Finished translating the April 15 Korakuen show! It looks like they transcribed some of the backstage comments on the recap again, but not all of them. Sadly, shupro doesn’t have the fully comments, either .
The first match was Moka vs Kaya! It’s neat seeing how much both of them have grown. I didn’t have transcripts for the comments, but they were short enough, I think the twitter captions pretty much covered everything?
Here’s Moka’s comment:
Moka: “I’ve had a lot of singles matches with Kaya-san, but she has grown so much, I’ve resolved to grow a lot so that she won’t overtake me!”
And Kaya’s:
Toribami: “I lost… I lost our last singles match pretty badly, but compared to that match, I had the impression that with a little more persistence, I maybe could have won. I want to do my best so that I can beat Moka-san in our next singles match! I’m frustrated!”
Next up was a tag match with the newest and youngest rookies. Daisy Monkey teamed up with Runa against Yuki Aino, Neko, and Haru.
I think there might be a little bit missing from the twitter caption for these, but hopefully nothing too major. Here’s for Haru’s team:
Yuki: “I think it’s really awesome that (Haru) was able to attack her senpai Suzume to this degree, in her fifth match since making her debut. Her low crossbody is great! I’m happy to team together. We’re practically Bakuretsu family, so I really want us to win the next one!”
And Runa’s team:
Suzume: “We did it! Teaming up with the brand new Runa-chan and facing Haru-chan was so much fun, and I felt like I had to be their big sister. I’m going to do my best not to lose even in new-ness!”
Endo: “I’ll do my best, too! I’ll become a junior high student!”
The next match was a very rare match where all of the Up Up Girls were on the same team! They faced Kamiyu and Itoh who were teaming up with Wakana and Toga. Toga’s making waves with her elbow strikes already, and I didn’t get the hype for them in her first match, but I totally see what people are talking about now.
This is when we start to see some things getting left out of the twitter captions, haha . But here’s Toga and Wakana’s team:
Kamifuku: “(Itoh) lost her voice in exchange for glory.”
Itoh: “You have to lose something to gain something! Toga’s stiff elbow strikes and Wakana’s dropkick were good!”
Kamifuku: “Let’s go eat shaved ice at SWANDIVE!”
Uehara & Toga: “Yes!”
And the Up Up Girls:
Miu: “Shino, how was teaming up with the four of us for the first time?”
Shino: “You were so strong…”
Hikari: “I thought it was nice to be able to fight with everyone as the Up Up Girls for the first time in a long time!”
Miu: “I really hope lots of people come to our first solo show on June 10 at Shinjuku FACE!”
Raku: “Please come!”
The next match was Shiori Aoki’s debut as a referee, and I ended up really loving this match! She had quite the test ahead of her, haha, with Misao and Shoko not making her life at all easy. I thought they did a great job building this match around Aoki, and it was fun talking to one of my friends who’s training to become a pro wrestling ref to see what they thought of Aoki and the match as a whole.
The comments for this one had a full transcript. I think I got the first part of Aoki (and the losing team)'s comments (interestingly, shupro had her name written as 青木さん, but it looks like the official recap leaves off the honorific. Interesting how the editorial standards differ so much, haha):
Aoki-san: “Today was my debut as a referee, so I was super nervous, but the amazing crowd called out ‘Aoki!’ for me, and I felt very comfortable refereeing.”
HIMAWARI: “I lost today, but the next time you referee for me, I’m going to win.”
Arai: “Next time, huh? But they said that I was bribing her. Was that bribery? If it was, I think she was pretty impartial, so I’m going to stop treating her to dinner.”
HIMAWARI: “So it was a bribe!” (laughs)
Arai: “No, bribe or not, we lost, so.” (smiles)
HIMAWARI: “That’s because I was holding us back, so… please buy me dinner.”
Arai: “So that’s how it is. I bribed the wrong person.” (laughs) “Next time, I will treat my partner to a meal so that she’ll build up her strength and do her best. We’ll work hard next time!”
