Finished the 8.21 TJPW show!
This one had a really fun semi-main event that a lot of people (including the official account on at least one English tweet) were framing as the two Tokyo Princess Cup MVPs facing off against each other: Miu vs Pom.
Pom tried the rather unconventional strategy of dressing up as an オバケ and also trying to terrorize Miu with a block of こんにゃく dangling from a pole. I wasn’t familiar with こんにゃく before this match, so I don’t exactly understand what Pom was trying to do with it here, but I appreciated that when I googled what on earth it even was, one of the uses is apparently in Japanese papermaking! What an unexpected connection for me.
In any case, it was not enough for Pom to get the win, though it did make for a very entertaining match.
Afterward, Miu said:
Miu: “Today I had a singles match with Pom. I had the impression that Pom had also worked really hard this summer, so I really wanted to get a solid win here… but I’m really not good with ghosts! I got scared the instant the lights went out, and played right into Pom’s hands. But, I was able to win. This summer has been really intense, so I want to keep working even harder from here.”
I was a little unsure about her second sentence. The transcript had: “ぽむもこの夏めちゃくちゃ頑張ってたなって印象だったので、ここはちゃんと勝ちたいなってマジメに思ったんですけど…まさかのオバケが苦手なんですよ.”
Pom: “Aaaahー… I used the ghost strategy. Well, Miu had streamed a game before, and she got really scared, so I thought I’d use that against her, but I think she just got really angry instead. She kicked me truly relentlessly. For me, this was a summer of ordeals, but next year I want to make it a summer where I become an ordeal for someone else. …That was scarier than a ghost.”
I wasn’t sure about translating part of her second line here: “いや、未詩さんが前にゲーム配信をしてて、すごい怖がってたので、これは逆手に取ってやろうって思ったんですけど逆に怒らせちゃったみたいで”, but I’m pretty sure she’s referring to the fact that Miu did a let’s play video for a horror game on youtube.
The other thing I was a little unsure about was her last line: “…オバケより怖かった.” I wasn’t quite sure what she was talking about? Maybe she was talking about her recent match with Max?
The main event of the show was a double preview match of sorts, featuring Shoko, Kamiyu, and Mahiro vs Yuka, Mizuki, and Arisu. Shoko won, giving Mahiro the rare chance of closing out the show.
Shoko’s first paragraph in the ring was a bit confusing for me 
. She said: “トーナメントが終わって、一発目です。敗退した身で偉そうなことを言うのもなんですが、次のタイトルマッチも決まってます。これからそこに向けて負けた分もいっぱいいっぱい成長していきたいなと思ってます。みなさんに10月、成長したチャンピオンの姿を見せられるように、これからも勝ち続けたいと思います。２人も、ね。ほら、名古屋でタイトルマッチがあるんでしょ.”
Here was my attempt:
Nakajima: “This is the first show after the tournament ended. I don’t want to sound conceited after losing the tournament, but the next title match has been set. As we head there, I want to improve as much as I lost. I want to keep winning so that I can show everyone a much-improved champion in October. What about the two of you? You have a title match in Nagoya, don’t you?”
Then there’s this exchange:
Kamifuku: “Yes. We have a title match, but more importantly, the fact that the two of us are here in the main event closing out the show, that may be thanks to NakaSho. Perhaps there’s a chance that she’s a Toyo University graduate? Are you?”
Nakajima: “High school graduate.”
Kamifuku: “Ah. Well, it can’t be helped.”
I was a bit confused by ナカショー until I realized it was just a nickname for Shoko, haha. (Hopefully the readers of my blog also realize that…)
Shoko’s next lines were a little confusing for me. She said: “真弥もね、せっかくつかみ取ったチャンスだもんな。頼もしくなったもんな。やっぱ、ここは真弥にビシッと今日のトーナメント明け一発目の興行をね、かっこよくクールに決めてもらいたいなって思います。せっかく３人で勝ったんだしさ.”
Here’s what I had:
Nakajima: “Mahiro, too, you managed to seize a chance. She has become reliable. Just as she did here in the first show after the tournament, I want to see her get the victory in a cool and unshakable way. The three of us managed to win.”
