendant. Seeing Oiwa today made me realize all over again: paying your dues is an irreplaceable part of the story. In his post-match promo after the finals, Oiwa roared: "I am the G1 Champion!" "I am the Summer Man of the...

August 14, 2026 I'll say it as many times as it takes... The Final 4 for G1 CLIMAX 36 are set--!! On August 15th, two semi-final matches will take place: Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura and Callum Newman vs. Ryohei Oiwa. On the stage of Ryogoku Kokugikan, four men stand carrying their own individual stories on their backs. Looking at this completely transformed lineup, you can really feel the changing of the tide, can't you? I have so many memories of the G1, but the one that still knocks on my heart to this day is the 2007 G1. It was...