In the second part (all of the sounds from Pom happening in the background in this were killing me, haha), I was confused right away by the first question! The interviewer said, “話があったらまたやる?” and I wasn’t sure what he was asking .
(If you can say it, will you do it again?)
Aoki-san: “Yes, hopefully. I felt more comfortable standing in the ring than I thought I would. It was a different kind of heart-pounding feeling than I’m used to. But if I do it again, I want to show everyone a powered-up referee.”
(How did you feel it was different from your usual activities?)
“When I was refereeing, the crowd would cheer for every single thing I did, and I feel like this is something unique to pro wrestling. It makes me feel good.”
(What is Aoki-san’s score today?)
Arai: “Today she has scored… 200 points.”
Aoki-san: “Thank you!”
Arai: “She was amazing. Her movements started to get a little beautiful. I thought she must’ve trained hard.”
HIMAWARI: “She did that cartwheel, huh?”
Arai: “Did Kiso-san teach you that, too?”
Aoki-san: “Sure did. I demonstrated some of Kiso-san’s teachings.”
Arai: “You’re already his apprentice. You have matching hair, too.” (laughs) “You’ll continue to follow Kiso-san.”
(Did you feel that she had an aptitude?)
“Yes, I really felt that. She was mega awesome.”
青木さん「すごい言うね(笑)」
Aoki-san: “You’re saying a lot.” (laughs)
I wasn’t quite sure how to translate Aoki’s response there at the very end…
I think I got Misao and Shoko’s comments:
Nakajima: “Wow! Did you see that? Oshirin, a.k.a. Aoki! You’re a pretty good referee, aren’t you? We can make her one of us, huh?”
Misao: “Yes! At the beginning, I was wondering how it was gonna go, but the second match was awesome. To prove it, we’re winning.”
Nakajima: “Yes! There are god-like referees, like Shiro Abe. You should try imitating him; check him out on YouTube. He’s really good.”
Misao: “And then you’ll become an associate of Kyoraku Kyomei.”
Nakajima: “We’ll be waiting!”
Next up was Pom and Max the Impaler’s first match as a tag team, facing Yuka and Mahiro. This match was an absolute delight, haha. Just so many good moments. The crowd was going nuts over it, too. I loved all of the little moments of care that Max showed Pom, despite, well, everything else about Max. They were rough with her and yet also clearly cared for her, setting up Mahiro so that Pom could hit her finisher, and even going so far as to hold the ropes for Pom on their way out of the ring.
Shupro didn’t transcribe the comments for this one either. Here’s all that I had for Yuka and Mahiro:
Sakazaki: “Max was scary… There aren’t many folks like that in America… They’re a creature from space…”
Mahiro: “Scary… Whatever I hit them with, their reactions were completely different…”
Sakazaki: “Next I have the tag title match as MagiRabbi. I was able to see their teamwork, so I’ll be taking countermeasures. I’m back in Japan!”
I actually tried very hard with Pom and Max to fill in the gaps with this one! It was, uh, not easy! There were a few things I didn’t catch, and other parts I wasn’t quite sure about. Here was my best attempt:
Pom: "I won, y-yay?! Eek… I’m s-scared now, but maybe we really became friends, SO… We’re a good team, huh?” (in English) “Best tag team? Yay!” (in Japanese) “At this rate—tomorrow we have the idol festival, and then Osaka. We’re going to win and become tag champions! Yes! What happens if—eep—what happens if we lose? Don’t ask me! Uh, check it out, we match!”
Impaler: (growls)
Pom: (screams)
The semi-main event was Vert Vixen vs Rika for the International belt. The most exciting part of this one for me was Suzume coming out to challenge Rika afterward. I’ll definitely be rooting for Suzume to win! Then Rika can challenge Mizuki. Please. It must happen.