I think I more or less got the last set of exchanges in ring, but I was unsure about most of it, haha.
Here it was:
桐生「私たち、東洋盟友は９月４日名古屋で絶対にベルトを取る！ 中島さんもちょっと後になりますが、防衛戦があるということで…勝ちましょう！」
Kiryu: “We, Toyo Mates, are absolutely going to win the belts on September 4 in Nagoya! Nakajima-san, it’s a little later, but you also have a title defense… Let’s win!”
中島「じゃああれだね。未来のチャンピオンチームチームってことだよな？」
Nakajima: “That’s that, then. You’re the team of future champions, right?”
桐生「そういうこと！」
Kiryu!: “That’s right!”
中島「もう一声！」
Nakajima: “Someone say one more thing!”
上福「からの～？」
Kamifuku: “From who?”
桐生「えー、こんな貴重な締めのお時間に私のお話を聞いてくれて…（座り込んで）大変ありがとうございました、アンド、大変申し訳ございません！」
Kiryu: “Well, for listening to me when I have the honor of closing the show… (sitting down) Thank you very much, and I am so very sorry!”
中島「３人で頑張ります！ ありがとうございましたー！」
Nakajima: “We’ll do our best! Thank you!”
Backstage, Shoko said: “トーナメント明け一発目ということで。やっぱりトーナメント勝ち残れなかった者たちにとっては再スタートの興行だったと思っています。10月にタイトルマッチが決まっていますが、この夏私は出し惜しみをしてないので。やっぱり出し切った分、新しいものをどんどん作っていかないと次は勝てないなって気持ちがあります。なのでこれから10月まで時間ありますので、成長していきたいなと。全部の試合でいろんなものを吸収して、大きくなっていきたいなと思います.”
That chunk in the middle was confusing. Here’s what I had:
Nakajima: “This was the first show after the tournament. For those of us who didn’t win the tournament, I think this show was a fresh start. I have a title match scheduled for October, but I haven’t been reluctant to show what I can do this summer. If I don’t keep coming up with new ideas at the rate that I’m using up all of the ones that I have, I feel like I’m not going to win my next match. I have from now until October, and I want to keep improving. I want to absorb all sorts of things in all of my matches and keep growing.”
Then Kamiyu said: “今日は東洋大学feat.ナカショーということでですね、私たちも９月に名古屋でエーエーオーみたいなところにチャレンジするのでね。今日は連係とかも…いつもだったらゆきが真弥ちゃんを助けに行くようなところを、今日はナカショーがいるのにも関わらず、真弥ちゃんが率先してゆきがピンチのところを救いにきてくれて。普通にすごーいって思って。ちょーいい日になりました。ありがとう。ナカショー勝ってくれたから、こんないい景色も見れましたとさ。終わり.”
I got tripped up after the ellipsis, but I think maybe I figured it out? Here’s what I had:
Kamifuku: “Today was Toyo University feat. NakaSho, and we’re going to be challenging for the belts at a place like AAO in Nagoya in September. Today, we had good teamwork… normally I’d always be going to Mahiro-chan’s aid, but today, despite NakaSho’s presence, Mahiro-chan took the initiative and came to save me when I was in a pinch. I just thought she was sooo cool. It was a great day. Thank you. NakaSho won, so we got to see a beautiful view. The end.”
Mahiro’s second sentence here confused me: “名古屋でタイトルマッチが決まりましたので。やっぱり個人としてもチームとしてももっと上にいけるように、連係とかもね。自分自身も上にいけるようにタイトルマッチまで頑張って進んでいくので、是非応援していただければと思います。勝てて嬉しい！”
Kiryu: “We have a title match set for Nagoya. So I want to improve as an individual as well as a team, and improve our connection as well. I’m going to do my best to keep advancing up until the title match so that I can also move up, so I hope you will support me. I’m happy to win!”
The interviewer asked Shoko if she felt any change in Yuka.
She said: “けっこう緊張して試合してたと思うんです、夏の間は。その肩の力が抜けた分の軽やかな強さを感じました。けど、いまはちょっとお互い様子見しておきたいなって気持ちがあったので。そこはちょっと触って感じるなってところでした.”
The line about the shoulders and the last line were tricky .
Nakajima: “I think she was quite tense during her matches this summer. It felt like her shoulders were more relaxed and her strength was lighter. But it felt like now we’re both in a bit of a wait-and-see situation. I could sense that when we briefly touched.”
I think I did okay on the rest of the exchange, but wasn’t quite sure .
桐生「（斬新な締めでした）私、こうやって興行を締めるというか、最後の言葉を言うなんていままでできてこなかったことなので。自分らしさを出したいなって、気持ちの表れじゃないですか、今日は。合ってるのかな？とは思ったけど、でも合ってるんだと思います」
(That was a novel way to close out the show)
Kiryu: “Until now, I had never been in a position to close out a show like this, or do something like saying a closing remark. I think today was a manifestation of my desire to show my own individuality. I thought ‘does it fit?’ but I think it does.”
上福「大丈夫、間違いはないから」
Kamifuku: “Don’t worry, there’s no wrong way.”
桐生「じゃあ私がこれを正解としましたので、正解です」
Kiryu: “Then I did it correctly, so it’s right!”
Yuka, Mizuki, and Arisu’s comments were both harder and easier haha.
Yuka started off by saying: “トーナメントも終わって通常運転の東京女子なんですが、今回も全力でみんな変やったな.”
The last part was confusing to me, as was Mizuki’s response . Here was my best attempt:
Sakazaki: “The tournament is over, and it’s back to business as usual for TJPW, but everyone went all out again for this show, and everyone was weird.”
瑞希「一緒にせんとってや」
Mizuki: “Don’t lump us together.”
This exchange follows:
Sakazaki: (Looking at Endo) “Your hair color is amazing!”
Mizuki: “It’s strange.”
Sakazaki: “Mermaid lagoon.”
Endo: (laughs)
Mizuki: “I like Ariel.”
Endo: “I want to go with you.”
Mizuki: “Then when Arisu-chan gets her first (singles) victory, let’s all go to Disney!”
Sakazaki: “We’re going!”
Endo: “Please take me! I’ll do my best.”
Then Yuka says: “なんでもこうたる.” Is this basically “We’ll do whatever you want!”? Arisu seems excited, at least .
Endo: “HAPPY HAPPY!”
Mizuki: “We’ll have at least three bags of popcorn.”
Endo: “I’ll carry everything!”
Sakazaki: “Let’s go to Disneyland and do street wrestling!”
The interviewer mentions that this was Yuka’s first match with the champion after the title match was set.
Yuka’s response is confusing to me. She says: “ちょっとピリッとする部分はあるんですけど、でもまだ心の余裕があるというか。10月なので、まだ遊んでいいかなと思ってるんですけど…ダメですかね？ ちょっと一息つきたいところではあるんですが。でも当日、印象的に負けてると流れで負けちゃうので。印象でも負けずに、いまの期間は夏を楽しみたいと思います.”
I think I was confused by almost every sentence in this one, haha, though by the end, I feel like maybe I was on the right track?
“There’s a bit of tingling, but there’s still room in my heart for more. Or maybe I should say it’s in October, so I’m thinking I can still play… right? I want to catch my breath a little bit. But if I lose in terms of impression on the appointed day, the tides will change and I’ll be defeated. But even if it gives a worse impression, I want to have fun this summer!”
Fun show, albeit very much a house show, haha. Going to have another busy couple of weekends ahead, then it looks like things are going to calm down a bit in terms of TJPW’s schedule, and we’ll be going more or less back to the one show a week formula.
I’m really excited for the 8.27 show because the card looks pretty awesome, and it’s a Korakuen show with an all-women audience! I keep hoping that TJPW will build more of a non-male audience, and they seem to be steadily improving on that front (this is by far their biggest all-women audience show yet), so that’s encouraging. I’m not sure if this one allows cheering or not, but I really hope they get to do one of these shows with cheering someday…