I had a bit of help from Mr. Haku on the post-match stuff:
Tatsumi: “Somehow, I was able to achieve V2! Vert-chan was physical and powerful, an amazing wrestler. I was able to go to the U.S. with this belt, and now I’ve returned to Japan and defended it. From this point on, I want to go on even more interesting travels with this belt, so I want to defend it a bunch of times. Everyone, please keep following me!”
(Suzume enters the ring.)
Suzume: “Congratulations on your defense! For me, being a professional wrestler, it just wasn’t something I could do; it was impossible. But it was you, Rika-san, who changed my life. Maybe it’s impossible for me to win the belt. But now that you are the one with that belt, because it’s you, my life can change again. Once again, I found myself thinking that I could do something impossible. Will you let me challenge you?”
Tatsumi: “Of course!”
Suzume: “Thank you so much!”
I had trouble figuring out what Rika was saying here, haha: “こんな熱い思いを聞いて、受けないバカはいないよ.”
Tatsumi: “Hearing such passion, I’d have to be an idiot not to accept your challenge. Then, with the power vested in me as champion, it’ll happen at the next Korakuen show on May 5. Let’s face each other here with this belt on the line!”
Suzume: “Thank you!”
(After a handshake and a commemorative photo, Suzume leaves.)
Tatsumi: “There are even more things to look forward to. Now I’d like to say thanks and finish up here. Thank you so much!”
In Rika’s post-match comments, I got the first sentence:
Tatsumi: “For my first defense, I crossed the ocean and went to America for the first time. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was really exciting, and I managed to defend my title.”
Then I got a tiny bit tripped up on this chunk: “今日また帰ってきてタイトルマッチ、初防衛戦はなかなか初めて絡む未知の選手とやる怖さがめちゃめちゃあったんですけど、今回また少しずつ学んだというか、対策というか、慣れてきたかんじがあって.”
“In my first defense, I was really scared to face an unknown wrestler for the first time, but in this match, I learned a little more, picked up some strategies, or I guess I should say I’m getting acclimated. But she was strong! Vert, thank you so much.”
I also wanted to make sure I went with a good translation choice for Rika’s answer here, haha: “やっぱり私はこのベルトと面白い、めちゃくちゃなこと、ハチャメチャなことをしていきたいので.”
(About Suzume declaring her challenge)
“Well, I want to do interesting, messed-up, crazy things with this belt. I have to defend the belt countless times to do that. I was thinking that I wanted to fight a lot of different opponents, so Suzume coming forward there, the feelings she conveyed were amazing. Besides, she stole a win from me in the Princess Cup tournament last year. Here, I want to properly repay what I owe by putting my precious possession on the line.”
(Just like your first defense, you showed respect to your opponent after the match)
I wasn’t sure about Rika’s answer here: “なんか、海外の選手だから我が我が…ってイカれたやつらの巣窟なのかなとかちょっと思ってたんですけど.”
“Somehow, because she’s a wrestler from overseas… I was wondering if we could have our own lair of crazy people.” (laughs) “Maybe that’s very Japanese, having a pro wrestling match where we can respect each other. I also felt really happy. Thank you!”
(Do you feel that you were able to understand each other’s feelings through the title match?)
“Yes! I feel like I am making so many friends!”
Vert’s comments were in English!
(How was your match today?)
Vixon: “Today I had a match against Rika Tatsumi for the International Princess Championship, and, oh my gosh, it was incredible! It was hard-hitting, it was fast-paced, and it was everything that I wanted. It was everything that I wanted for my debut here in Japan.”
(How was it wrestling in Tokyo Joshi Pro for the first time?)
“Wrestling in Tokyo Joshi for the first time is an absolute dream come true. Especially here, in Korakuen Hall, this is a very historic place. It’s somewhere I wanted to wrestle since I first started wrestling! And the fact that I’ve had the privilege and the honor to wrestle for such an incredible, worldwide company, not just in Japan, a worldwide known company, I could not be more grateful.”
I got the first bit of Suzume’s comments:
Suzume: “I’ve wrestled many times for the right to challenge for that belt, but each time, I couldn’t reach it, and each time, I felt frustrated. In some respects, I was thinking that it was impossible for me to hold that belt.”
This sentence was a bit tough: “だけど今回は用意されたチャンスじゃなくて自分の意志でリカさんへの挑戦を決めました.”
“But this time, I decided to challenge Rika-san not because I had planned for this chance, but because I was asserting my own will. I felt that it was impossible, but the most impossible thing in my life, becoming a pro wrestler… I had managed to make that happen. I really want to defeat Rika-san and achieve the impossible, wrapping that belt around my waist.”
(The champion has designated the next Korakuen Hall show)
“Yes. I’m just going to go with this feeling.”
The main event was Mizuki vs Nao, and I loved this one! Really fun match, and probably my favorite Nao match I’ve seen so far. I kept thinking of those comments she made in shupro months and months ago where she talked about Natsupoi and Anou both getting shupro covers, and feeling pressured to perform well, too…
Mr. Haku covered the post-match for this as well, which was helpful. I got the first big chunk, I think:
Mizuki: (hearing the cheers) “Hey! You’re chanting ‘Mizuki, Mizuki’ now, but you’re late! All I was hearing was ‘Nao!’ and ‘Kakuta!’” (cheering for Mizuki increases) “I’m being spoiled.” (laughs) “It felt a bit funny for Nao-chan and I to be fighting in the main event, but I was really happy. It was thanks to all of you watching, and everyone who gave Nao-chan that push and directed me with your gaze to accept her challenge, so thank you so much! I wanted to bring out many expressions from Nao-chan that hadn’t been seen before, but she brought them out of me. I want to keep up this relationship with Nao-chan where we beat each other up. And now that I’ve defended my title, I remember from Namba-chan’s announcements that I have another title match set for May 5 at Korakuen. I’ve been trying not to think about it, but it seems like she’s a huge person."
Wasn’t sure about this part, though: “いまそれがドワーってきてます.”
"That’s coming up soon. But first, Yuka-chi, come into the ring. Thanks for seconding me. Next week, we have a tag title defense right off the bat…”
Sakazaki: “It’s really bad. The Impaler is crazy scary!”
Mizuki: “What are we going to do? Run away?”
Then Yuka said, “ちょっとイヤやな。でも、ぽむさえやってまえばよ.” I wasn’t sure about her second sentence there.
Sakazaki: “I don’t like it. Not one bit. But, if it’s just Pom, we can do it.”
Mizuki: “Leave Pom to me.”
Sakazaki: “I’m looking forward to it!”
Mizuki: “Yes! There’s Osaka, and there’s Korakuen, and there are lots of matches in between, so please come and support us, everyone! I’m still simmering with frustration after getting kicked so much, so I’m going to go now and be soothed by meeting everyone. I want to eat hamburger steak, so let’s close with the usual.”
They closed with “Eat hamburger steak!” and “HAPPY HAPPY!”
In Mizuki’s comments, I got the first part:
Mizuki: “I was always on the challenger’s side with this belt, so this was my first time defending it, and in the main event at Korakuen, and honestly I was super, super nervous. When the match started, I was really excited about the fact that Nao-chan was my opponent, and I really felt that I didn’t want to lose, and I got stubborn. I’m really glad that my first title defense was with Nao-chan out of everyone in TJPW.”
Then they asked about the facelock she used, and I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant, by this: “なんかもう…無理矢理。もうここで取りたいって思って、無理矢理いきました.”
(The facelock at the end was different than usual)
“It felt like I had no choice. I wanted to win here, so I forced it.”
(You have the tag title match next week, and a singles match two weeks after that, so your strict schedule continues)
“Yes. I’m the type of person who has to clear everything that comes up in front of me one thing at a time, so for the time being, I’m focusing on the tag title match next. After that, I have another singles title match… When I think about it, I get really overwhelmed. I like to crush everything that’s in front of me one thing at a time, but Yuka-chi said that it’s super scary, so I’m really anxious. I’m scared!” (laughs) “I’m planning on going into it with a fun, happy aura."
Mizuki’s busy schedule also means a busy schedule for me as translator, with all of those title matches (and inevitable press conferences and such)…
Nao’s comments were a bit long! I got the, uh, first sentence:
Kakuta: “Thank you very much.” (wiping away her tears) “I said that my heart was moved the most during Mizuki’s match, and I was able to take that feeling and challenge her right away.”
This part confused me, especially the 日本語が at the end. Could not figure out what was going on there at all, haha: “正直、時間が経ってみて、どれくらいこの無冠の私が最高峰のプリンセス・オブ・プリンセスってベルトに挑戦すること…日本語が”
“To be honest, now that time has passed, someone like me, who has never won a championship, getting so far as to challenge for the belt at the top of the mountain, the Princess of Princess belt…” (bitter smile) “I really wondered how many people would support me and cheer me on. But looking toward the title challenge, as the days went by, the audience was really positive, and they gave me a push. There were a lot of people who said that they were waiting to see me with the belt. Today, lots of people came to the venue and said that they were watching women’s wrestling for the first time in a long time, or that they were coming to see my match for the first time in a long time. Not being able to live up to their expectations, and being unable to fulfill my dream once again… it’s frustrating. But when I listened to the cheers in the venue, the audience called out my name so many times. So, even though the result wasn’t great, I was able to do my absolute best. Because the cheers and the power of the audience are incredible.”
This sentence was confusing: “期待させて応援してもらって、また次もお願いしますっていうのはアレなんだけど…でもこれからも変わらず応援してほしいなって思うし.”
" I know that’s just like saying ‘please keep hoping for me and supporting me next time as well,’ but… I hope you’ll keep supporting me without wavering. In the end, no matter what happens, I’m still not sick of wrestling… I think it would be easier if I could give up, but I can’t give up yet."
I was also a bit confused by these last two sentences: “もっと頑張ろうと思うし、瑞希さんが初めて笑顔で楽しかったって言ってくれたので。また何まわりも大きくなって、瑞希さんの前に立ちたいと思います.”
“I’m going to work even harder, and for the first time, Mizuki-san smiled and said that she had fun. So I want to get better and stand in front of Mizuki-san again.”
After the interviewer’s next question, her first two sentences here were really confusing to me: “なんか、それも周りから言ってもらえることの方が多くて。無意識ですけど、たぶん自分にそういうものを重ねれば重ねていくほど、精神的に負荷がかかるだけだから.”
(How was it standing on a stage like Korakuen Hall in the main event?)
“That’s something that a lot of people around me have said. It’s unconscious, but maybe the more that kind of thing gets repeated, the greater the toll it takes on me mentally. I tried not to be conscious of it. But standing in a singles match in the main event at Korakuen Hall as a pro wrestler, that’s not an experience that just anyone can have. I think I was given a very valuable opportunity. I’m going to try my best to win next time.”
(Were you able to move someone else’s heart just as yours was moved at Ariake?)
“I hope so. But there are people who came to tell me that my title challenge made them want to watch women’s wrestling again. That’s an undeniable fact. If I keep going, I think there will be more and more people like that.”
Whew! Lot happened in this show!
There’s a presser for the tag title match that also happened, which I don’t think I’ll be able to publish in time for the actual match, though as far as I can tell, the match is happening on a VOD show anyway, so there’s not really any reason for particular urgency there…
What’s funny is that with TJPW, just because it’s a VOD show doesn’t mean there won’t be a title change. I remember very vividly when Itoh had the International belt the first time, and she defended it against Hikari on ittenyon 2020, then lost it on January 5 the very next day on a VOD show where she fought Thunder Rosa…